Born into a family of doctors and educated in China at the Shanghai Film Academy and the Shanghai Institute of Foreign Languages, Joan Chen was discovered by veteran Chinese director Jin Xie while observing a filming with a school group. Her performance in Xiao hua (aka "The Little Flower") won China's Best Actress award, and resulted in the Chinese press dubbing her "The Elizabeth Taylor of China" for having achieved top stardom while still a teenager. She came to the US to attend college in 1981, first at the State University of New York at New Paltz, later at California State University at Northridge. She a succession of small parts in movies and TV, with her first break coming in 1986 when, in true Hollywood legend, producer Dino De Laurentiis noticed her in the parking lot of Lorimar Studios and cast her in Tai-Pan. The film bombed, but it led to her being cast as the ill-fated Empress in Bernardo Bertolucci's The Last Emperor, which won critical acclaim. This, and her role as enigmatic mill owner Josie Packard in the cult TV series Twin Peaks, are her best-known roles in the West. However, Hollywood's practice of typecasting Asians has led to a dearth of major roles for Chen since then, and in recent roles, she has often been cast as a villainess.
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.