Eugenia Yuan

Last updated
Eugenia Yuan
Chinese :原麗淇(Yuan Lai-Kai)
Born (1976-01-22) January 22, 1976 (age 48)
Other namesLai-Kai Yuan, Lai-Kei Yuan, Eugenia Lai-Kai Yuan
OccupationActress
Known forMember of U.S. National Rhythmic Gymnastics team.
Mother Cheng Pei-pei

Eugenia Yuan is an American actress and former rhythmic gymnast who has won a Hong Kong Film Award.

Contents

Early life

On January 22, 1976, Yuan was born in Inglewood, Los Angeles county, California. [1] [2] Yuan's mother is Cheng Pei-pei, an actress who is known for being a Shaw Brothers Studio alumnus and the role of Jade Fox in Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon . [1] Yuan grew up in San Marino, California. [3] [2]

Career

Gymnastic

Yuan began her career as a rhythmic gymnast for the U.S. Olympic Team and was ranked #4 in the world. Yuan was a member of the U.S. National Rhythmic Gymnastics team for about seven years. [2]

Entertainment

Yuan's first screen role was acting alongside her mother in Flying Dragon, Leaping Tiger (2002), a martial arts movie. Yuan co-starred in the 2002 drama Charlotte Sometimes which won the best first feature award at the Independent Spirit Awards.

Yuan returned to Hong Kong to star in one segment of Three where she was named "Best Newcomer" in the Hong Kong Film Awards. Hollywood director Doug Liman chose her for the title role of the mockumentary Mail Order Wife, for which she was named as a "Rising Star/Screen Acting Discovery" at the Hamptons International Film Festival.

She was nominated at Hong Kong's Golden Horse Awards for her starring role in 2004's The Eye 2 and had roles in the John Dahl film The Great Raid and the Oscar-winning Memoirs of a Geisha. The jewelry retailer Me & Ro created a special edition hair ornament inspired by Yuan's character in the movie.[ citation needed ]

Yuan continues to travel back and forth between Los Angeles, New York City and Hong Kong [ citation needed ] to take studio, Chinese-language and American independent roles alike including the 2007 Gotham Awards winning film Choking Man . She also co-stars with Tony Leung Ka Fai in the Kenneth Bi film, The Drummer , and Erica Leerhsen in Slaughter. Most recently she has appeared in the Australian television drama Secret City .

Filmography

YearTitleRoleNotes
2019–20 Hawaii Five-0 Daiyu Mei
2019 Into the Badlands Kannin
2017 She Has a Name Mamma [4]
2016 Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon: Sword of Destiny Blind Enchantress
2016 Secret City WengTV series - 12 episodes
2015 The Man with the Iron Fists 2 Ah Ni
2015Jasmine
2014 Revenge of the Green Dragons Snakehead Mama [5]
2013Pupil (Short)
2013#1 Serial Killer
2012What About Us? (Short)
2012Strangers
2011Shanghai Hotel
2011 I Don't Know How She Does It Jack's Receptionist
2010Fog
2007 The Drummer Kuan's wife
2006 Choking Man Amy
2006Locked (1992)
2005 Memoirs of a Geisha Korin [6]
2005 The Great Raid Cora
2004Mail Order WifeLichi [7]
2004 My Name Is Modesty: A Modesty Blaise Adventure Irina
2004 The Eye 2 Yuen Chi-kei
2002 3 Extremes II Hal'er, Uu's wife
2002 Charlotte Sometimes Lori
2002Flying Dragon, Leaping TigerXiao Xia [8]
1982Dragon StrikeVoice

Related Research Articles

<i>Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon</i> 2000 film by Ang Lee

Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon is a 2000 wuxia martial arts film directed by Ang Lee and written for the screen by Wang Hui-ling, James Schamus, and Tsai Kuo-jung. The film stars Chow Yun-fat, Michelle Yeoh, Zhang Ziyi, and Chang Chen. It is based on the Chinese novel of the same name, serialized between 1941 and 1942 by Wang Dulu, the fourth part of his Crane-Iron Series. Set in 19th-century Imperial China, the plot follows two master warriors, Li Mu Bai (Chow) and Yu Shu Lien (Yeoh), who are faced with their greatest challenge when the treasured Green Destiny sword is stolen by the mysterious thief Jen Yu (Ziyi).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Zhang Ziyi</span> Chinese actress and model (born 1979)

