Maggie Cheung

Maggie Cheung Man-yuk (張曼玉)

Early Career and Rise to Fame

Maggie Cheung Man-yuk (張曼玉), born on September 20, 1964, is a distinguished actress from Hong Kong. Having spent her formative years in England and Hong Kong, Cheung embarked on her acting career in 1983. Over the years, she has amassed a portfolio of over 70 films. While Cheung has seen considerable success in the action genre, she has expressed in interviews that her most meaningful works include Song of Exile, Centre Stage, Comrades: Almost a Love Story, and In the Mood for Love.

Acclaimed Performances

Cannes Film Festival Recognition

In her role as Emily Wang in Clean, Cheung achieved a significant milestone by becoming the first Asian actress to win an award at the Cannes Film Festival. This role is often regarded as her last major starring role.

International Recognition

Cheung’s work has garnered increasing recognition outside Asia, especially through films like Irma Vep, Centre Stage, Chinese Box, In the Mood for Love, Hero, 2046, and Clean. These films have significantly contributed to her international acclaim.

Jury Member and Festival Honors

Pioneering Achievements

Cheung has served as a jury member at several prestigious film festivals, including the Berlin Film Festival (1997), Venice Film Festival (1999), Hawaii International Film Festival (2004), Cannes Film Festival (2007), and Marrakech Film Festival (2010). Notably, she was honored at the 59th Cannes Film Festival (2006), where, for the first time in its history, a photographic image of a real actress – Cheung herself – was used on its official poster.

Recognition by The New York Times

22 Great Performers of 2006

On February 7, 2007, The New York Times included Maggie Cheung in its list of the 22 Great Performers of 2006. This recognition was specifically for her Cannes-winning role as Emily in Clean.

Career Transition

Shift to Music and Philanthropy

After a prolific 25-year acting career, Cheung decided to retire from acting to pursue film composition. She expressed a desire to explore her potential in music and painting. Her last appearance in film was as Mazu, the Chinese goddess of the sea, in the film/video installation Ten Thousand Waves by British filmmaker Isaac Julien.

Philanthropic Endeavors and Honorary Recognition

UNICEF Ambassador and Honorary Doctorate

Since her Cannes triumph in 2004, Cheung has shifted her focus to philanthropy, music, and editing. In April 2010, she was appointed as UNICEF’s Ambassador to China. Further adding to her accolades, in July 2011, the University of Edinburgh awarded her a doctor honoris causa, recognizing her contributions to the arts and her philanthropic efforts.

Maggie Cheung Filmography

 

Poster for the movie "The Seventh Curse"

The Seventh Curse

A young heroic cop in the jungle of Thailand attempts to rescue a beautiful girl from being sacrificed to the “Worm Tribe” she belongs to. As a result, the cop is damned with seven “Blood Curses” which burst through his leg periodically. When the seventh bursts, he will die, but Betsy, the beauty he saved stops the curse with an antidote that lasts only one year, so on the advice of Wisely (Chow yun Fat) … Read more

Poster for the movie "Center Stage"

Center Stage

Based on the tragic true story of China’s first prima donna of the silver screen, Ruan Lingyu, chronicling her rise to fame as a movie actress in Shanghai during the 1930s. *** International superstar Maggie Cheung (In the Mood for Love) embodies tragic screen siren Ruan Lingyu, known as the “Greta Garbo of China,” in this unconventional biopic by Hong Kong New Wave master Stanley Kwan (Rouge). Praised for her moving and emotive onscreen presence, … Read more

Poster for the movie "Full Moon in New York"

Full Moon in New York

Three Chinese women with vastly different backgrounds get acquainted and become friends amid the social desolation of New York.

Poster for the movie "The Eagle Shooting Heroes"

The Eagle Shooting Heroes

A power struggle between the Queen’s treasonous lover and a princess occurs amid musical numbers, slapstick battles, and martial arts acrobatics. The Legend of the Condor Heroes is a spoof of Louis Cha’s famous classic. The story opens with the Queen of the Golden Wheel Kingdom having an affair with her cousin West Poison, who are both plotting to take over the kingdom. The 3rd Princess uncovered their treachery, but West Poison defeated her. She … Read more

Poster for the movie "Alan and Eric: Between Hello and Goodbye"

Alan and Eric: Between Hello and Goodbye

Alan and Eric are childhood friends who are separated when Eric moves to America. They are reunited in Hong Kong when Eric finds Alan at the cafe where the latter is working as a waiter and singer. Together they forge a business which is destroyed in a storm. Meanwhile, both have met a lady named Olive, and both strive for her affection. In the end, Alan’s rising singing career and Olive’s tendency to favour Alan … Read more

Poster for the movie "The Bachelor's Swan Song"

The Bachelor’s Swan Song

Kenny and Maggie, lovers of long-standing, have been scrimping and saving for their marriage. One day Maggie suspects that she is pregnant, and suggests an early wedding. Kenny is thunderstruck as he has just lost his every cent in the stock market.

