Athena Chu

Last updated
Athena Chu
Athena Chu.jpg
Chu in 2008
Born
Chu Yan

(1971-10-25) 25 October 1971 (age 52)
Occupations
  • Actress
  • singer
Years active1992–present
Spouse
(m. 2012)
Children1
Chinese name
Chinese 朱茵
Hanyu Pinyin Zhū Yīn
Jyutping Zyu1 Jan1

Athena Chu (born Chu Yan; 25 October 1971) [1] is a Hong Kong actress and singer. She is best known for her role as Zixia Fairy in A Chinese Odyssey (1995).

Contents

Early life and education

On 25, October 1971, Chu was born in Kowloon, Hong Kong. Her father was a mathematics teacher who later started a business with her mother. [1]

Chu attended The Hong Kong Academy for Performing Arts from 1990 to 1992, during which she hosted children's shows on the television station TVB. [2] [3]

Career

After graduating in 1992, Chu made her film debut in Fight Back to School II (1992), which earned her a nomination at the Hong Kong Film Award for Best New Performer. [2] Chu started to attract public attention with her interpretation of Huang Rong in the remake of Wuxia drama The Legend of the Condor Heroes (1994). [3]

Chu worked again with Stephen Chow in A Chinese Odyssey (1995). The role of Zi Xia (also known as Daisy Fairy) shot Chu to widespread fame in Hong Kong and parts of Asia. [4] [3] Another one of Chu's most notable films is The Boss Up There (1999). Her portrayal of a drug addict who finds God earned her a nomination for Best Actress at the Golden Horse Film Awards. [5] [2]

Regarded by many as a sex symbol, [6] Chu has generally been cast in flower vase roles. She even made two appearances in Wong Jing’s Raped by an Angel series. [2] [1] However, her role in Whispers and Moans (2007) won her recognition, despite not being nominated for any award. [7]

Chu was the first Hong Kong actress to be nominated at the International Emmy Award for Best Actress, for her role as a disabled but inspirational women who overcomes all odds in the television series Wall-less World (2010). [1]

After a five years hiatus from the entertainment industry since 2011, Chu announced her comeback in 2016 with three upcoming films. [8]

Personal life

Chu began dating singer and actor Paul Wong of Beyond since 1998; and married him in 2012. Chu and Wong have a daughter Debbie (b. 2012). [9]

