Nickname:	Joan Chen / Chen Chong / Chung Chan
Known for:	The Last Emperor / Lust, Caution / The Home Song Stories
Birth name:	Chong Chen
Birthday:	26 April 1961, Shanghai, China
Height:	5' 4" (1.63 m)
Available Photos	73
Wallpapers	12

A trailblazer for Chinese actors looking to make it big in the West, Joan Chen is quite an anomaly in Hollywood. Settling for only the most challenging projects, she has stayed true to her roots and never "sold out" in an industry that tends to typecast its Asian characters. What's more, Chen has maintained the exotic sensuality that first made critics praise her name almost 20 years ago. Often considered the "Elizabeth Taylor of China" due to teenage success in her homeland, Chen is mainly known for two projects in America. The first is her memorable performance as the Empress in 1987's The Last Emperor and the second is her portrayal of Josie Packard on the twisted cult TV hit, Twin Peaks. She continues to release artistically sound work as an actor in Heaven & Earth and What's Cooking?, and as a director in Autumn in New York.
US citizen since 1988. Has one elder brother, Chuan Chen, an artist who goes by the professional name of Chase Chenoff. 10/98: Cancelled proceedings to adopt a child when she became pregnant with daughter Angela Frances. Joan was first spotted by the wife of Tse-tung Mao at a Chinese rifle range. She then recommended Joan to movie producers. 2002: While preparing to shoot a period piece called "Fu Song" (2002), she discovered she was pregnant. She took a break from the film and eventually gave birth to a second daughter. Selected by Self magazine as one of "The Nine Best Bodies for the 90s". Measurements: 34C-24-35 1/2 (Source: Celebrity Sleuth magazine) 1996: Member of the jury at the Berlin International Film Festival. Her Chinese first name "Chong" means "charge on!" and "to rush". 1992: Chosen by People magazine as one of the 50 Most Beautiful People in the world. Her Mandarin name is Chen Chong. Her Cantonese name is Chan Chung. Speaks Mandarin, English and Shangainese. Is friends with Amy Tan. Is friends with Wayne Wang. She went to film school with author Anchee Min in Shanghai. In 1984 she helped Min emigrate from China to the US and is mentioned in Min's autobiography, "Red Azalea". Inspired indie rock band 'Xiu Xiu', named after Chen's film Tian yu (aka Xiu Xiu: The Sent Down Girl). Childhood friend of writer Geling Yan. 2001: Was member of the dramatic jury at the Sundance Film Festival. Her grandfather was a famous Shanghai pharmacologist. He protested the Cultural Revolution by swallowing a fatal dose of cyanide at a public meeting.

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