Maggie Cheung facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Maggie Cheung
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| 張曼玉 | |||||||||||||||
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Cheung at the Shanghai International Film Festival, 2007
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| Born | 20 September 1964 |
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| Alma mater | St. Paul's Primary Catholic School, Happy Valley St Edmund's School, Canterbury University of Edinburgh (Honorary PhD) |
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| Occupation | Actress | ||||||||||||||
| Years active | 1984–2004; 2010 | ||||||||||||||
| Height | 168 cm (5 ft 6 in) | ||||||||||||||
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| Chinese name | |||||||||||||||
| Traditional Chinese | 張曼玉 | ||||||||||||||
| Simplified Chinese | 张曼玉 | ||||||||||||||
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Maggie Cheung (born 20 September 1964) is a famous actress from Hong Kong. She is known as one of the most successful and talented actresses in Asia. People admire her for playing many different types of characters and for her natural acting style.
Cheung has won many awards around the world. She won the Best Actress Award at the Berlin International Film Festival for the movie Center Stage (1991). She was also the first Asian actress to win the Best Actress Award at the Cannes Film Festival for her role in Clean (2004).
One of her most famous films is In the Mood for Love (2000), directed by Wong Kar-wai. This movie made her famous worldwide and is now considered a classic film. After winning her award at Cannes in 2004, she decided to take a break from acting. She now mostly appears at fashion events and award ceremonies.
Contents
Early Life and Beginnings
Maggie Cheung was born in Hong Kong. When she was eight years old, her family moved to the United Kingdom. She grew up in London and returned to Hong Kong when she was 18 for a vacation. She decided to stay after getting offers for modeling jobs.
In 1983, Cheung participated in the Miss Hong Kong pageant. She won second place and the Miss Photogenic award. This led to a contract with a major television studio, TVB, which started her career in entertainment.
Because she grew up in both Hong Kong and England, Cheung can speak several languages. She can speak Cantonese, Mandarin, English, and French. This skill helped her in international films.
Acting Career
First Steps to Fame (1984–1987)
Soon after starting her career, Cheung began acting in movies, mostly comedies. She got a big break when superstar Jackie Chan cast her in the action movie Police Story. She played May, the main character's girlfriend. The movie was a huge success and made her a star across Asia.
Becoming a Serious Actress (1988–1994)
Cheung wanted to play more serious and dramatic roles. Her first big dramatic role was in the 1988 film As Tears Go By. This movie showed her talent as a serious actress and earned her praise from critics.
She continued to prove her skills by winning major awards. She won Best Actress at the Golden Horse Award and the Hong Kong Film Award. In 1991, she starred in Center Stage, a film about a silent movie star. For this role, she won the Best Actress award at the Berlin International Film Festival, becoming the first Chinese actor to win this prize.
Cheung also showed her versatility in action movies. She starred in The Heroic Trio (1992) and New Dragon Gate Inn (1992), where she played very different types of characters, from a hero to a villain.
International Stardom (1996–2004)
After taking a two-year break, Cheung returned to acting with a focus on international films. She starred in the French film Irma Vep (1996), which brought her to the attention of audiences in Europe.
She received more awards for the romantic movie Comrades: Almost a Love Story (1996). In 1997, she acted in her first English-language film, Chinese Box, alongside international stars like Jeremy Irons.
Her role in In the Mood for Love (2000) is one of her most celebrated. The film was a worldwide success and won her many awards. In 2002, she starred in the epic martial arts film Hero, which was nominated for an Oscar.
In 2004, Cheung made history again. She won the Best Actress award at the Cannes Film Festival for the movie Clean. In the film, she played a mother trying to overcome her problems to reunite with her son. She remains the only Asian actress to have won this prestigious award.
Life After Acting
After her big win in 2004, Cheung slowly stepped away from acting. She wanted to explore other interests like music, art, and charity work. She has served as a judge at many important film festivals, including Cannes and Berlin.
In 2007, The New York Times named her one of the 22 Great Performers of 2006 for her role in Clean. In 2010, she became an ambassador for UNICEF, helping children in need.
Although she retired from acting around 2013, her work continues to be celebrated. She is considered a legendary figure in cinema. In 2017, she was invited to become a member of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, the group that gives out the Oscars.
In recent years, she has focused on her personal life. She sometimes makes music, edits film projects, and appears at special events. In 2024, she was an ambassador for a charity event celebrating the relationship between China and France.
Personal Life
Cheung was married to French director Olivier Assayas from 1998 to 2001. She has chosen to live a more private life since retiring from acting, focusing on her hobbies and personal interests.
Notable Films
- Police Story (1985)
- As Tears Go By (1988)
- Center Stage (1991)
- New Dragon Gate Inn (1992)
- The Heroic Trio (1993)
- Comrades: Almost a Love Story (1996)
- Irma Vep (1996)
- In the Mood for Love (2000)
- Hero (2002)
- Clean (2004)
Major Awards
- Hong Kong Film Award for Best Actress: 5 wins
- Golden Horse Award for Best Leading Actress: 4 wins
- Berlin International Film Festival: Silver Bear for Best Actress (1992) for Center Stage
- Cannes Film Festival: Best Actress (2004) for Clean
See also
In Spanish: Maggie Cheung para niños
- Cinema of Hong Kong
