Who is Jackie Chung? Actress Behind Belly’s Mom in The Summer I Turned Pretty!

Jackie Chung, born in 1979, is a Stanford University graduate with a degree in fine arts. She began her career in theatre before making her on-screen debut in the 2005 short film Take It or Leave It.

Breakthrough Role as Laurel Park

While she has appeared in multiple projects over the years — including an episode of Grey’s Anatomy — Chung’s biggest role to date is Laurel Park in the hit series The Summer I Turned Pretty, which premiered in June 2022.

The Show’s Third and Final Season

Since the release of its third and final season on July 16, fans have been glued to the screen as the iconic love triangle unfolds between Belly (Lola Tung), Conrad (Christopher Briney), and Jeremiah (Gavin Casalegno).
“Only four episodes in, the show’s final season is gearing up to be truly epic, with Belly announcing her engagement to Jeremiah and showing off her engagement ring.”

One of the standout scenes this season involves a heated argument between Belly and her mother Laurel — played by Chung — during a tense family lunch.

Laurel Park: Author and Grieving Friend

In the show, Laurel is a divorced mother of two and a successful author. She struggles emotionally with the loss of her best friend Susannah, mother of the Fisher brothers.
“Laurel just thinks that if she deals with her grief, she will crumble and she won’t be able to be a pillar for her family or her friend,” said Chung in an interview with The Wrap in 2023. “So her way of processing is not processing.”

Chung Is a Writer Too

While she’s not an author like her character, Chung has also dabbled in writing and was credited for an episode of the TV mini-series Finding My America in 2006.

Personal Life: Marriage and Family

Jackie Chung is married to actor Louis Ozawa, best known for roles in Predators, Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D., and Pachinko. The couple reportedly met while working on a short film and have been together for over ten years. They have two children and generally keep their family life private.