Eugenia Yuan
 | This article is an autobiography or has been extensively edited by the subject or by someone connected to the subject. (September 2015) |
Eugenia Yuan | |
|---|---|
| Chinese: 原麗淇(Yuan Lai-Kai) | |
| Born | January 22, 1976 Inglewood, California, U.S. |
| Nationality | American |
| Other names | Lai-Kai Yuan, Lai-Kei Yuan, Eugenia Lai-Kai Yuan |
| Occupation | Actress |
| Known for | Member of U.S. National Rhythmic Gymnastics team. |
| Mother | Cheng Pei-pei |
Eugenia Yuan is a former rhythmic gymnast and a Chinese American actress and Hong Kong Film Awards winner.
Early life
On January 22, 1976, Yuan was born in Inglewood, Los Angeles county, California.[1][2] Yuan's mother is Cheng Pei-pei, an actress who is known for being a Shaw Brothers Studio alumnus and the role of Jade Fox in Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon.[1] Yuan grew up in San Marino, California.[3][2]
Career
Gymnastic
Yuan began her career as a rhythmic gymnast for the U.S. Olympic Team and was ranked #4 in the world. Yuan was a member of the team for about seven years with the U.S. National Rhythmic Gymnastics team.[2]
Entertainment
Yuan made her screen debut co-starring with her mother in the martial arts picture Flying Dragon, Leaping Tiger (2002).
Yuan co-starred in the dark, low-budget feature Charlotte Sometimes which garnered an honor at the Independent Spirit Awards and was publicly championed by Roger Ebert and featured in his Overlooked Film Festival.
Yuan returned to Hong Kong to star in Three where she was named "Best Newcomer" in the Hong Kong Film Awards (Hong Kong's equivalent of the Academy Awards). Soon after, Hollywood director Doug Liman hand-picked her for the title role of the cult hit mockumentary Mail Order Wife which brought her to national attention when she was named as a "Rising Star/Screen Acting Discovery" at the premiere of the film in the Hamptons International Film Festival.
She was later nominated at Hong Kong's Golden Horse Awards for her starring role in The Eye 2 and had roles in the John Dahl film The Great Raid and the Oscar-winning Memoirs of a Geisha. The jewelry retailer Me & Ro created a special edition hair ornament inspired by Yuan's character in the movie.
Yuan continues to travel back and forth between Los Angeles, New York City and Hong Kong to take studio, Chinese-language and American independent roles alike including the 2007 Gotham Awards winning film Choking Man. She also co-stars with Tony Leung Ka Fai in the Kenneth Bi film, The Drummer, and Erica Leerhsen in Slaughter. Most recently she has appeared in the Australian television drama Secret City.
Filmography
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2019–20 | Hawaii Five-0 | Daiyu Mei | |
| 2019 | Into the Badlands | Kannin | |
| 2017 | She Has a Name | Mamma | [4] |
| 2016 | Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon: Sword of Destiny | Blind Enchantress | |
| 2016 | Secret City | Weng | TV series - 12 episodes |
| 2015 | The Man with the Iron Fists 2 | Ah Ni | |
| 2015 | Jasmine | ||
| 2014 | Revenge of the Green Dragons | Snakehead Mama | [5] |
| 2013 | Pupil (Short) | ||
| 2013 | #1 Serial Killer | ||
| 2012 | What About Us? (Short) | ||
| 2012 | Strangers | ||
| 2011 | Shanghai Hotel | ||
| 2011 | I Don't Know How She Does It | Jack's Receptionist | |
| 2010 | Fog | ||
| 2007 | The Drummer | Kuan's wife | |
| 2006 | Choking Man | Amy | |
| 2006 | Locked (1992) | ||
| 2005 | Memoirs of a Geisha | Korin | [6] |
| 2005 | The Great Raid | Cora | |
| 2004 | Mail Order Wife | Lichi | [7] |
| 2004 | My Name Is Modesty: A Modesty Blaise Adventure | Irina | |
| 2004 | The Eye 2 | Yuen Chi-kei | |
| 2002 | 3 Extremes II | Hal'er, Uu's wife | |
| 2002 | Charlotte Sometimes | Lori | |
| 2002 | Flying Dragon, Leaping Tiger | Xiao Xia | [8] |
| 1982 | Dragon Strike | Voice |
References
- ^ a b Chan, Yuan-Kwan (May 1, 2006). "Eugenia Yuan Interview - 2006 Tribeca Film Festival". meniscuszine.com. Retrieved November 15, 2018.
- ^ a b c Tseng, Ada (February 28, 2005). "Eugenia Yuan: Queen of Quirk". international.UCLA.edu. Retrieved November 15, 2018.
- ^ Ripton, Ray (April 17, 1986). "U.S. on Move in Rhythmic Gymnastics". latimes.com. Retrieved October 19, 2020.
- ^ "She Has a Name (2016)". IMDb. Retrieved November 15, 2018.
- ^ Oleszczyk, Michał (October 21, 2014). "No Safety Net: Eugenia Yuan On Revenge of the Green Dragons". RogerEbert.com. Retrieved November 15, 2018.
- ^ "Memoir of a Geisha". IMDb. Retrieved November 15, 2018.
- ^ "Mail Order Wife (2004)". IMDb. Retrieved November 15, 2018.
- ^ "Flying Dragon, Leaping Tiger". hkmdb.com. 2002. Retrieved October 19, 2020.