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Maggie Cheung
Born in Hong King on the 20 September 1964, Maggie Cheung (Cheung Man-Yuk) emigrated with her family from Hong Kong to the United Kingdom when she was a child. Cheung spent part of her childhood and adolescence in the UK. She returned to Hong Kong in 1982 for vacation, but ended up staying for modeling assignments. Soon she got a salesgirl job at a Japanese department store as well. In 1983, she entered the Miss Hong Kong beauty pageant contest. She won second place and also bagged the Miss Photogenic award. She was a semi-finalist in the Miss World pageant the same year.[1]
Prior to 1988, Maggie’s screen appearance was often limited to eye candy roles. One of Cheung's notable movie roles then is that of "May", the girlfriend of police detective "Kevin" Chan Ka Kui in Jackie Chan's Police Story movies (however, she did not reprise the role in Police Story 4: First Strike or New Police Story). Maggie frequently cited her performance in the movie As Tears Go By (1988), her first of many collaborations with film director Wong Kar-Wai as the piece that truly began her serious acting career. Maggie Cheung is famous for being a talented multi-lingual actress. In Centre Stage, she performed in Mandarin, Cantonese and Shanghainese fluently, switching languages with ease. In Clean, she performed in fluent English, French, Cantonese and a smattering of Mandarin. Unlike most traditional actors in Hong Kong who are Cantonese monolingual, she is a polyglot as a result of her cosmopolitan upbringing.
Audiences outside Asia have become increasingly familiar with her work, including her roles in Centre Stage (as Ruan Lingyu), In the Mood for Love, Irma Vep, 2046, Hero, and, most recently, Clean.
She married French director Olivier Assayas in 1998 but divorced him in 2001. Their relationship remained amicable, however, as in 2004 Cheung made her award-winning movie Clean with him. As part of her portrayal of the drug-addicted aspiring singer Emily Wang in Clean, Maggie Cheung performed songs written by David Roback of Mazzy Star.
On 7 February 2007, The New York Times rated Maggie Cheung as one of the 22 Great Performers in 2006 for her Cannes winning role Emily in Clean. After 25 years of making movies, Cheung is deciding to retire from acting and pursue a career as a film composer. She allows that there might be room for an occasional comedic role, but she would like to paint and compose music, after fulfilling her acting potential.
What members say |
Filmography
Maggie Cheung - what members say
review by SAI81 from Tonbridge
New Dragon Gate Inn 15 April 2006
review by SAI81 from Tonbridge
Police Story 13 October 2008
review by from Manchester
Absolutely Bloody Gorgeous 28 November 2004
Maggie Cheung - filmography
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Ashes of Time Redux
on DVD
(2008)
Starring: Li Bai, Jacky Cheung, Leslie Cheung
Director: Kar Wai Wong
Certificate: 
In ancient China, on the edge of a vast desert, swordsman Ouyang Feng (Leslie Cheung) lives the life of a vagabond, controlling a network of deadly assassins. Pitiless and cynical, his heart has long been wounded by a love he neglected then lost. But as seasons, friends and enemies come and go, he ..read more »
 
54%
from 1,118 member
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Clean
on DVD
(2005)
Starring: Mary Moulds, Maggie Cheung, Beatrice Dalle
Director: Olivier Assayas
Certificate:
Emily Wang (Maggie Cheung) is a woman who dreams of becoming a singer, but who struggles with being a mother, and with her life after her partner Lee's (James Johnston) death. Stuck in a desolate motel room in Hamilton, Ontario, and with a past full of drugs, regret, and a recent six-month jail ..read more »
51%
from 1,369 member
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2046
on DVD
(2004)
Starring: Tony Leung, Maggie Cheung, Ziyi Zhang
Director: Wong Kar-wai, Wong Kar-Wai, Kar-Wai Wong
Certificate: 
Watch now: Unavailable
Offbeat and sumptuously filmed sci-fi romance directed by Kar Wai Wong. A struggling pulp fiction writer, Chow (Tony Leung Chiu-Wai), gets so caught up in the Kubrick-style sci-fi novel he is writing that fantasy and reality start to merge. Meanwhile, Chow indulges his passion with a series of ..read more »
