Eugenia Yuan (born October 26, 1976) is an American actress and former rhythmic gymnast who has won a Hong Kong Film Award.
Early life Yuan was born in Inglewood, California. Her mother is Cheng Pei-pei, an actress who is known for being a Shaw Brothers Studio alumnus and the role of Jade Fox in Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon. Yuan grew up in San Marino, California.
Career Gymnastics Yuan began her career as a rhythmic gymnast for the U.S. Olympic Team and was ranked #4 in the world. Yuan was a member of the U.S. National Rhythmic Gymnastics team for about seven years.
Entertainment Yuan's first screen role was acting alongside her mother in Flying Dragon, Leaping Tiger (2002), a martial arts movie. Yuan co-starred in the 2002 drama Charlotte Sometimes which won the best first feature award at the Independent Spirit Awards.
Yuan returned to Hong Kong to star in one segment of Three where she was named "Best Newcomer" in the Hong Kong Film Awards. Hollywood director Doug Liman chose her for the title role of the mockumentary Mail Order Wife, for which she was named as a "Rising Star/Screen Acting Discovery" at the Hamptons International Film Festival.
She was nominated at Hong Kong's Golden Horse Awards for her starring role in 2004's The Eye 2 and had roles in the John Dahl film The Great Raid and the Oscar-winning Memoirs of a Geisha. The jewelry retailer Me & Ro created a special edition hair ornament inspired by Yuan's character in the movie.
Yuan continues to travel back and forth between Los Angeles, New York City and Hong Kong to take studio, Chinese-language and American independent roles alike including the 2007 Gotham Awards winning film Choking Man. She also co-stars with Tony Leung Ka Fai in the Kenneth Bi film, The Drummer, and Erica Leerhsen in Slaughter. Most recently she has appeared in the Australian television drama Secret City.
Filmography Year Title Role Notes/ 2019–20 Hawaii Five-0 Daiyu Mei 2019 Into the BadlandsKannin 2017 She Has a Name Mamma 2016 Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon: Sword of Destiny Blind Enchantress Secret City Weng TV series - 12 episodes 2015 The Man with the Iron Fists 2 Ah Ni 2015 Jasmine 2014 Revenge of the Green Dragons Snakehead Mama 2013 Pupil (Short) #1 Serial Killer 2012 What About Us? (Short) Strangers (2012 film) | Strangers 2011 My Life in a Box Shanghai Hotel I Don't Know How She Does It Jack's Receptionist 2010 Fog 2007 The Drummer Kuan's wife 2006 Choking Man Amy Locked (1992) 2005 Memoirs of a Geisha Korin The Great Raid Cora 2004 Mail Order Wife Lichi My Name Is Modesty: A Modesty Blaise Adventure Irina The Eye 2 Yuen Chi-kei 2002 3 Extremes II Hal'er, Uu's wife Charlotte Sometimes Lori Flying Dragon, Leaping Tiger Xiao Xia 1982 Dragon Strike Voice
References
External links Eugenia Yuan at AliveNotDead.com Meniscus Magazine interview with Eugenia Yuan iFilm 2006 Gotham Awards interview Detroit News
Eugenia Yuan at Chinesemov.com