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TürkçeJoan Chen (Chong Chen)
Photos with Joan Chen
Biography
Shanghai, China
Born into a family of doctors and educated in China at the Shanghai Film Academy and the Shanghai Institute of Foreign Languages, Joan Chen was discovered by veteran Chinese director Jin Xie while observing a filming with a school group. Her performance in Xiao hua (1979) (A.K.A. "The Little Flower") won China's Best Actress award, and resulted in the Chinese press dubbing her "The Elizabeth Taylor of China" for having achieved top stardom while still in her teen years. She came to the U.S. Read more... California State University at Northridge. She a succession of small parts in movies and T.V., with her first break coming in 1986 when, in true Hollywood legend, producer Dino De Laurentiis noticed her in the parking lot of Lorimar Studios and cast her in Tai-Pan (1986). The film bombed, but it led to her being cast as the ill-fated Empress in Bernardo Bertolucci's The Last Emperor (1987), which won critical acclaim. This, and her role as enigmatic mill owner Josie Packard in the cult TV series Twin Peaks (1990), are her best-known roles in Europe and North America. However, Hollywood's practice of type-casting East Asians has led to a dearth of major roles for Chen since then, and in recent roles, she has often been cast as a villainess.
After taking a few years off to start a family, Joan returned to the screen in important supporting roles playing women in early middle age, such as the mother of a principle adult character. As a result, her career is flourishing again on both sides of the Pacific. Her two directing efforts were well-received critically, and in a 2008 interview she revealed she planned to direct again but was putting that off until her daughters were grown, since directing took her away from them too much, whereas acting could be done on a part-time basis.
After taking a few years off to start a family, Joan returned to the screen in important supporting roles playing women in early middle age, such as the mother of a principle adult character. As a result, her career is flourishing again on both sides of the Pacific. Her two directing efforts were well-received critically, and in a 2008 interview she revealed she planned to direct again but was putting that off until her daughters were grown, since directing took her away from them too much, whereas acting could be done on a part-time basis.
Actor
Character:
Er Jie
Haishang Meng fu 2013
0
Character:
Madame Chiang Kai Shek
Hemingway & Gellhorn 2012
1
Character:
Irene Young
White Frog 2012
14
Character:
Dr. Hao
Er ci pu guang 2012
0
Character:
Empress Dugu
Sui Tang yingxiong 2012
0
Character:
Niu Jie
Shao an wu zao 2012
0
Character:
Empress Longyu
Xin hai ge ming 2011
0
Character:
Niang
Mao's Last Dancer 2009
11
Character:
Tian Wenjie
Ren dao zhong nian 2009
0
Character:
Evelyn
All God's Children Can Dance 2008
0
Character:
Gu Minhua / Xiao Hua
24 City 2008
8
Character:
Li-Ann - age 48
The Leap Years 2008
0
Character:
Mother
Shi qi 2008
0
0
2
Character:
Betty Nguyen
Americanese 2006
12
Character:
Herself - Guest
9am with David & Kim 2006
0
Character:
Zhang Xiuqing
Xiang ri kui 2005
0
0
Character:
Hwei-Lan Gao - Ma
Saving Face 2004
11
Character:
Madame Ong
Cyber Wars 2004
0
Character:
Mo's Mother / Elder Mo
Mo li hua kai 2004
0
Character:
Herself
Independent View 2002
0
Character:
Shirley Kwan
Zi yu feng bao 1999
0
Character:
Linda Ching
In a Class of His Own 1999
0
Character:
Dr. Ilsa Hayden
Judge Dredd 1995
30
Character:
Kirina
The Hunted 1995
37
Character:
Virginia Chow
Wild Side 1995
8
Character:
Masu
On Deadly Ground 1994
19
Character:
Marilyn Song
Golden Gate 1994
5
Character:
Wang Chiao-jui / Wang Jiao-rui
Hong mei gui bai mei gui 1994
0
Character:
Mama
Heaven & Earth 1993
21
Character:
Princess Hong-e - Scarlet / Qing-shou - Violet
You Seng 1993
0
31
Character:
Minou
Turtle Beach 1992
3
Character:
The Girl
Strangers 1992
0
Character:
Nicole Loa
Steel Justice 1992
0
Character:
Vanessa
Shadow of a Stranger 1992
0
Character:
Noelle
Wedlock 1991
18
Character:
Wan Jung
The Last Emperor 1987
4
Character:
Mai Wing
The Night Stalker 1987
4
Character:
May-May
Tai-Pan 1986
11
Character:
Zoe
Ai chu se 2010
0
Character:
Joan
Lian ai tong gao 2010
0
Character:
Goddess of Mercy
Xi you ji 2010
0
Character:
Yee Tai Tai
Se, jie 2007
0
Character:
Dr. Lin
Tai yang zhao chang sheng qi 2007
0
Character:
Rose Hong / Hong Meigui
The Home Song Stories 2007
10
Character:
Herself - Award recipient
The 2007 Australian Film Institute Awards 2007
0
Character:
Camilla Jones
Precious Find 1996
0
Character:
Trinh Nguyen
What's Cooking? 2000
6
Character:
Jocelyn Packard
Pilot 1990
2
Character:
Reiko
Immortality 2011
4
Character:
Empress Chabi
The Wayfarer 2014
0
Character:
Empress Chabi
The Wolf and the Deer 2014
0
Character:
Empress Chabi
Feast 2014
0
Character:
Empress Chabi
The Fourth Step 2014
0
Character:
Empress Chabi
Hashshashin 2014
0
Character:
Empress Chabi
White Moon 2014
0
Character:
Empress Chabi
The Scholar's Pen 2014
0
Character:
Empress Chabi
Rendering 2014
0
Character:
Empress Chabi
Prisoners 2014
0
Character:
Empress Chabi
The Heavenly and Primal 2014
0
Character:
Patricia Cheng
Shotgun 2014
1
Character:
Patricia Cheng
Reach Out 2013
3
Character:
Patricia Cheng
Ball of Confusion 2013
0
Character:
Patricia Cheng
Give Me Money 2013
4
Character:
Patricia Cheng
Heatwave 2013
2
Character:
Patricia Cheng
Tracks of My Tears 2013
1
Character:
Patricia Cheng
My Girl 2013
1
Character:
Connie
Tales from the Crypt 1989
0
Character:
Su-Lin
Knight Rider 1982
0
Character:
Lin
MacGyver 1985
0
Character:
Herself - Guest
Àngel Casas Show 1984
0
0
Character:
Zhao Xiaohua
Xiao hua 1979
0
Character:
Ti
The New Mike Hammer 1984
0
Character:
Empress Chabi
Hunter and the Sable Weaver 0
0
Character:
Empress Chabi
Serpent's Terms 0
0
Character:
Empress Chabi
Hug 0
0
Character:
Empress Chabi
Heirs 0
0
Character:
Empress Chabi
Measure Against the Linchpin 0
0
Character:
Empress Chabi
Let God's Work Begin 0
0
Character:
Empress Chabi
Lullaby 0
0
Character:
Empress Chabi
Lost Crane 0
0
Character:
Patricia Cheng
Episode #1.8 0
0
Character:
Patricia Cheng
Episode #1.9 0
3
Character:
Patricia Cheng
Episode #1.10 0
3