56%
from 13,141 members
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Hero
on DVD
(2002)
Starring: Tony Leung Chiu Wai, Jet Li, Maggie Cheung
Director: Yimou Zhang
Certificate:
Watch now: Included in all packages with LOVEFiLM Instant
Sweeping and sumptuously-shot martial arts action film in the vein of Ang Lee's 'Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon'. In Ancient China, the Emperor of the northern province of Qin (Daoming Chen) is under constant threat of assassination attempts. Three assassins in particular are the cause of much fear ..read more »
64%
from 57,233 members
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Hero - Blu-ray
(2002)
Starring: Tony Leung Chiu Wai, Jet Li, Maggie Cheung
Director: Yimou Zhang
Certificate:
Watch now: Included in all packages with LOVEFiLM Instant
Sweeping and sumptuously-shot martial arts action film in the vein of Ang Lee's 'Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon'. In Ancient China, the Emperor of the northern province of Qin (Daoming Chen) is under constant threat of assassination attempts. Three assassins in particular are the cause of much fear ..read more »
74%
from 1,057 member
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In the Mood for Love
on DVD
(2000)
Starring: Tony Leung, Ping Lam Siu, Chi-ang Chi
Director: Wong Kar-Wai
Certificate: 
Watch now: Unavailable
Hong Kong, 1962. Mrs Chan (Maggie Cheung) and her husband rent a room in the same building as Chow Mo-Wan (Tony Leung) and his wife. After a while, and with their partners seemingly always away on business, Mr Chow and Mrs Chan become friends, their hesitant, considerate relationship making their ..read more »
70%
from 13,061 members
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Chinese Box
(1997)
Starring: Jeremy Irons, Gong Li, Maggie Cheung
Director: Wayne Wang
Certificate: 
Watch now: Included in all packages with LOVEFiLM Instant
John (Irons) is an English photojournalist who has spent over a decade in Hong Kong; his friend Jim (Blades) often crashes in his cramped apartment. John's unrequited love is Vivian (Gong Li) whom he aches for but has not the nerve to possess. Concurrent with England's transfer of Hong Kong back to ..read more »
60%
from 40 members
Currently unavailable
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Comrades - Almost a Love Story
(1996)
Starring: Leon Lai, Maggie Cheung
Director: Peter Chan
Certificate: 
Jun arrives in Hong Kong from mainland China, hoping to be able to earn enough money to marry his girlfriend back home. He meets the streetwise Qiao and they become friends. As friendship turns into love, problems develop, and although they seem meant for each other they somehow keep missing out.
71%
from 23 members
Currently unavailable
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Irma Vep
on DVD
(1994)
Starring: jean-Pierre Leaud, Maggie Cheung, Jean-Pierre Leaud
Director: Olivier Assayas
Certificate:
Written and directed by Olivier Assayas, Irma Vep tells the story of has-been French filmmaker René Vidal (Jean-Pierre Léaud). In an attempt to reinvigorate his career, Vidal decides to remake Les Vampires, the classic silent serial featuring the adventures of jewel thief Irma Vep. Playing herself, ..read more »
58%
from 733 members
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Moon Warriors
on DVD
(1993)
Starring: Andy Lau, Maggie Cheung, Kenny Bee
Director: Sammo Hung
Certificate:
Watch now: Included in all packages with LOVEFiLM Instant
An historical epic of doomed love, betrayal and revenge, Samo Hung's martial arts swordplay features explosive comabt and acrobatic fight scenes. Andy Lau plays Fei, caught up with the 13th Prince's bitter struggle with his evil younger brother to regain the Chinese Crown. Torn between his loyalty ..read more »
57%
from 1,306 member
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Flying Dagger
on DVD
(1993)
Starring: Tony Leung, Jimmy Lin, Maggie Cheung
Director: Kevin Chu
Certificate:
The bounty hunting Han brothers are forever losing their quarries to a female duo known as the Two Witches. When they have the opportunity to catch the Red Fox - the ultimate quarry - the brothers decide to ensure success by joining forces with the Witches.
