Chen, Joan (1961–)
Chen, Joan (1961–)
Chinese actress. Name variations: Chen Chong. Born April 26, 1961, in Shanghai, China; became US citizen (1989); dau. of physicians; sister of Chen Chuan, an artist who goes by name of Chase Chenoff; attended Shanghai Film Academy and Shanghai Institute of Foreign Languages; m. Jim Lau, 1985 (div. 1990); m. Peter Hui, 1992; children: Angela Frances (b. 1998) and a 2nd daughter (b. 2000).
As Chen Chong, began making films at 14; was the juvenile star in China of Little Flower, for which she received China's Best Actress award, and Awakening (1980); came to US to study filmmaking at California State University, Northridge (1981); made 1st US film Tai-Pan (1986); as Joan Chen, appeared as the ill-fated bride of Pu-Yi in The Last Emperor (1987); was featured as Josie Packard on tv series "Twin Peaks"; other films include The Night Stalker (1987), The Blood of Heroes (1990), Turtle Beach (1992), You Seng (1993), The Hunted (1995), Judge Dredd (1995), Ziyu fengbao (1999), What's Cooking (2000), Avatar (2004) and Sunflower (2005).