Colonel Wai Lin is a fictional Chinese agent from the 1997 James Bond film Tomorrow Never Dies, portrayed by Malaysian actress Michelle Yeoh. The character is later featured in Raymond Benson’s accompanying novelization as well in his 1999 video game adaptation, voiced by Larissa Murray.
Biography
Wai Lin is an operative for the Chinese People’s External Security Force. She has the rank of Colonel and is skilled in martial arts.
Wai Lin first encounters James Bond when she is sent (undercover as a New China News Agency reporter) to investigate the disappearance of stealth material from a People’s Liberation Army base that is connected to media mogul Elliot Carver’s plan to start a war between the People’s Republic of China and the United Kingdom.
Wai Lin later learns that MI6 sent Bond to work on the same case. The two initially believe they have been ordered to kill each other but eventually develop a wary mutual trust when they are both captured and imprisoned by Carver’s secret partner, General Chang (who was in charge of the military base where the stolen stealth materials for Carver’s stealth boat originated from). Bond respects her when she playfully but firmly rejects his attempts at seduction.
Carver brings them aboard his private ship to boast that he will control the world’s media after he gets exclusive coverage rights to the impending war, which will begin when the ship launches missiles at a British craft. At the last minute, however, Wai breaks free and creates a distraction that allows Bond to disable the missiles, kill Carver, and escape with her as the ship self-destructs. She and Bond then give in to the mutual attraction they had both been fighting during the mission and become lovers.
Personality
Wai Lin is a bright yet tough and resourceful young woman who takes her job seriously and brilliantly manages to impose herself on her male colleagues and enemies. Conscientious, she favors stealth over action and is not afraid to kill people in cold blood to advance in her missions. Wai Lin likes to use her charms to extract information from targets and has likely had several romantic relationships in the past, aware that men find her elegant and attractive.
Behind the scenes
Canadian actress Natasha Henstridge was rumored as cast in the lead Bond Girl role, but eventually, Michelle Yeoh was confirmed in that role. She reportedly wanted to perform her stunts but was prevented because director Spottiswoode ruled it too dangerous and prohibited by insurance restrictions. Pierce Brosnan was impressed, describing her as a “wonderful actress” who was “serious and committed about her work.”
In the early scripts of the 2002 film, Die Another Day, Wai Lin was to make a return, but Mr. Chang finally replaced her.