49%
from 293 members
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The Eagle Shooting Heroes
on DVD
(1993)
Starring: Leslie Cheung, Brigitte Lin, Maggie Cheung
Director: Jeffrey Lau
Certificate:
A parody of Louis Cha's novel The Eagle Shooting Heroes. The Queen of Golden Wheel Kingdom has had an affair with her cousin West Poison, and they had made plans to take over the Kingdom. The 3rd Princess uncovered their treason, but was defeated by West Poison, leaving her to flee and seek her ..read more »
59%
from 103 members
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Twin Dragons
on DVD
(1992)
Starring: Teddy Robin Kwan, Maggie Cheung, Jackie Chan
Director: Tsui Hark, Ringo Lam
Certificate:
Watch now: Unavailable
Jackie Chan takes on a dual role in this martial arts comedy. Boomer and John are two twins (both played by Chan) split up at an early age when Boomer is kidnapped by gangsters. Growing up on the tough streets of Hong Kong, Boomer enjoys an unexpected reunion with his brother John when the latter ..read more »
61%
from 1,639 member
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New Dragon Gate Inn
(1992)
Starring: Tony Leung, Bridget Lin, Maggie Cheung
Director: Li Hui Min
Certificate:
During the Ming dynasty, Tsao Sui San (Donnie Yen) - the evil eunuch leader of the East Chamber - attempts to forge his own kingdom by destroying the rebelling clans. His forces confront the rebels in the desert, and the two warring factions end up at the Dragon Gate Inn, owned by the beautiful ..read more »
60%
from 833 members
Currently unavailable
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Days of Being Wild
on DVD
(1990)
Starring: Andy Lau, Leslie Cheung, Maggie Cheung
Director: Kar Wai Wong, Wong Kar-Wai
Certificate:
Watch now: Unavailable
Luddy, a devastatingly handsome Hong Kong lothario, seduces and forsakes women without compunction. Abandoned at birth, Luddy's self-destructive search for love is really a Quixotic quest for a feeling of permanence and a sense of identity. When Luddy beguiles lovely shop girl Su Lizen, he ..read more »
62%
from 1,745 member
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Dragon From Russia
on DVD
(1990)
Starring: Yuen Tak, Maggie Cheung, Sam Hui
Director: Clarence Ford
Certificate:
A former member of a band of criminals known as the 'Eight-Hundred Dragons' is living in fear in Manchuria as the clan does not allow people to leave alive. However, he is eventually tracked down, and kidnapped along with a young Manchurian, Yao - whose memory is erased so that he can be trained in ..read more »
48%
from 244 members
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Police Story 2
on DVD
(1989)
Starring: Maggie Cheung, Jackie Chan, Kenny Ho
Director: Jackie Chan
Certificate:
Martial arts superstar Jackie Chan directs, co-writes and stars in this sequel to 'Police Story'. In this outing he is waging a one-man war against a gang of criminals when he is demoted to traffic duties. He decides to take a vacation, but is called back to duty after a series of bomb threats in ..read more »
69%
from 3,029 members
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As Tears Go By
on DVD
(1988)
Starring: Andy Lau, Maggie Cheung, Jacky Cheung
Director: Kar Wai Wong, Wong Kar-Wai
Certificate:
Watch now: Unavailable
Hong Kong auteur Wong Kar-wai makes his feature film debut with this gritty romantic crime-drama inspired by Scorsese's Mean Streets. The film opens with young gangster Wah (Andy Lau) getting a visit for the day from his beautiful cousin Ah-Ngor (Maggie Cheung), who is coming into Kowloon from the ..read more »
58%
from 1,029 member
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Project A - Part 2
on DVD
(1987)
Starring: John Cheung, Rosamund Kwan, Maggie Cheung
Director: Jackie Chan
Certificate:
Jackie Chan sequel to the 1984 film. Police inspector Dragon Ma (Chan) is unceasing and ruthless in his one-man war on crime. His relentless quest for vengeance forces him to team up with a pair of beautiful revolutionaries (Carina Lau and Maggie Cheung) and the fists are soon flying.
68%
from 1,915 member
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Police Story
(1985)
Starring: Bridget Lin, Bill Tung, Maggie Cheung
Director: Jackie Chan
Certificate:
Action thriller starring Jackie Chan as a volatile Hong Kong policeman. Chan Ka Kui (Chan) finds himself incapable of standing aside when Mr Ku, the druglord he has brought to book, walks free from court on a technicality. Assigned to protect Ku's secretary Selina (Brigitte Lin), Ka Kui is soon ..read more »
69%
from 4,596 members
Currently unavailable
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Green Snake
Starring: Maggie Cheung
Director: Tsui Hark
Certificate:
Hong Kong fantasy drama, based on an ancient Chinese legend. White Snake (Joey Wong) and Green Snake (Maggie Cheung) have waited a thousand years to become human so they can know true love. However, when they try to tempt a Buddhist monk they find themselves with an implaccable opponent who has ..read more »
49%
from 197 members
Currently unavailable
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The Iceman Cometh
Starring: Yuen Biao, Yuen Wah, Maggie Cheung
Director: Clarence Yiu-Leung Fok
Certificate:
Yuen Wah stars as a renegade swordsman reincarnated in present day Hong Kong. Here he faces master warrior Ah Ching (Yuen Biao), who is romancing a hard-hearted prostitute (Maggie Cheung). Clarence Fok directs this martial arts epic.
55%
from 512 members
Currently unavailable
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Maggie Cheung facts
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...lly, remake of King Hu's 1966 film. The plot is a tad confusing but let me try. Maggie Cheung (sigh) owns the Dragon Gate inn, in the middle of the desert. For some reason b...
