In the Venom franchise, one unexpected fan favorite has emerged alongside Tom Hardy’s Eddie Brock and his symbiotic alter ego: Peggy Lu’s Mrs. Chen. As the no-nonsense, sharp-witted convenience store owner, Mrs. Chen has captured the hearts of audiences with her deadpan humor, resilience, and unforgettable interactions with Venom. Fans have raved about her character’s unique chemistry with the titular anti-hero, loving her grounded presence as a counterbalance to Venom’s chaotic energy. For Lu, stepping into Mrs. Chen’s shoes has been nothing short of magical. “It has been an honor to be Mrs. Chen in the Venom trilogy. Each time, the writers and Tom Hardy took Mrs. Chen to a higher level, and that’s allowed me to reach new artistic heights—it’s been truly magical,” she shares, beaming. “I am eternally grateful that Mrs. Chen resonates with audiences worldwide, which I will treasure forever!”

Peggy Lu’s journey to Hollywood, however, is as unique as the character she portrays. Raised by parents who valued both academics and artistic exploration, Lu initially followed a path to pharmacy, earning a Ph.D. and working in hospice care before transitioning to acting full-time. “My parents gave me an ultimatum: go to pharmacy school first, then pursue acting,” she says, laughing. “So, I went to pharmacy school for acting, basically!” This background has given Lu a perspective unlike most in Hollywood, blending science and art into what she calls a “symbiotic relationship that broadens our intellectual and cultural understanding.” She credits pharmacy school for her persistence, saying it taught her resilience—skills that have served her well in Hollywood’s notoriously tough environment. “Pharmacy school was like drinking out of a fire hydrant. There was so much information all at once. I sucked at math, so it was really challenging—but not as challenging as getting steady work as an actor in Hollywood,” she jokes. “I truly think the perseverance I needed in pharmacy school prepared me for showbiz, and it all comes back to my parents’ guidance.”

From Pharmacy to Hollywood: Discovering Mrs. Chen

Taking a leap, Lu moved to New York City, where she juggled her pharmacist role with early acting gigs. Financial challenges were constant, but her pharmacy background helped her stay afloat. “The word ‘obstacles’ didn’t exist for me back then,” she recalls. “But like most recent grads, the biggest challenge was money, and New York City is expensive.” She found creative ways to save, from cooking budget-friendly ramen to walking everywhere to avoid subway costs. “Everyone knows time and money are inversely proportional,” she jokes. “My feet would probably be in better shape if I had taken the subway!”

Steadily, Lu’s efforts paid off, landing her print jobs, commercials, and eventually her big break in Venom. Recalling her audition for Mrs. Chen, Lu explains that nerves hit her when she saw the other actors in the casting office. “I saw all these recognizable faces with way longer resumes than mine, and my insecurity kicked in,” she admits. But once she stepped into the audition room, casting director Caitlin Well helped her feel at ease, redirecting her through the scene and letting her have fun with it. “Thanks to Caitlin, I actually enjoyed the audition process—and then I booked the part!” she says. Lu prepared for the audition with her coaches Graham Shiel and Jackie Geary, molding Mrs. Chen into the character audiences know and love today.

Bringing Mrs. Chen to Life

Over the course of the Venom films, Mrs. Chen has become a key character with her own story arc, evolving alongside Eddie and Venom. As Lu explains, Mrs. Chen’s pragmatic, straightforward personality is partially inspired by her own parents. “My parents LOVE to dance,” she says, “so I combined their personalities into Venom: The Last Dance. When they danced, the world didn’t exist—they were always having the best times of their lives. I wanted to bring that exuberance to the big screen.”

In Venom: Let There Be Carnage, Mrs. Chen even “bonded” with Venom, leading to some of the trilogy’s most memorable scenes. Working alongside Tom Hardy has only enriched the experience for Lu. “Tom Hardy is like taking a master class in both acting and humanity,” she shares. “He’s so courteous and thoughtful to everyone on set, regardless of their role. In between takes, he’d ask the background actors if they wanted water or snacks.” For their iconic “Venom voice” scene, Hardy helped her deliver Venom’s lines by using an ear prompter so she could echo his tone. “He was methodical, spoke clearly and slowly, and we nailed it in one take. Working with him has been an incredible learning experience.”

Mrs. Chen’s Final Dance and a New Side of Her Character

In Venom: The Last Dance, Mrs. Chen leaves her convenience store for a high-stakes adventure in Las Vegas, joining Eddie and Venom for one last ride. “Fans are in for a treat seeing Mrs. Chen in a new environment,” Lu teases. “She’s out of her element but still enjoying her casino winnings and, of course, dancing with Venom. It’s a blast to bring this new side of her character to life.”

Mrs. Chen (Peggy Lu) is suprised to see Eddie (Tom Hardy) in Columbia Pictures VENOM: THE LAST DANCE. photo by: Lacey Terrell

With this final installment introducing a darker threat, Knull, the stakes have never been higher for Eddie, Venom, and Mrs. Chen. “This one is definitely the most cinematic and dark of the trilogy. The high stakes of life and death deepen the bonds between Eddie, Venom, and Mrs. Chen—it’s epic and heartfelt,” she explains. Reflecting on her character’s journey, Lu is overwhelmed with gratitude. “To see Mrs. Chen evolve and have fans connect with her so deeply—that’s something I’ll treasure forever.”

As Peggy Lu bids farewell to Mrs. Chen, fans will be thrilled to see this fan-favorite character take center stage in a journey that combines humor, heart, and high stakes in Venom: The Last Dance.

Photography Credits
Photographger: Celeste Canino
Stylist: Jodi Wise
Hair and Makeup: Carolina Yasukawa