Zhang Ziyi, sometimes credited Ziyi Zhang, is a Chinese actress, model, and former dancer. Known for playing independent and strong-willed characters, she is the recipient of various accolades. Born and raised in Beijing, Zhang was admitted to the Central Academy of Drama in 1996. That year, she made her acting debut in the television film Touching Starlight (1996). After her breakout role in Zhang Yimou's The Road Home (1999), which won her the Best Actress Award at the 2000 Hundred Flowers Awards, she gained international recognition for her performance in the wuxia martial arts film Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon (2000).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Michelle Yeoh</span> Malaysian actress (born 1962)

Yeoh Choo Kheng, better known by the stage name Michelle Yeoh, is a Malaysian actress. She is the recipient of various accolades, including an Academy Award and a Golden Globe Award. Credited as Michelle Khan in her early films, she rose to fame in the 1980s and 1990s after starring in Hong Kong action and martial arts films where she performed her own stunts. These roles included Yes, Madam (1985), Magnificent Warriors (1987), Police Story 3: Super Cop (1992), The Heroic Trio, Tai Chi Master, and Wing Chun (1994).

<i>Come Drink with Me</i> 1966 Hong Kong wuxia film by King Hu

Come Drink with Me is a 1966 Hong Kong wuxia film produced by Shaw Brothers Studio and directed by King Hu. Set during the Ming Dynasty, it stars Cheng Pei-pei, Yueh Hua and Chan Hung-lit in the leading roles, and features action choreography by Han Ying-chieh.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Nancy Kwan</span> Chinese-American actress (born 1939)

Nancy Kwan Ka-shen is a Chinese-American actress. In addition to her personality and looks, her career benefited from Hollywood's casting of more Asian roles in the 1960s, especially in comedies. She was considered an Eastern sex symbol in the 1960s.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Yuen Woo-ping</span> Hong Kong film director

Yuen Woo-ping is a Hong Kong martial arts choreographer and film director who worked in Hong Kong action cinema and later Hollywood films. He is one of the inductees on the Avenue of Stars in Hong Kong. Yuen is also a son of Yuen Siu-tien, a martial arts film actor. He attended the China Drama Academy for one year as a day student of Master Yu Jim-yuen as well.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Brigitte Lin</span> Taiwanese actress (born 1954)

Brigitte Lin Ching-hsia is a Taiwanese actress. She is regarded as an icon of Chinese language cinema for her extensive and varied roles in both Taiwanese and Hong Kong films.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jimmy Wang Yu</span> Taiwanese actor, director, producer, and screenwriter (1943–2022)

James Wang Yu was a Hong Kong-Taiwanese martial artist, actor, film director, producer, and screenwriter. Initially a contract player for Shaw Brothers, he rose to fame for his starring role in The One-Armed Swordsman (1967) and its sequels, and was one of the first major stars of martial arts and wuxia cinema. At the height of his fame in the 1970s, he was the highest-paid martial arts actor in the world. According to The New York Times, Wang was "the biggest star of Asian martial arts cinema until the emergence of Bruce Lee."

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Betty Ting</span> Taiwanese actress

Betty Ting is a Taiwanese former actress who was mainly active in the 1970s. Ting is best known for being the center of international speculation regarding the untimely death of Bruce Lee in her apartment. Ting is credited with over 50 films.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lucille Soong</span> Chinese American actress

Lucille Soong is a Chinese-American actress. She is best known for her main role as Jenny Huang in the television series Fresh Off the Boat (2015–2020). She has acted and appeared in films and TV series since 1959, and is the author of the autobiography Wild Orchid: From Beijing to La-La Land.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cheng Pei-pei</span> Chinese actress (1946–2024)

