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)

(1950-04-19) April 19, 1950 (age 74)
Alma materPeking Opera School
Occupations
  • Actress
  • martial artist
  • stuntwoman
Spouse
Lu Chun-koo
(m. 1985; div. 1995)
Children2
FamilyCandy Man Suet Yee (sister)
Awards

Early life

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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

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Yuen attended a Peking Opera School in Kowloon, Hong Kong.[1]

Career

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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.[citation needed]

Yuen later appeared in the movie Kung Fu Mahjong, with Yuen Wah, and has been active in cinema since then.

Personal life

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In 1985, Yuen was married to martial arts director Lu Chun-koo (魯俊谷). Together they have 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

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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 a.k.a. Crazy Shaolin Disciples 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

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References

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  1. ^ a b "Yuen Qiu". chinesemov.com. Retrieved January 5, 2019.
  2. ^ a b c "Yuen Qiu". afspot.net. Archived from the original on April 13, 2019. Retrieved January 6, 2019.
  3. ^ "Martial arts star Yuen Qiu arrested". USA Today. 14 April 2005. Retrieved 2010-07-26.
  4. ^ "Intimate Confessions of a Chinese Courtesan (1972)". hkcinemagic.com. Retrieved January 6, 2019.
  5. ^ "Police Woman (1973)". hkcinemagic.com. Retrieved January 6, 2019.
  6. ^ 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.
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