If you’ve read my previous posts, you know I love martial arts and its movies. And what can make a good martial arts movie even better? A kick-butt female character! So this post is dedicated to them.
Here are my 3 favorite females in martial arts movies:
1. Michelle Yeoh –
Her training is originally in dance, having graduated from the Royal Academy of Dance, but she brings that strength and grace into her fighting onscreen. Her beauty won her titles in such pageants as Miss Malaysia and Miss Moomba. She, similar to Jackie Chan, has done most of her own stunts and was known for many years as the ‘Queen of Martial Arts.’ I was particularly thrilled to find she and I share the same birthday (August 6th)! She now has her own production company, Mythical Films.
You may have seen her in the following movies:
- Police Story III: Super Cop (1992)
- Tai Chi Master (1993)
- Wing Chun (1994 – See my previous post: Could Bruce Lee Owe His Fame to Two Females?)
- James Bond: Tomorrow Never Dies (1997 – achieved international success)
- Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon (2000)
- Memoirs of a Geisha (2005)
- The Mummy: Tomb of the Dragon Emperor (2008)
2. Zhang Ziyi –
Ziyi also began her career in dance along with gymnastics, which has strengthened her onscreen fighting. Besides being athletically talented she modeled for such companies as; Tag Heuer watches, Maybelline cosmetics, Pantene shampoo and Coca-Cola (in China).
You may have seen her in the following movies:
- Rush Hour 2 (2001)
- Hero (2002)
- House of Flying Daggers (2004)
- Memoirs of a Geisha (2005)
- The Grandmaster (2013)
3. Maggie Cheung –
Like Michelle and Ziyi, Maggie has had no formal martial arts training. Her career also began with her beauty in modeling and commercials. She was a semi-finalist in Miss World and won first runner-up at Ms. Hong Kong. Maggie was the first Chinese actress to win Best Actress at the Berlin International Film Festival (1992).
You may have seen her in the following movies:
- Police Story (1985)
- Twin Dragons (1992)
- Hero (2002)
Sources: http://www.imdb.com and http://www.biography.com
You can also find interviews and movie trailers on http://www.youtube.com
Have you seen any of these actresses or do you have other actresses that are your favorites? I’d love to hear about them!
Hong Kong Treasure – A deadly Philippines typhoon has stolen Annie’s memory. Now, can a handsome Chinese stranger save her from the danger she has forgotten?
Coming this summer from Assent Publishing.
Diane Dominik, Romantic Suspense 