Joan Chen facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Joan Chen
Chen in 2012
Born	陳沖 (Chen Chong) (1961-04-26) April 26, 1961 (age 64) Shanghai, China
Occupation	Actress, director
Years active	1975–present
Spouse(s)	Jim Lau ​ ​ (m. 1985; div. 1990)​ Peter Hui ​ (m. 1992)​
Children	2
Chinese name
Traditional Chinese	陳冲
Simplified Chinese	陈冲
Transcriptions Standard Mandarin Hanyu Pinyin Chén Chōng Yue: Cantonese Jyutping Can4 Cung1

Joan Chen (born April 26, 1961) is an American actress and film director. She was born in Shanghai, China. Joan Chen started her acting career in Chinese films. Later, she became famous in Hollywood.

She is known for her roles in movies like The Last Emperor (1987). She also starred in the TV series Twin Peaks (1990–1991). As a director, she made films such as Xiu Xiu: The Sent Down Girl (1998).

Early Life and First Steps in Acting

Joan Chen grew up in Shanghai, China. Her parents were both pharmacologists. She and her older brother, Chase, lived during the Cultural Revolution. When she was 14, Joan was noticed for her excellent marksmanship. This led her to join an acting program in 1975.

A famous director, Xie Jin, chose her for his 1977 film Youth. In this movie, she played a deaf character. After high school, she studied English at Shanghai International Studies University.

Becoming a Star: Early Career in China

In 1979, Joan Chen starred in Little Flower. She won the Hundred Flowers Award for Best Actress for this role. She played a revolutionary's daughter in the film. Time magazine called her "the Elizabeth Taylor of China." This was because she became a big star as a teenager.

She also appeared in the 1979 film Hearts for the Motherland. This movie was about a Chinese family returning home. In 1981, she starred in Awakening.

Hollywood and Directing Success

At age 20, Joan Chen moved to the United States. She studied filmmaking at California State University, Northridge. Her first Hollywood movie was Tai-Pan. In 1987, she played Empress Wanrong in The Last Emperor. This film won nine Academy Awards, including Best Picture.

She then joined the TV series Twin Peaks as Josie Packard. In 1993, she was in Heaven & Earth. She also played two characters in Temptation of a Monk. For one role, she even shaved her head on screen.

In 1994, she starred with Steven Seagal in On Deadly Ground. She also returned to Shanghai for Red Rose White Rose. For this film, she won a Golden Horse Award.

Joan Chen started directing films in 1998. Her first film as a director was Xiu Xiu: The Sent Down Girl. This movie received great reviews. She later directed Autumn in New York in 2000.

International Recognition and Recent Work

In the 2000s, Joan Chen began acting more often. She took on roles in both English and Chinese films. In 2004, she starred in Saving Face. She played a mother who was pregnant and unwed.

In 2007, she received praise for her role in The Home Song Stories. She played a glamorous singer trying to survive in Australia. She won the AACTA Award for Best Actress in a Leading Role for this performance. That same year, she was in ... Caution and The Sun Also Rises.

In 2014, Joan Chen played Empress Chabi in the Netflix series Marco Polo. She read books to learn more about the Mongols for her role. In 2023, she starred in the comedy-drama Dìdi. Critics praised her performance in this film.

Personal Life

Joan Chen was married to Jim Lau from 1985 to 1990. She married her second husband, Peter Hui, in 1992. They have two daughters. The family lives in San Francisco, California.

In 1989, she became a citizen of the United States. She has also been involved in charitable work. In 2008, she supported a campaign to stop HIV/AIDS stigma. She also promoted breast cancer prevention.

Filmography

Actress

Film

Television

Filmmaker

Images for kids

• 

  Chen in fantasy makeup for the 1985 film Dim Sum: A Little Bit of Heart

• 

  Chen in the 1985 film Dim Sum: A Little Bit of Heart

See also

In Spanish: Joan Chen para niños