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Joan Chen Chong (; Mandarin Pinyin: Chén Chōng; Cantonese: 陳沖/Chan Chung; Cantonese IPA: ; Jyutping: can4 cung1; Yale: chan4 chung1; born as Chen Chong on April 26, 1961, in Shanghai, China) is a Chinese American actress, film director, screenwriter and producer, best known for her roles in The Last Emperor, Twin Peaks, Red Rose, White Rose, Saving Face, and for directing the film Xiu Xiu: The Sent Down Girl.

Early life

Born into a family of doctors (her grandparents were educated at Oxford and her parents were trained at Harvard),Richard Corliss. "West To East." TIME (USA). Volume 153: Issue 13. April 5, 1999. Chen Chong grew up during the Cultural Revolution. At age 14, Chen was discovered on the school rifle range by Mao Zedong's wife Jiang Qing, as she was excelling at marksmanship, and was selected for the Actors' Training Program by the Shanghai Film Studio in 1975, where she was discovered by veteran director Xie Jin who chose her to star in his 1977 film Youth (青春, Qīngchūn)Lisa Odham Stokes. "Sensuously Elegant: An Interview with Joan Chen." Asian Cult Cinema (USA). Issue 48. October-December 2005. p.51-61. as a deaf mute whose senses are restored by an Army medical team. She studied at the Shanghai Institute of Foreign Languages where she majored in English.Tom Kagy."Heavenly And Hearthy." Goldsea Asian American Daily. August 1992.

Acting career

Chen Chong first became famous in China for her performance in Little Flower (小花) (1979) for which she won the Hundred Flowers Award (百花). In addition, Chen is famous in China for her role in the film Hearts for the Motherland (海外赤子) (aka Overseas Compatriots/A Loyal Overseas Chinese Family) (1979), which depicts an overseas Chinese family that returned to China from southeast Asia out of their patriotic feelings but encountered political troubles during the Cultural Revolution. The songs, I Love You, China (我爱你中国) and High Flies the Petrel, both appeared in the film through the voice of the heroine played by Chen Chong, are perennial favorites of serious music lovers in China.

At age twenty, Chen moved to the United States where she studied film at California State University, Northridge. In 1989, she became a naturalized citizen of the United States.

Her first Hollywood movie was Tai-Pan, filmed on location in China. She went on to star in Bernardo Bertolucci's The Last Emperor in 1987 and the David Lynch/Mark Frost television series Twin Peaks. In 1994 she came back in Shanghai to star in critically acclaimed Stanley Kwan's Red Rose, White Rose (紅玫瑰白玫瑰) opposite Winston Chao and Veronica Yip.

She directed critically acclaimed Xiu Xiu: The Sent Down Girl in 1998 and Autumn in New York in 2000. She has also appeared in many other movies in China, Hollywood, Taiwan, and Hong Kong.

Personal life

Born into a family of doctors, Chen married her second husband, cardiologist Peter Hui, on January 18, 1992. They have 2 daughters and live in San Francisco, but spend part of every year in Shanghai, China with Joan's family, so their daughters can be familiar with Chinese culture.

During her early years in California Chen attended California State University, Northridge.

Awards & nominations

• 1980: Hundred Flowers Award: Best Actress, Youth (青春)
• 1994: Golden Horse Award: Best Actress, Red Rose, White Rose (紅玫瑰白玫瑰)
• 1994: Asian Media Award (Asian American International Film Festival): For significant contribution to Asian American media [1]
• 1995: Hong Kong Film Award: Best Actress (nomination), Red Rose, White Rose (紅玫瑰白玫瑰)
• 1995: HKFCS Award (Hong Kong Film Critics Society Awards): Best Actress (for her year-round performances)
• 1998: Golden Horse Award: Best Director, Xiu Xiu: The Sent Down Girl (天浴)
• 1998: Golden Horse Award: Best Screenplay Adapted from Another Medium (shared with co-writer Yan Geling), Xiu Xiu: The Sent Down Girl (天浴)
• 1998: Golden Berlin Bear (nomination): Xiu Xiu: The Sent Down Girl (天浴)
• 1998: Jury Award (Fort Lauderdale International Film Festival): Xiu Xiu: The Sent Down Girl (天浴)
• 1999: Special Jury Prize (Paris Film Festival): Xiu Xiu: The Sent Down Girl (天浴)
• 1999: Grand Prix (Paris Film Festival) (nomination): Xiu Xiu: The Sent Down Girl (天浴)
• 1999: International Freedom Award (National Board of Review): Xiu Xiu: The Sent Down Girl (天浴) [2]
• 1999: Grand Prize (Mons International Festival of Love Films): Xiu Xiu: The Sent Down Girl (天浴)
• 2000: Chlotrudis Award: Best Director (nomination), Xiu Xiu: The Sent Down Girl (天浴)
• 2000: Independent Spirit Award: Best First Feature Over $500,000 (shared with co-producer Chan Wai-Chung) (nomination), Xiu Xiu: The Sent Down Girl (天浴)

Trivia

• In 1992 People magazine chose her as one of the 50 most beautiful women in the world.
• Chen inspired indie rock band Xiu Xiu, named after her film Xiu Xiu: The Sent Down Girl.

Selected filmography

References

Bibliography

• Tom Kagy. "Heavenly And Hearthy." Goldsea Asian American Daily. August 1992.
• Richard Corliss. "West To East." TIME (USA). Volume 153: Issue 13. April 5, 1999.
• Richard Corliss. "Joan of Art." TIME (USA). April 5, 1999.
• Franz Lidz. "Joan Chen Interview: Whether it's China or Hollywood, this actress/director tells it likr it is." Interview. August 2000.
• Michelle Caswell. "An Interview with Joan Chen." AsiaSource. November 2000.
• "Empress and Enigma." ChinaDaily. October 25, 2003.
• Lisa Odham Stokes. "Sensuously Elegant: An Interview with Joan Chen." Asian Cult Cinema (USA). Issue 48. October-December 2005. p.51-61.

External links

• Joan Chen at the Chinese Movie Database
• Joan Chen at Yahoo!Movies
• Joan Chen at All Movie Guide

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