Yuen Qiu

Yuen Qiu (元秋), born Cheung Cheun-Nam (張轉男) in Shandong Province, China, is a renowned actress and martial artist from Hong Kong. Her impressive skills in Chinese martial arts and Beijing opera were honed under the guidance of the esteemed Yu Jim-Yuen at the China Drama Academy's Peking Opera School, alongside legends like Jackie Chan and Sammo Hung Kam-Bo.

Yuen began her career in the entertainment industry as a stuntwoman and nightclub performer, gaining recognition from the late 1960s to the early 1970s. She made her international debut in the 1974 film The Man with the Golden Gun, where she played a pivotal role as a student who saves Roger Moore's James Bond. However, due to limited opportunities for stuntwomen during that era, she chose to marry at 24 and stepped away from the film scene.

After nearly two decades away from the industry, Yuen's fortunes changed unexpectedly when she accompanied a friend to an audition for the film Kung Fu Hustle. The director, Stephen Chow, was captivated by her presence and insisted on casting her, showcasing his determination to bring her back to the screen. Yuen’s career resurgence continued with her role in Kung Fu Mahjong alongside Yuen Wah, further solidifying her legacy in martial arts cinema.