Pei-Pei Cheng

Biography

Pei-Pei Cheng was a Hong Kong-American actress regarded as cinema's first female action hero. Born in Shanghai, she studied ballet for six years and entered the Shaw Brothers training program in 1963, making her film debut in The Lotus Lamp and later taking her first female lead in Lovers' Rock. Fame came with Come Drink with Me (1966), in which she played the swordswoman Golden Swallow for director King Hu, and she went on to play expert swordswomen throughout the 1960s. Flirting Scholar (1993) marked her return to acting, and Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon (2000), in which she played Jade Fox, brought her international attention again and a best supporting actress prize at the Hong Kong Film Awards. She also appeared in Street Fighter: The Legend of Chun-Li, Lilting (2014), Meditation Park (2017) and Mulan (2020), and in Chinese television dramas. She was given a posthumous lifetime achievement award at the Golden Horse Awards. She died in 2024.

78years old at death

Born January 6, 1946Shanghai
Died July 17, 2024San Francisco
Star sign: CapricornThe sign runs December 22 to January 19
Also credited as Cheng Pei-pei, Zheng Peipei and Peipei Zheng

Movie Career

Films: 18
Career span: 56 years1964 to 2020

Genres

Action44%, 8 films
Drama44%, 8 films
Comedy22%, 4 films
Crime22%, 4 films
Thriller22%, 4 films

First and latest

Did you know?!

First role
In 1963 Cheng was admitted to Shaw Brothers Studio's training program. After joining the studio, she played the male scholar Liu Yanchang opposite Lin Dai in her film debut, The Lotus Lamp, in 1965.

Pei-Pei Cheng movies on Netflix

Mulan2020IMDb rating 5.8as The Matchmaker
Meditation Park2017IMDb rating 7.1as Maria
Goldstone2016IMDb rating 6.6as Mrs. Lao
Lilting2014IMDb rating 7.2as Junn
Legendary Amazons2011IMDb rating 4.4as She Taijun
Street Fighter: The Legend of Chun-Li2009IMDb rating 3.7as Zhilan
Kung Fu Killer2008IMDb rating 4.9as Myling
They Wait2007IMDb rating 5.4as Aunt Mei
Naked Weapon2002IMDb rating 5.5as Faye Ching
Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon2000IMDb rating 7.8as Jade Fox
Wan choi ng fuk sing1996IMDb rating 5.3as Gambling Teacher
The Gods Must Be Funny in China1994IMDb rating 3.8
Wing Chun1994IMDb rating 6.9as Ng Mui
Flirting Scholar1993IMDb rating 7.6as Madam Wah
Painted Faces1988IMDb rating 7.2as Master Cheng
The Flying Dagger1969IMDb rating 6.4as Yu Ying
Come Drink with Me1966IMDb rating 6.9as Chang Hsuan-yen
The Last Woman of Shang1964IMDb rating 7.1as Maiden chorus dancer

Best known for

The films on Netflix they are best known for, with the part played in each.

Top

Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon2000 Action, Drama, Romanceas Jade Fox
IMDb rating 7.8297K votes
Mulan2020 Action, Adventure, Fantasyas The Matchmaker
IMDb rating 5.8169K votes
Come Drink with Me1966as Chang Hsuan-yen
IMDb rating 6.95.7K votes
Lilting2014as Junn
IMDb rating 7.26.9K votes
Flirting Scholar1993as Madam Wah
IMDb rating 7.67.2K votes
Street Fighter: The Legend of Chun-Li2009as Zhilan
IMDb rating 3.726K votes
Naked Weapon2002as Faye Ching
IMDb rating 5.58.8K votes
They Wait2007as Aunt Mei
IMDb rating 5.43.7K votes

Most often with

Frankie Chan directed two of these films. Two actors appear in three of them each. Pick a number on the chart or a name in the list to see the films they share.

Top

Ma WuChih-Ching Yang

Sammo Kam-Bo Hung

Michelle Yeoh

Donnie Yen

Feng Ku

Frankie ChanDirector, 2 films

Films together

Ma Wu3 films together, 1969 to 2011
Ma Wu's page
- Legendary Amazons2011IMDb rating 4.4Cheng as She Taijun
- Painted Faces1988IMDb rating 7.2Cheng as Master ChengWu as Film Director
- The Flying Dagger1969IMDb rating 6.4Cheng as Yu YingWu as Lu Hu
Chih-Ching Yang3 films together, 1964 to 1969
Chih-Ching Yang's page
- The Flying Dagger1969IMDb rating 6.4Cheng as Yu YingYang as Chao Lei
- Come Drink with Me1966IMDb rating 6.9Cheng as Chang Hsuan-yenYang as Tiao Chin-tang
- The Last Woman of Shang1964IMDb rating 7.1Cheng as Maiden chorus dancerYang as Imperial Tutor Pei Kan
Sammo Kam-Bo Hung2 films together, 1988 to 1996
Sammo Kam-Bo Hung's page
- Wan choi ng fuk sing1996IMDb rating 5.3Cheng as Gambling TeacherHung as Kidstuff / Fastbuck
- Painted Faces1988IMDb rating 7.2Cheng as Master ChengHung as Master Yu Jim-Yuen
Michelle Yeoh2 films together, 1994 to 2000
Michelle Yeoh's page
- Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon2000IMDb rating 7.8Cheng as Jade FoxYeoh as Yu Shu Lien
- Wing Chun1994IMDb rating 6.9Cheng as Ng MuiYeoh as Yim Wing Chun
Donnie Yen2 films together, 1994 to 2020
Donnie Yen's page
- Mulan2020IMDb rating 5.8Cheng as The MatchmakerYen as Commander Tung
- Wing Chun1994IMDb rating 6.9Cheng as Ng MuiYen as Leung Pok To
Feng Ku2 films together, 1966 to 1969
Feng Ku's page
- The Flying Dagger1969IMDb rating 6.4Cheng as Yu YingKu as Chief Song Jingang
- Come Drink with Me1966IMDb rating 6.9Cheng as Chang Hsuan-yenKu as Jade Faced Tiger's Henchman
Frankie ChanDirector, 2 films, 1996 to 2011
- Legendary Amazons2011IMDb rating 4.4Cheng as She Taijun
- Wan choi ng fuk sing1996IMDb rating 5.3Cheng as Gambling Teacher
Also two films together10 more actors
- Tzi MaMulan (2020) and Meditation Park (2017)
- Li GongMulan (2020) and Flirting Scholar (1993)
- Kingdom Yuen King-TanWing Chun (1994) and Flirting Scholar (1993)
- King-Tan YuenWan choi ng fuk sing (1996) and Flirting Scholar (1993)
- Yang Chi-ChingThe Flying Dagger (1969) and Come Drink with Me (1966)
- Pak-Cheung ChanWan choi ng fuk sing (1996) and Flirting Scholar (1993)
- Miao ChingThe Flying Dagger (1969) and The Last Woman of Shang (1964)
- AnyaKung Fu Killer (2008) and Naked Weapon (2002)
- Yi FengCome Drink with Me (1966) and The Last Woman of Shang (1964)
- Yunzhong LiCome Drink with Me (1966) and The Last Woman of Shang (1964)
When several people share the same number of films, the ones with the most films on Netflix are in the chart.