Yuen Qiu
Cheung Cheun-Nam, known professionally as Yuen Qiu (Chinese: 元秋; born 19 April 1950), is a Hong Kong actress and martial artist. She is an expert of both Chinese martial arts and Beijing-opera skills, and was apprenticed at the Peking Opera School under the same master, Yu Jim-yuen, as Jackie Chan and Sammo Hung.
Yuen Qiu | |
|---|---|
元秋 | |
| Born | Cheung Cheun Nam (張轉男) April 19, 1950 |
| Alma mater | Peking Opera School |
| Occupation(s) | Actress, martial artist, stuntwoman |
| Spouse |
Lu Chun-koo
(m. 1985; div. 1995) |
| Children | 1 son 1 daughter |
| Family | Candy Man Suet Yee (sister) |
| Awards | 2005 Won Golden Horse Awards as Best Supporting Actress in Kung Fu Hustle, 2006 Won Hundred Flowers Award for Best Supporting Actress in Kung Fu Hustle |
Early life
On 19 April 1950, Yuen was born as Cheung Cheun-Nam in Hong Kong.[1] Yuen was given the performance name of Yuen Qiu.[2]
Education
Yuen attended a Peking Opera School in Kowloon, Hong Kong.[1]
Career
Yuen was a stuntwoman and a night club performer from the late 1960s to early 1970s.
In 1974, Yuen had a small role in the international production, The Man with the Golden Gun (1974), portraying as Hip's niece Nara rescuing Roger Moore as James Bond.
In 1979, Yuen was able to demonstrate her acrobatic and kicking abilities in Dragon's Claw.[2] In 1970s, there were limited opportunities for stuntwomen.
After being away from the Hong Kong film industry for nearly 20 years, she landed a role in Kung Fu Hustle only by chance. She was accompanying a junior woman fellow of the China Drama Academy at the audition but the director's eye was on her. It was reported that Stephen Chow convinced her to take on the role only after unremitting and persistent persuasion.
Yuen later appeared in the movie Kung Fu Mahjong, with Yuen Wah, and has been active in cinema since then.
Personal life
In 1985, Yuen was married to martial arts director Lu Chun-koo (魯俊谷) and has a son and a daughter. Yuen and Lu divorced in 1995.
On 31 March 2005, Yuen was arrested along with 10 other women and two men for illegal gambling.[3]
Filmography
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1972 | Intimate Confessions of a Chinese Courtesan | Stuntman | [4] |
| 1973 | Police Woman | [5] | |
| 1973 | Return to China | ||
| The Heroine | |||
| 1974 | The Man with the Golden Gun | Nara (Hip's Niece #1) | Uncredited |
| 1975 | The Black Dragon's Revenge | ||
| 1975 | Death of Bruce Lee | ||
| 1978 | The Angry Dragon | ||
| The Deadly Silver Ninja | |||
| 1979 | The Dragon's Snake Fist | Phoenix Kim | |
| Dragon's Claws | [2] | ||
| Fearless Duo | |||
| 1981 | Dreadnaught | White Tiger's wife | |
| 1983 | Bastard Swordsman | Rain | |
| 1984 | Long Road to Gallantry | ||
| New Tales of the Flying Fox | Hu Yidao's wife | ||
| 1985 | Disciples of the 36th Chamber | ||
| Enter the 36th Chamber of Shaolin | Miu Tsui-Fa | ||
| 2004 | Kung Fu Hustle | Landlady | Golden Horse Awards for Best Supporting Actress Hundred Flowers Awards for Best Supporting Actress Nominated - Hong Kong Film Award for Best Actress Nominated - Satellite Award for Best Supporting Actress – Motion Picture Comedy or Musical |
| 2005 | Kung Fu Mahjong | Auntie Fei | |
| Kung Fu Mahjong 2 | Auntie Fei | ||
| 2006 | My Kung Fu Sweetheart | ||
| I'll Call You | Manny's Mom | ||
| 2007 | Kung Fu Mahjong 3: The Final Duel | Auntie Toni | |
| The Lady Iron Chef | Ching Har | ||
| 2008 | The Luckiest Man | Sophie | |
| Desires of the Heart | Gao Yajuan | ||
| 2009 | Looking for Jackie | Cameo | |
| 2010 | A Fistful of Stances | Au-Yeung Wai-Lan | TV series |
| 2011 | A Simple Life | ||
| 2013 | Tales from the Dark 1 | Restaurant owner[6] | |
| 2014 | Queen Divas | Wong Lin-hing | TV series |
| Delete My Love | So Fa | ||
| 2015 | Wudang Rules | Mo Yee-shan | TV series |
| Imprisoned: Survival Guide for Rich and Prodigal | Guest star | ||
| Wild City | Mona | ||
| 2016 | From Vegas to Macau III | ||
| The Bodyguard | |||
| A Fist Within Four Walls | Yuk Bo-fung | TV series | |
| 2019 | We Are Legends | ||
| Return of the Lucky Stars | |||
| TBD | Lost But Win | ||
See also
References
- "Yuen Qiu". chinesemov.com. Retrieved January 5, 2019.
- "Yuen Qiu". afspot.net. Archived from the original on April 13, 2019. Retrieved January 6, 2019.
- "Martial arts star Yuen Qiu arrested". USA Today. 14 April 2005. Retrieved 2010-07-26.
- "Intimate Confessions of a Chinese Courtesan (1972)". hkcinemagic.com. Retrieved January 6, 2019.
- "Police Woman (1973)". hkcinemagic.com. Retrieved January 6, 2019.
- Elley, Derek (October 14, 2013). "Tales from the Dark 1". Film Business Asia. Archived from the original on October 19, 2013. Retrieved October 19, 2013.