Poster for the movie "The Iceman Cometh"

The Iceman Cometh

During the Ming dynasty, Yuen Biao is a royal guard charged to capture a dangerous criminal. The battle which opposes them will make them fall into ice. Three centuries later, nowdays, the archaeologists give them again the life. Only a black jade Buddha and a temporal wheel would be able to make them return in their time. The battle would start again.

Poster for the movie "The Dragon from Russia"

The Dragon from Russia

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 martial arts. Yao’s work as an assassin becomes more complicated, however, when he sees his old lover again and his … Read more

Poster for the movie "Holy Weapon"

Holy Weapon

During the Ming dynasty, Mo Kake takes an invincibility drink to defeat the best Japanese warrior, Super Sword. Three years later, the samurai returns, determined to take the power of 7 Maidens to defeat Mo Kake.

Poster for the movie "Doubles Cause Troubles"

Doubles Cause Troubles

Nurse Liang Shanbo (Carol ‘Do Do’ Cheng) and Actress Zhu Yingtai (Maggie Cheung) are mismatched cousins who just inherited a rental home from their late relative. When they moved in, they discover that a room has been rented out to a man named Ben, who turns out to be a criminal gangster. One night, when Ben returns home, bloodied and injured, he collapses into Yingtai’s arms and whispers a code in her ear before he … Read more

Poster for the movie "The Romancing Star"

The Romancing Star

Ah Fat, foul-mouthed, along with his two close buddies, Traffic Light and Ugly, are working in a garage. Their boss, Ken, is harsh and stingy. However, a warm and close friendship has been established amongh the four. In order for Ah Fat to get over his heartbreak at getting dumped by his girlfriend, Ken suggests a tour to Penang to cheer him up. They come across two beautiful girls, Tung Tung and Man Chi, strolling … Read more

Poster for the movie "Prince Charming"

Prince Charming

Chen Li is the son of an enormously wealthy Hong Kong businessman and is vacationing in Hawaii, experiencing typical girl problems. His lothario friend Lolanto flies in from Hong Kong and is determined to find Chen Li a girl within a few days. After a series of hijinks, Chen Li and Lolanto are back in Hong Kong and investigating high-level embezzling in Chen’s father’s corporation. It also turns out that Kitty and May are employed … Read more

Poster for the movie "How to Pick Girls Up!"

How to Pick Girls Up!

Three love-challenged men meet a radio host who tutors them in the art of picking up women in a variety of unconventional ways in Wong Jing’s gleefully crude and tasteless comedy.

Poster for the movie "Little Cop"

Little Cop

Ever since he was a child, Lee Chi-kin has been determined to become a police officer, despite the fact that he comes from a family of criminals. As an adult, he joins the police force, where he is first placed with the Narcotics Bureau. During a drug raid operation, he catches a drug dealer. He is later transferred, first to the Anti-Porno Bureau where he falls in love with a call girl, then to the … Read more

Poster for the movie "Executioners"

Executioners

Set some time after The Heroic Trio (1993) the city has been devastated by a nuclear attack. An evil deformed villain controls the city’s scarce water supply, exerting influence over both a popular leader and a militarist colonel. The trio of Chat the Thief catcher, Ching, and Wonder Woman (along with her young daughter) have to avert a military takeover and find clean headwaters to save the city.

Poster for the movie "The Mad Monk"

The Mad Monk

Stephen Chow plays an angel-type being in this movie, in where he bets the other people in Heaven that he can change the ways of 3 misguided souls and make them better people. Resurrected as a monk, he must stop a prostitute, a beggar, and an all-around bad guy from being what they are (and have been for generations). To add to all of this, he must do this in 3 Heaven days!!!

Poster for the movie "The Heroic Trio"

The Heroic Trio

An invisible woman is kidnapping newborn babies who are destined to be emperors and delivering them to the mysterious subterranean supernatural Evil Master. The police are powerless, and the city must be saved by three very different women who share a terrible past. Anita Mui plays the mild-mannered wife of a police inspector who’s also the mask-wearing, sword-slinging and knife-throwing crime fighter, Wonder Woman. Maggie Cheung plays the shotgun-toting, hard-boiled bounty hunter, Thief Catcher. Michelle … Read more

Poster for the movie "The Bare-Footed Kid"

The Bare-Footed Kid

A poor barefoot young man from the country arrives in the city to start work with the friend of his dead father.

Poster for the movie "Seven Years Itch"

Seven Years Itch

An introverted businessman who doesn’t get out much, Willie Ng (Raymond Wong) recently celebrated his seventh anniversary, but his marriage seems to be hitting a slump. His wife (Sylvia Chang) is a Cantonese opera aficionado who often complains that her husband is boring and doesn’t appreciate the arts. Willie himself is also eager for some action to break the monotony. When he goes to Singapore on a business trip, he encounters cute pickpocket Siu Hung … Read more

Poster for the movie "Happy Ghost III"

Happy Ghost III

A young, unsuccessful singer, after committing suicide, is to be reincarnated, this time into a musical family. Her spirit must get to the hospital where her future mother is currently ready to give birth to her, so that she can enter the womb and be born. Unfortunately, she misses her appointed birth time, twice, due to the accidental intervention of a young man, Mr. Hong. At first she is angry and makes life hard for … Read more

Poster for the movie "Green Snake"

Green Snake

A mischievous snake who assumes human form interferes with the romance between her reptilian sister and a hapless man.