Cheng Pei-pei was a Hong Kong-American actress who started her career in 1963 and was considered cinema's first female action hero. She is known for films Come Drink with Me (1966), Flirting Scholar (1993),Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon (2000), TV series Young Justice Bao (2000),Chinese Paladin (2004) and reality show Divas Hit the Road (2014).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sylvia Chang</span> Taiwanese actress, writer, singer, producer and director

Sylvia Chang is a Taiwanese actress, singer, director, screenwriter, and producer. In 1992, she served as a jury member at the 42nd Berlin International Film Festival. In June 2018, she was invited to become a member of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. In the same year, she served as a jury member at the 75th Venice International Film Festival.

<i>The Mad Monk</i> 1993 film by Johnnie To

The Mad Monk (Chinese: 濟公; pinyin: Jì Gōng is a 1993 Hong Kong fantasy comedy film directed by Johnnie To, and starring Stephen Chow as the "Mad Monk" Ji Gong, a popular Chinese folklore figure from the Southern Song dynasty. The film follows "Dragon Fighter Luohan" as he accepts a challenge from the gods to change the fate of a beggar, a prostitute, and a villain in three heavenly days. He is reborn on earth as a mere mortal and ultimately battles an evil demon to stave off hell on earth.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Elizabeth Sung</span> American actress

Elizabeth Fong Sung was a Chinese-American actress, director, and screenwriter. She was also a revered acting teacher and mentor to young performers and filmmakers in the Asian-Pacific community.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jade Leung</span> Hong Kong actress

Jade Leung, born 23 November 1969 in Hong Kong as Leung Yuk-yin is a Hong Kong actress known for starring in kung fu and action films.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Candice Yu</span> Hong Kong actress and singer

Candice Yu is a Hong Kong film actress and occasional singer best known for her films with Shaw Brothers Studio of the 1970s and 1980s. She was the first wife of Hong Kong actor Chow Yun-fat.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Roy Chiao</span> Hong Kong actor (1927–1999)

Roy Chiao Hung was a Hong Kong actor. Nicknamed "the Lion of Cinema" for his athletic physical stature and powerful screen presence, he was a popular leading man throughout the 1950s and '60s, and continued his acting career well into the 1990s. He was an early star of wuxia films associated with the Hong Kong New Wave, thanks to his roles in A Touch of Zen (1971) and The Fate of Lee Khan (1973), both directed by King Hu.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Louis Fan (actor)</span> Hong Kong actor and martial artist

Louis Fan Siu-wong is a Hong Kong actor and martial artist. He is best known worldwide for his starring role as Ricky in Riki-Oh: The Story of Ricky (1991) and as Jin Shanzhao in Ip Man (2008) and Ip Man 2 (2010), as well as roles in numerous television series produced by TVB.

JuJu Chan Szeto also known as JuJu Chan, is an American actress, martial artist, singer, and writer.

References

  1. 1 2 Chan, Yuan-Kwan (May 1, 2006). "Eugenia Yuan Interview - 2006 Tribeca Film Festival". meniscuszine.com. Retrieved November 15, 2018.
  2. 1 2 3 Tseng, Ada (February 28, 2005). "Eugenia Yuan: Queen of Quirk". international.UCLA.edu. Retrieved November 15, 2018.
  3. Ripton, Ray (April 17, 1986). "U.S. on Move in Rhythmic Gymnastics". Los Angeles Times . Retrieved October 19, 2020.
  4. "She Has a Name (2016)". IMDb . Retrieved November 15, 2018.
  5. Oleszczyk, Michał (October 21, 2014). "No Safety Net: Eugenia Yuan On Revenge of the Green Dragons". RogerEbert.com. Retrieved November 15, 2018.
  6. "Memoir of a Geisha". IMDb . Retrieved November 15, 2018.
  7. "Mail Order Wife (2004)". IMDb . Retrieved November 15, 2018.
  8. "Flying Dragon, Leaping Tiger". hkmdb.com. 2002. Retrieved October 19, 2020.