Filmography

Film
YearTitleChinese titleRoleNotes
1992To Miss with Love逃學外傳Lai Man-si
Super Lady Cop超级女警Yoki
Fight Back to School II 逃學威龍2SandyNominated-12th Hong Kong Film Award for Best New Performer
1993 Once a Cop 超級計劃Annie Lee
1993Taxi Hunter的士判官Yan
Tom, Dick and Hairy 風塵三俠Pearl Chan
Vampire Family一屋哨牙鬼Chu Lee-mei
1994Lantern燈籠Fong
Easy Money先洗未來錢Sisi Li
1995Shaolin Kung Fu Kids笑林老祖Sister Lam
Trouble Maker蠟筆小小生
Remember M, Remember E那有一天不想你Chui Ching
Cupid Love 七月俏佳人Ching-ching
A Chinese Odyssey Part One: Pandora's Box 西遊記第壹佰零壹回之月光寶盒Purple / Lin Zixia
A Chinese Odyssey Part Two: Cinderella西遊記大結局之仙履奇緣Lin Zixia
1996The Feeling of Love重慶愛情感覺Ah Yin
Hero of Swallow神偷燕子李三Chinny
1997Ah Fai the Dumb天才與白痴Man-man
1998Temptress of a Thousand Face千面嬌娃Sherry Wong
Tricky King超級整蠱霸王DKNY / Yandy
Step into the Dark夜半無人屍語時Faith Ching
Shanghai Affairs 新唐山大兄Sin
The Love and Sex of the Eastern Hollywood愛在娛樂圈的日子Yue
Take Five對不起,幹掉你
Raped by an Angel 2: The Uniform Fan 強姦2 制服誘惑Po-man
The Conman 賭俠1999Ching
1999The H.K. TriadO記三合會檔案
The Boss Up There生命楂Fit人Fong Hei-tungNominated- 36th Golden Horse Award for Best Leading Actress
Raped by an Angel 4: The Raper's Union強姦終極篇之最後羔羊Po-man
Horoscope 1: The Voice from Hell生人勿近之問米Jojo
2000Love Correction緣份有Take 2Emma Lau
Conman in Tokyo 中華賭俠Karen
2001 Stowaway 驚天大逃亡Kam Lan
Never Say Goodbye有人說愛我Jean
2002 Chinese Odyssey 2002 天下無雙Amour Amourguest star
Time 4 Hope二人三足Cindy
2003Shiver心寒Sammi Mok Sum-yi
2004Sex and the Beauties性感都市Kwan Tak-han
Love Is a Many Stupid Thing 精裝追女仔2004Chu Yanguest star
2007 Whispers and Moans 性工作者十日談Coco
2010 Just Another Pandora's Box 越光寶盒Purple Cloudguest star
The Aroma City芳香之城傳奇So Ling-fong
Let Love Come Back讓愛回家Ng Fan
2011Scary Market嘿店Hui Zi
2017Once Again二次初恋Ye Lan
2018The Lingering古宅
TBAAmbans驻藏大臣Dawa Yingzong
Television
YearTitleChinese titleRoleNetworkNotes
1993Romance Beyond都市的童話Ding Dang TVB
The Chord to Victory少年五虎Yeung Suet-laiTVB
The Legendary Ranger 原振俠Wan-choiTVB
The Edge of Righteousness龍兄鼠弟 / 追日者Suen Ho-hoTVB
1994 The Legend of the Condor Heroes 射鵰英雄傳 Wong Yung TVB
1997Wars of Bribery廉政行動組Chiu Wing-yeeTVB
Tears in Heaven蒼天有淚Xiao Yujuan
2000The New Shaolin Temple新少林寺Princess Haotai
Kaixin Jiuhao開心就好Susie
The Duke of Mount Deer 小寶與康熙 A'ke / Chen Yuanyuan TVB
2002Xiao Shiyilang蕭十一郎Shen Bijun CTV
Palm of Ru Lai'如來神掌Tu Xuehua / Sun Biyun / Sun Jinling ATV
2003Nannü Zidian男女字典KellyPCCWNetwork drama
2005Eonian Hero逐日英雄Xiang Wanting
2006 Fox Volant of the Snowy Mountain 雪山飛狐Yuan ZiyiATV
2007Baoxue Lihua暴雨梨花Lu Huanong
2008Gorgeous Adventure華麗冒險Amy
Yiqian Di Yanlei一千滴眼淚Shen Xinyi
2010A World Without Walls沒有牆的世界Tai Mung RTHK television film , Nominated International Emmy Award for Best Actress
2011 Twin of Brothers 大唐雙龍傳之長生訣Fu Junzhuo / Fu Junyu

[10] [11]

Discography

YearTitleChinese Title
1996Earthquake地震
1997Glass玻璃
1998Ti Ti Ta踢踢踏
2002Let's Jump跳起来
2003Possession迷恋
2004Attitude

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References

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  2. 1 2 3 4 "Athena Chu Yan". LoveHKFilm.com. Retrieved 2008-10-03.
  3. 1 2 3 "Fairy lady -- Athena Chu". CCTV.com. 28 May 2007.
  4. "Welcoming back, Zixia Fairy". China Daily. 20 March 2017.
  5. "《THE BOSS UP THERE》(1999) 100′". Media.org.hk.
  6. "HK Selects Its Sexiest Stars". China.org.cn. 13 October 2004.
  7. "Stars who brushed shoulders with HK Film Awards". China Daily. 11 April 2014.
  8. "Athena Chu happy to be back in showbiz". Yahoo News. 15 January 2016.
  9. "黄贯中复工报喜:已与朱茵注册结婚 女儿重6斤". NetEase (in Chinese). 25 October 2012.
  10. "Athena Chu". imdb.com. Retrieved 2010-03-16.
  11. "Athena Chu". chinesemov.com. Archived from the original on 30 March 2010. Retrieved 2010-03-16.