Poster for the movie "Twin Dragons"

Twin Dragons

Twins, separated at birth, end up as a Hong Kong gangster and a New York concert pianist. When the pianist travels to Hong Kong for a concert, the two inevitably get mistaken for each other.

Poster for the movie "Song of the Exile"

Song of the Exile

Set in the early 1970s, it tells the story of a Chinese-Japanese student who returns to her native Hong Kong after graduating from a university in London. Once she arrives back home, she and her family begins to fight, largely due to cultural and societal conflicts between her mother and herself.

Poster for the movie "What A Hero!"

What A Hero!

Yuen Tak Wah (Andy Lau) has been practicing Taekwondo since he was a kid and becomes an expert at it with his best trick being the 720 Degree Whirlwind Kick. Wah later becomes a cop and uses his good skills to contribute in cracking cases which leads to the jealousy of Officer Cheung Yeung (Roy Cheung), the leader of the rival team. Cheung is also a Taekwondo expert who has a won a championship at … Read more

Poster for the movie "You're My Destiny"

You’re My Destiny

Naomi, a corporate heiress from Japan, vacations to Hong Kong with her two colleagues. Bored, she sneaks out to visit the city and befriends a local rock band and, appreciative of the company, later helps the members with their debit issues. Meanwhile, Naomi’s colleagues received news that the big boss of their company succumbed to a heart attack and that Naomi must sign a document to prevent the company from being turned over to a … Read more

Poster for the movie "Chinese Box"

Chinese Box

The story of Hong Kong, from New Year’s Day to June 30th, 1997, when the British left their colony and turned it over to the People’s Republic of China.

Poster for the movie "Sausalito"

Sausalito

Ella is a divorced Chinese American taxi driver who spends her days ferrying people around the roads of Sausalito, San Francisco. After work, she spends time with her 8-year old son, Scott. Ella meets Mike at Sky House, an infamous pick-up joint. Awkward strangers at first, they nonetheless find passion and what they want in each other.

Poster for the movie "Police Story 2"

Police Story 2

The Hong Kong super-cop must stop a group of blackmailing bombers at the same time that the villains of the first Police Story are out for revenge.

Poster for the movie "Ashes of Time"

Ashes of Time

The film is set in five parts, five seasons that are part of the Chinese almanac. The story takes place in the jianghu, the world of the martial arts. Ouyang Feng has lived in the western desert for some years. He left his home in White Camel Mountain when the woman he loved chose to marry his elder brother rather than him. Instead of seeking glory, he ends up as an agent. When people come … Read more

Poster for the movie "Days of Being Wild"

Days of Being Wild

The movie is set in Hong Kong and the Philippines in 1960. Yuddy, or ‘York’ in English, is a playboy in Hong Kong and is well-known for stealing girls’ hearts and breaking them. His first victim is Li Zhen who suffered emotional and mental depression as a result of Yuddy’s wayward attitude. Li Zhen eventually seeks much-needed solace from a sympathetic policeman named Tide.

Poster for the movie "Police Story"

Police Story

Chan Ka Kui is a Hong-Kong policeman, who single handedly captures and arrests a big drug lord. The drug-lord then frames Chan with the murder of a corrupt cop. Now a fugitive cop killer, Chan Ka Kui must try to catch the drug lord and clear his name.

Poster for the movie "As Tears Go By"

As Tears Go By

Two parallel stories of Wah caught in the mist of a love affair with his beloved cousin, Ngor and his relationship with his triad brother, Fly, who seems to never fall out of trouble.

Poster for the movie "The Soong Sisters"

The Soong Sisters

The Soong family was a political dynasty in China that reached the highest levels of power. This film follows the lives of the three Soong daughters, who were educated in America and returned to China. Ai-ling (the oldest) married a wealthy and powerful businessman. Ching-ling married Sun Yat-sen, the revolutionary founder of modern China. Mei-ling (the youngest) married Chiang Kai-shek, China’s l

Poster for the movie "2046"

2046

2046 is the sequel to Wong Kar-Wais’ successful box-office hit In The Mood For Love. A film about affairs, ending relationships, and a shared love for Kung-Fu novels as the main character, Chow, writes his own novel and reflects back on his favorite love Su.

Poster for the movie "Hero"

Hero

One man defeated three assassins who sought to murder the most powerful warlord in pre-unified China.

In_the_Mood_for_Love

In the mood for love

The story takes place in Hong Kong in 1962. Chow Mo-wan (Tony Leung), a journalist, rents a room in an apartment of a building on the same day as Su Li-zhen (Maggie Cheung), a secretary from a shipping company. They become next-door neighbours. Each has a spouse who works and often leaves them alone on overtime shifts. Despite the presence of a friendly Shanghainese landlady, Mrs. Suen, and bustling, mahjong-playing neighbours, Chow and Su often … Read more