Chillin’ with Jona Xiao

By Chilled Magazine

Jona Xiao can be seen appearing in the movie Gifted opposite Chris Evans, Jenny Slate, and Octavia Spencer.

The film follows Frank Adler (Evans) a single man raising a child prodigy, his spirited young niece Mary (McKenna Grace) in a Florida coastal town. Jona also has a supporting role in Spider-Man: Homecoming, which follows a young Peter Parker as he begins to navigate his newfound identity as the web-slinging hero.

Chillin' with Jona Xiao, beautiful in black dress

Chillin’ with Jona Xiao

Photo by Ricky Middlesworth

On the television front, Jona can currently be seen on season four of BET’s hit series Being Mary Jane as Natalie Wu, opposite Gabrielle Union. She also has a bit role on this season’s critically acclaimed AMC series Halt and Catch Fire as Julie Yang, the first female coder on Team Mutiny.

Check out what Jona tells Chilled about her love of drinking games and shuddering orgasms.

Chillin' with Jona Xiao, sitting pose

Chillin’ with Jona Xiao

Photo by Ricky Middlesworth

Tell us a bit about the projects you are working on or have coming up.

There’s an interested thread between the various projects that are coming up that I’m involved in. One of my favorite actors of all time helped cast me in a role in Marvel’s Spider-Man: Homecoming, which was such an awesome project to work on. It features Tom Holland’s endearing and snarky Spider-Man that was featured in Captain America: Civil War (starring Chris Evans).

And on that Spider-Man track, I’m currently recurring on Being Mary Jane. I play the fun-loving, ambitious, and ridiculous character of Natalie Wu, who will do anything to get promoted at the top morning news show in the country.

With your busy schedule, what do you like to do with your downtime?

I am passionate about empowering children to be leaders, and recently partnered with the Boys and Girls Club. I was a former high school all-state athlete, so I’ve always loved playing sports and staying active. Currently, I play dodgeball and am also quarterback for a competitive traveling women’s flag football team called She-Unit. I’m also helping to start the first all-female-flag football league in Los Angeles.

Chillin' with Jona Xiao, footballs, smiling

Chillin’ with Jona Xiao

Photo by Ricky Middlesworth

When you go out to eat, where do you like to dine?

If I had to pick only one food to eat for the rest of my life, it’d be sushi. That’s why my favorite restaurant is a sushi place called SUGARFISH. There’s also this delicious hole-in-the-wall Greek restaurant I frequent called Hy Mart.

What types of dishes do you usually order?

Some of my favorite dishes include … anything that contains gyro meat, large scallop sushi and carne asada tacos from various food trucks around L.A.

Do you cook?

Not well. However, I can blend a mean shake and make a pretty decent ice cream from frozen bananas!

Chillin' with Jona Xiao, black dress lying flat

Chillin’ with Jona Xiao

Photo by Ricky Middlesworth

What types of drinks do you order when out?

I tend to prefer shots (tequila and vodka). I also enjoy Mojitos and I get fairly competitive when it comes to drinking games, so that’s normally when I’ll drink beer.

Do you prepare drinks at home?

No, unless we count exotic teas (mangosteen is one of my favorites).

Do you own a home bar?

I have a wine cooler that’s kind of nifty.

What would your dream home bar be like?

Oohh … I would say it would be stocked with tequila, white rum, and some champagne.

Chillin' with Jona Xiao, black miniskirt, dark wall

Chillin’ with Jona Xiao

Photo by Ricky Middlesworth

What is your favorite cocktail?

Shuddering Orgasm. I had it for the first time while I was working in China a while back. It’s a mix of Bailey’s Irish Crème, Kahlua, and Amaretto. So very yummy and living up to its name!

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