Chong Chen

Joan Chen

  • Name: Joan Chen
  • Native name: 陳冲
  • Given name: Chen Chong
  • Also Known as: 陈冲
  • Nationality: Chinese
  • Gender: Female
  • Born: April 26, 1961
  • Age: 64
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 (1980) (aka "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 a teenager. She came to the US to attend college in 1981, first at the State University of New York at New Paltz, later at California State University at Northridge. She a succession of small parts in movies and TV, 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 the West. However, Hollywood's practice of typecasting 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. ~imdb.com Edit Biography
Director
Year Title Type Rating
TBA English
Movie
6.0
2012 Shanghai Strangers
Movie
0.0
Screenwriter & Director
Year Title Type Rating
2022 Hero
Movie
7.5
1998 Xiu Xiu: The Sent Down Girl
Movie
7.5
Drama
Year Title # Role Rating
2023 The Heart
Chinese Drama, 2023, 38 eps
Fang Zhu Qing (Support Role)
38
Fang Zhu Qing
Support Role
8.1
2018 Ruyi's Royal Love in the Palace
Chinese Drama, 2018, 87 eps
Ulanara Yi Xiu [Empress to Yongzheng] (Support Role)
87
Ulanara Yi Xiu [Empress to Yongzheng]
Support Role
8.4
2016 Remembering Lichuan
Chinese Drama, 2016, 38 eps
Lisa [Fang Shi chairman] (Guest Role)
38
Lisa [Fang Shi chairman]
Guest Role
7.7
2013 Meng Family Mansion
Chinese Drama, 2013, 40 eps
Er Jie (Support Role)
40
Er Jie
Support Role
0.0
2012 Heroes of Sui and Tang Dynasties
Chinese Drama, 2012, 68 eps
Empress Wen Xian of Sui (Main Role)
68
Empress Wen Xian of Sui
Main Role
6.9
2010 Journey to the West
Chinese Drama, 2010, 52 eps
"Willow Branch" Guan Yin (Support Role)
52
"Willow Branch" Guan Yin
Support Role
7.7
2009 Newcomers to the Middle-Aged
Chinese Drama, 2009, 33 eps
Wen Jie Tian (Main Role)
33
Wen Jie Tian
Main Role
0.0
Movie
Year Title Role Rating
TBA Yi Fan Feng Shun
Chinese Movie, 0000,
(Support Role)
Support Role
0.0
2023 Under the Light
Chinese Movie, 2023,
He Xiu Li (Support Role)
He Xiu Li
Support Role
6.9
2023 Hachiko
Chinese Movie, 2023,
Li Jia Zhen (Main Role)
Li Jia Zhen
Main Role
8.4
2021 Sheep without a Shepherd 2
Chinese Movie, 2021,
(Unknown)
Unknown
7.6
2019 Sheep without a Shepherd
Chinese Movie, 2019,
La Wen / Laoorn (Main Role)
La Wen / Laoorn
Main Role
7.7
2017 The One
Chinese Movie, 2017,
Tommie "Madame Soup" Cruz (Support Role)
Tommie "Madame Soup" Cruz
Support Role
7.1
2017 The House That Never Dies 2
Chinese Movie, 2017,
Doctor (Support Role)
Doctor
Support Role
6.9
2015 A Deux World
Chinese Movie, 2015,
(Support Role)
Support Role
0.0
2015 Cairo Declaration
Japanese Movie, 2015,
Soong Ching Ling (Support Role)
Soong Ching Ling
Support Role
0.0
2015 Lady of the Dynasty
Chinese Movie, 2015,
Consort Wu (Support Role)
Consort Wu
Support Role
6.9
2015 You Are My Sunshine
Chinese Movie, 2015,
Pei Fang Mei (Support Role)
Pei Fang Mei
Support Role
7.5
2014 For Love or Money
Chinese Movie, 2014,
[Cheng Xu's Mother] (Support Role)
[Cheng Xu's Mother]
Support Role
7.3
2012 Double Xposure
Chinese Movie, 2012,
Doctor Hao (Support Role)
Doctor Hao
Support Role
6.6
2012 Let It Be
Chinese Movie, 2012,
Niu (Main Role)
Niu
Main Role
0.0
2012 Passion Island
Hong Kong Movie, 2012,
Joanna (Main Role)
Main Role
5.7
2011 China 1911
Chinese Movie, 2011,
Yehenala Jing Fen / Empress Guangxu / Empress Dowager Longyu (Support Role)
Yehenala Jing Fen / Empress Guangxu / Empress Dowager Longyu
Support Role
7.0
2011 Kiss, His First
Chinese Movie, 2011,
(Main Role)
Main Role
0.0
2010 Love in Disguise
Taiwanese Movie, 2010,
Joan [Manager] (Support Role)
Joan [Manager]
Support Role
7.3
2009 24 City
Chinese Movie, 2009,
Gu Min Hua (Support Role)
Gu Min Hua
Support Role
7.3
2008 Shi Qi
Chinese Movie, 2008,
(Unknown)
Unknown
0.0
2007 The Sun Also Rises
Chinese Movie, 2007,
Dr. Lin (Main Role)
Dr. Lin
Main Role
7.5
2007 Lust, Caution (Uncut)
Chinese Movie, 2007,
Mrs. Yee (Support Role)
Mrs. Yee
Support Role
7.8
2005 Sunflower
Chinese Movie, 2005,
Zhang Xiuqing (Main Role)
Main Role
7.3
2004 Jasmine Women
Hong Kong Movie, 2004,
Main Role
7.4
1994 Red Rose White Rose
Hong Kong Movie, 1994,
Wang Jiao Rui (Main Role)
Wang Jiao Rui
Main Role
6.4
1993 Temptation of a Monk
Hong Kong Movie, 1993,
Princess Hong-e - Scarlet / Qing-shou - Violet (Main Role)
Princess Hong-e - Scarlet / Qing-shou - Violet
Main Role
5.9
1987 The Last Emperor
Chinese Movie, 1987,
Wan Rong (Main Role)
Main Role
8.0
1986 Goodbye, My Hero
Hong Kong Movie, 1986,
Lindy Ng (Main Role)
Main Role
7.5
TV Show
Year Title # Role Rating
2019 My Brilliant Masters
Chinese TV Show, 2019, 12 eps
(Guest)
12
Guest
8.3
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Joan Chen

Chong Chen
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Details

  • First Name: Chong
  • Family Name: Chen
  • Native name: 陳冲
  • Also Known as: 陈冲
  • Nationality: Chinese
  • Gender: Female
  • Born: April 26, 1961
  • Age: 64

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