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Joan Chen
Striking Chinese-born leading lady who became a star in her native country at age 14 when she was whisked from an athletic rifle team to star in a film sponsored by Mao Tse-tung's wife. Chen subsequently proved very popular in several other Chinese films, acquiring the sobriquet of "the Chinese Elizabeth Taylor." One of her best-remembered films during this time was "Little Flower" (1978), in which she played a deaf-mute girl, cured by acupuncture, whose first words are "Long live Chairman Mao!." The winner of many awards in China, Chen made her US debut with a small role in Wayne Wang's "Dim Sum: a Little Bit of Heart" (1985). Given her star status at home, she was an appropriate choice for the lead role, opposite Bryan Brown, in the English-language film "Tai-Pan" (1986), the first significant collaboration between an American filmmaker and the Chinese government.
Photos
Joan Chen
Filmography
Movies
| Credit | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| No Score Yet | No Score Yet | The Wedding Banquet | Unknown (Character) | - | 2025 |
| 96% |
|
Dìdi | Chungsing Wang (Character) | $4.8M | 2024 |
| No Score Yet |
|
Under the Light | Unknown (Character) | - | 2023 |
| No Score Yet |
|
Hachiko | Unknown (Character) | - | 2023 |
| No Score Yet | No Score Yet | Hero |
Director, Screenwriter |
- | 2022 |
| 21% |
|
Ava | Toni (Character) | $464.2K | 2020 |
| 100% |
|
Sheep Without a Shepherd | La Wen (Character) | - | 2019 |
| No Score Yet |
|
The House That Never Dies II | Doctor (Character) | - | 2017 |
| No Score Yet | No Score Yet | Wonderlandd | Susan (Character) | - | 2017 |
| No Score Yet |
|
Lady of the Dynasty | Consort Wu (Character) | - | 2015 |
| No Score Yet |
|
White Frog | Irene Young (Character) | - | 2012 |
| No Score Yet |
|
Double Xposure | Dr. Hao (Character) | - | 2012 |
| 8% |
|
1911 | Empress Dowager Longyu (Character) | $127.4K | 2011 |
| No Score Yet |
|
Love in Disguise | Joan (Character) | - | 2010 |
| 55% |
|
Mao's Last Dancer | Niang (Character) | $4.8M | 2009 |
| 89% |
|
24 City | Little Flower (Character) | - | 2008 |
| No Score Yet | No Score Yet | The Leap Years | Li-Ann - age 48 (Character) | - | 2008 |
| No Score Yet |
|
American Masters | Unknown (Character) | - | 2008 |
| No Score Yet | No Score Yet | Shi qi | Unknown (Character) | - | 2008 |
| No Score Yet |
|
All God's Children Can Dance | Evelyn (Character) | - | 2007 |
| 100% |
|
The Home Song Stories | Unknown (Character) | - | 2007 |
| 73% |
|
Lust, Caution | Mrs. Yi (Character) | $4.6M | 2007 |
| 100% | No Score Yet | Hollywood Chinese | Unknown (Character) | - | 2007 |
| No Score Yet | No Score Yet | The Sun Also Rises | Unknown (Character) | - | 2007 |
| 67% | No Score Yet | Americanese | Betty (Character) | - | 2006 |
| 69% |
|
Sunflower | Xiuqing (Character) | $23.3K | 2005 |
| No Score Yet |
|
Avatar | Madame Ong (Character) | - | 2004 |
| No Score Yet | No Score Yet | Jasmine Women |
Mo's Mother / |
- | 2004 |
| 88% |
|
Saving Face | Ma (Character) | $1.2M | 2004 |
| No Score Yet |
|
Mo li hua kai (Jasmine Women) | Unknown (Character) | - | 2004 |
| 20% |
|
Autumn in New York | Director | $37.8M | 2001 |
| 52% |
|
What's Cooking? | Trinh Nguyen (Character) | $1.0M | 2000 |
| No Score Yet |
|
In a Class of His Own | Linda Ching (Character) | - | 1999 |
| No Score Yet |
|
Purple Storm | Shirley Kwan (Character) | - | 1999 |
| 96% |
|
Xiu Xiu: The Sent-Down Girl |
Director, Writer, Producer, Executive Producer |
$1.0M | 1998 |
| No Score Yet |
|
Precious Find | Camilla Jones (Character) | - | 1996 |
| 60% |
|
Wild Side | Virginia Chow (Character) | - | 1995 |
| 8% |
|
The Hunted | Kirina (Character) | $6.4M | 1995 |
| 22% |
|
Judge Dredd | Dr. Ilsa Hayden (Character) | $34.7M | 1995 |
| 0% |
|
Golden Gate | Marilyn Song (Character) | $395.1K | 1994 |
| 14% |
|
On Deadly Ground | Masu (Character) | $36.0M | 1994 |
| No Score Yet | No Score Yet | Red Rose White Rose |
Wang Chiao-jui / |
- | 1994 |
| 45% |
|
Heaven and Earth | Mama (Character) | - | 1993 |
| No Score Yet |
|
Temptation of a Monk |
Princess Hong-e - Scarlet/ |
- | 1993 |
| No Score Yet | No Score Yet | Turtle Beach | Minou (Character) | $708.4K | 1992 |
| No Score Yet | No Score Yet | Steel Justice | Nicole Loa (Character) | - | 1992 |
| No Score Yet | No Score Yet | Shadow of a Stranger | Vanessa (Character) | - | 1992 |
| No Score Yet |
|
Wedlock | Noelle (Character) | - | 1991 |
| 20% |
|
The Blood of Heroes | Kidda (Character) | $882.3K | 1989 |
| 86% |
|
The Last Emperor | Empress (Elizabeth) Wan Jung (Character) | $43.0M | 1987 |
| 14% |
|
Tai-Pan | May-May (Character) | $3.8M | 1986 |
| 90% |
|
Dim Sum: A Little Bit of Heart | Young m.j. player (Character) | - | 1985 |
TV
| Credit | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 89% | 88% | A Murder at the End of the World | Lu Mei (Character) | 2023 |
| 94% | 83% | Twin Peaks: The Return | Josie Packard (archive footage) (Guest Star) | 2017 |
| 66% | 93% | Marco Polo | Empress Chabi (Character) | 2014 2016 |
| 90% | 80% | Fringe | Reiko (Guest Star) | 2011 |
| No Score Yet | No Score Yet | The Outer Limits | Major Dara Talif (Character) | 1998 |
| No Score Yet | No Score Yet | Happily Ever After: Fairy Tales for Every Child | Unknown (Voice) | 1997 |
| 91% | 90% | Homicide: Life on the Street | Unknown (Guest Star) | 1997 |
| 82% | 90% | Tales From the Crypt | Unknown (Character) | 1993 |
| 78% | 92% | Twin Peaks | Jocelyn Packard (Character) | 1990-1991 |
| No Score Yet | No Score Yet | Wiseguy | Maxine Tzu (Guest Star) | 1989 |
| No Score Yet | 70% | MacGyver | Unknown (Guest Star) | 1985 |
| 71% | 89% | Miami Vice | Unknown (Guest Star) | 1985 |