Let’s be real for a second. When Netflix dropped Marco Polo back in 2014, everyone was talking about the $200 million price tag and the sweeping landscapes of Kazakhstan. They wanted a Game of Thrones killer. But if you actually sit down and rewatch it today, you’ll realize the titular character was kinda... the least interesting part.
The real soul of that show? The women.
Finding the right marco polo netflix actress to obsess over is a chore because the casting was low-key brilliant across the board. Whether it was the "Blue Princess" Kokachin or the terrifyingly effective Mei Lin, these weren't just background characters in a man's world. They were the ones pulling the strings, breaking hearts, and—in many cases—literally breaking bones.
Zhu Zhu: More Than Just the Blue Princess
If you search for "the" marco polo netflix actress, Zhu Zhu is usually the first face that pops up. She played Kokachin, the Princess of the Bayaut. Most people remember her for the tragic "Blue Princess" arc, but Zhu Zhu’s journey to that role is actually wild.
Before she was wandering the Mongol steppe on screen, she was a VJ for MTV China. Imagine going from announcing pop hits to learning 13th-century archery and horseback riding in the middle of a Malaysian jungle. Honestly, she crushed it. She brought this fragile, haunted energy to Kokachin that made you forget she was basically a prisoner of war.
Zhu Zhu has since moved on to massive things in China, but for Western audiences, she remains the face of the show’s romantic tragedy. She didn't want to be a "kung fu girl." She told W Magazine back then that she wanted to show Chinese actresses could do heavy drama without needing to throw a punch. She succeeded, though ironically, the show around her was filled with plenty of punches.
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The Powerhouse Performance of Joan Chen
You can't talk about the women of this show without bowing down to Joan Chen. She played Empress Chabi, the wife of Kublai Khan. If Benedict Wong was the hammer of the Mongol Empire, Joan Chen was the hand guiding it.
Chen is a legend. Period.
You might know her from The Last Emperor or as Josie Packard in Twin Peaks. In Marco Polo, she played Chabi with such a quiet, terrifying authority. She wasn't just a "wife" character. She was the one who understood the politics better than anyone else in the room. To prepare, she actually dug into The Secret History of the Mongol Queens. She wanted to make sure Chabi didn’t come off as a trope.
In 2026, looking back at her career, it's clear Marco Polo was a pivotal moment where she reminded Western casting directors that she could still command a $100-million production with just a look. Recently, she’s been killing it in projects like Dìdi, but Chabi remains one of her most formidable roles.
Olivia Cheng and the Subversion of the Concubine Trope
Then there’s Olivia Cheng. She played Mei Lin, and honestly, her character had the hardest job. She was a Song Dynasty concubine forced into espionage.
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Olivia Cheng is Canadian, born in Edmonton, and she’s spoken openly about how she wanted to flip the "submissive" stereotype on its head. Mei Lin was an assassin. She was a mother. She was a survivor. Cheng spent months training in martial arts to make those fight scenes look authentic.
- The Physicality: She did a lot of her own stunts.
- The Emotional Weight: Mei Lin’s desperation to find her daughter was the only thing that felt truly "human" in the cold Song court.
- The Legacy: After the show was canceled, Cheng didn't slow down. She jumped into Warrior as Ah Toy, another role where she plays a powerful, complex woman in a historical setting.
Basically, if you loved her in Marco Polo, you need to watch Warrior. It's like the spiritual successor to her character’s grit.
Claudia Kim: The Warrior Who Outwrestled Men
If we’re talking about "badass" characters, we have to talk about Khutulun, played by Claudia Kim (Soo-hyun).
Khutulun was a real historical figure—a Mongol noblewoman who insisted that any man who wanted to marry her had to beat her in a wrestling match. If they lost, they had to give her their horses. She ended up with 10,000 horses.
Claudia Kim brought that exact "don't mess with me" energy to the screen. She was one of the few characters who could go toe-to-toe with the men in the series and actually win.
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- She trained intensely to look like a woman who grew up on a horse.
- She balanced this role while simultaneously being cast as Dr. Helen Cho in Avengers: Age of Ultron.
- She later went on to play Nagini in the Fantastic Beasts movies.
Kim’s career is a masterclass in how a marco polo netflix actress can use a "niche" streaming show to catapult into global blockbusters.
Why These Actresses Mattered (And Still Do)
The show didn't last past Season 2. Netflix took a massive financial hit, and some critics found the plot a bit slow. But for Asian representation, it was a goldmine. It wasn't just one "token" actress; it was a whole ensemble of women with different motives, flaws, and strengths.
Michelle Yeoh even joined in Season 2 as "Lotus." This was before her Everything Everywhere All At Once Oscar sweep, but the signs were all there. Even in a supporting role, she commanded the screen.
The tragedy of Marco Polo isn't that it was canceled. It’s that we didn't get to see where these actresses would have taken these characters in a Season 3.
What You Should Do Next
If you’re a fan of the talent from this show, don't just stop at the Netflix landing page. These women have moved on to incredible projects that deserve your attention.
- Watch Warrior (HBO/Netflix): For more Olivia Cheng being a total boss.
- Check out Dìdi: To see Joan Chen’s incredible range in a modern, emotional setting.
- Follow Zhu Zhu on social media: She’s still a major icon in the Chinese film and fashion world.
- Rewatch Season 2: Specifically for Michelle Yeoh’s fight choreography. It’s some of her best television work.
The marco polo netflix actress you're looking for probably has a whole filmography you haven't touched yet. Go find it. Their work on the Silk Road was just the beginning.