Lana Condor: Biography, Ethnicity, Family, and Career Facts

Lana Condor is the Vietnamese-American actress best known for playing Lara Jean Covey in the To All the Boys film trilogy. She was born in Vietnam, adopted by an American family at four months old, and has since become a prominent voice for Asian-American representation in Hollywood. This article answers the most common questions about her ethnicity, adoption, family, career, and personal life, drawing on verified biographical sources and recent reporting.

Last checked: 2026-07-28

Full name: Lana Therese Condor · Birth name: Trần Đồng Lan · Birthplace: Can Tho, Vietnam · Nationality: American · Occupation: Actress, YouTuber · Years active: 2016-present

Who Is Lana Condor?

Lana Therese Condor was born Trần Đồng Lan on May 11, 1997, in Cần Thơ, Vietnam (Wikipedia). At four months old, she was adopted by Mary Carol Condor and Bob Condor, who brought her to Chicago, Illinois, on October 6, 1997. Her adoptive father, Bob Condor, is a Pulitzer Prize–nominated journalist and former executive at Yahoo Sports (Portuguese Wikipedia).

Condor grew up in a racially mixed family—her parents are of Irish and Hungarian descent, while she and her non-biological brother Arthur are Asian. In a profile with Rollacoaster, she noted that her family mirrors the blended Covey family in the To All the Boys films: “My family is very representative of Lara Jean’s because my brother and I are Asian, but we’re still an American family.”

“My family is very representative of Lara Jean’s because my brother and I are Asian, but we’re still an American family.”

— Lana Condor, in a Rollacoaster profile

She trained as a dancer at the Joffrey School of Classical Ballet and Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater before moving to Los Angeles during her sophomore year of high school to pursue acting (Gold House). Her feature film debut came in 2016 as Jubilee in X-Men: Apocalypse.

Is Lana Condor Chinese?

No, Lana Condor is not Chinese. She is of Vietnamese ethnicity. Her birth name is Trần Đồng Lan, and she was born in Cần Thơ, Vietnam. Major profiles consistently describe her as Vietnamese-American (Portuguese Wikipedia). The confusion likely arises because she has played a character of Korean heritage (Lara Jean Covey) and because of her broad Asian-American visibility. In interviews, Condor has not publicly addressed the confusion directly, but her official biographical sources are clear on her Vietnamese heritage.

Why this matters: Accurate ethnic representation matters in Hollywood, and Condor’s identity as a Vietnamese-American actress is distinct from the Korean-American character she portrayed. The actress herself has not expressed frustration with the mix-up, but fans and critics have noted the importance of recognizing her actual background.

Was Lana Condor Adopted?

Yes, Lana Condor was adopted. She was born in Vietnam and placed in an orphanage before being adopted by Mary and Bob Condor on October 6, 1997, when she was about four months old (Wikipedia). She was adopted alongside her brother Arthur, who is three months older and also from Vietnam. The Condor family lived in the Chicago area, later on Whidbey Island in Washington, and then in New York City before settling in Los Angeles (Gold House).

Condor has spoken warmly about her adoptive parents. In a 2024 Instagram tribute after her mother Mary’s death, she wrote: “You found me first, and I pray with everything I am, that you’ll find me again” (People). She has not publicly disclosed details about her biological parents.

Is Lana Condor Still Friends with Noah Centineo?

Yes, Lana Condor and Noah Centineo remain close friends. The two co-starred as Lara Jean and Peter Kavinsky in the To All the Boys trilogy, and their on-screen chemistry led to widespread fan speculation about a real-life romance. In multiple interviews, both actors have stated they are just friends. Centineo has described Condor as a “lifelong friend” (Famous Birthdays). They have been photographed together at events and have supported each other’s projects post-trilogy.

The bottom line: The friendship is genuine and enduring, but it has never been romantic. Condor married Anthony De La Torre in 2024, and Centineo has publicly celebrated her relationship.

What Happened to Lana Condor’s Mom?

Lana Condor’s adoptive mother, Mary Carol Condor, died in late July 2024. Condor announced the death on Instagram on July 28, 2024, writing: “It is with the heaviest of hearts that I share that my mother, Mary, has passed” (People). She described feeling “sheer devastation” and emphasized that her mother “found” her first (E! Online). The exact cause of death was not specified in the tribute or in subsequent reporting.

The death came after a 2019 health scare that had caused Condor to take a break from acting to be with her family. At that time, Mary Condor was reported to be recovering. The 2024 loss was sudden and unexpected to the public.

Does Lana Condor Have Children?

No, Lana Condor does not have children. She married actor and musician Anthony De La Torre in 2024 after a long-term relationship that began around 2015. They announced their engagement in January 2022 (German Wikipedia). Condor has not publicly indicated any plans to start a family.

Lana Condor’s Movies and Career Highlights

Condor’s career spans film and television. Key milestones:

• 2016: Feature film debut as Jubilee in X-Men: Apocalypse.
• 2018: Breakout role as Lara Jean Covey in Netflix’s To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before.
• 2020–2021: Sequels To All the Boys: P.S. I Still Love You and To All the Boys: Always and Forever.
• 2023–present: Stars in the Netflix spin-off series XO, Kitty as the same character.

She has also appeared in Alita: Battle Angel (2019) and voiced characters in animated projects. Condor has been recognized as a trailblazer for Asian-American representation in romantic comedies (Rollacoaster).