Athena Chu (born Chu Yan; 25 October 1971) is a Hong Kong actress and singer. She is best known for her role as Zixia Fairy in A Chinese Odyssey (1995).
Early life and education Chu was born in Kowloon on 25 October 1971. Her father was a mathematics teacher who later started a business with her mother.
Chu attended The Hong Kong Academy for Performing Arts from 1990 to 1992, during which she hosted children's shows on the television station TVB.
Career After graduating in 1992, Chu made her film debut in Fight Back to School II (1992), which earned her a nomination at the Hong Kong Film Award for Best New Performer. Chu started to attract public attention with her interpretation of Huang Rong in the remake of Wuxia drama The Legend of the Condor Heroes (1994).
Chu worked again with Stephen Chow in A Chinese Odyssey (1995). The role of Zi Xia (also known as Daisy Fairy) shot Chu to widespread fame in Hong Kong and parts of Asia. Another one of Chu's most notable films is The Boss Up There (1999). Her portrayal of a drug addict who finds God earned her a nomination for Best Actress at the Golden Horse Film Awards.
Regarded by many as a sex symbol, Chu has generally been cast in flower vase roles. She even made two appearances in Wong Jing’s Raped by an Angel series. However, her role in Whispers and Moans (2007) won her recognition, despite not being nominated for any award.
Chu was the first Hong Kong actress to be nominated at the International Emmy Award for Best Actress, for her role as a disabled but inspirational women who overcomes all odds in the television series Wall-less World (2010).
After a five years hiatus from the entertainment industry since 2011, Chu announced her comeback in 2016 with three upcoming films.
Personal life Chu began dating singer and actor Paul Wong of Beyond in 1998, and married him in 2012. Chu and Wong have a daughter, Debbie (b. 2012).
Filmography +Film Year TitleChinese titleRole Notes1992 To Miss with Love 逃學外傳 Lai Man-si Super Lady Cop 超级女警 Yoki Fight Back to School II 逃學威龍2 SandyNominated-12th Hong Kong Film Award for Best New Performer 1993 Once a Cop 超級計劃 Annie Lee1993 Taxi Hunter 的士判官 Yan Tom, Dick and Hairy 風塵三俠 Pearl Chan Vampire Family 一屋哨牙鬼 Chu Lee-mei1994 Lantern 燈籠 Fong Easy Money 先洗未來錢 Sisi Li1995 Shaolin Kung Fu Kids 笑林老祖 Sister LamTrouble Maker 蠟筆小小生Remember M, Remember E 那有一天不想你 Chui ChingCupid Love 七月俏佳人 Ching-ching 西遊記第壹佰零壹回之月光寶盒 Purple / Lin Zixia 西遊記大結局之仙履奇緣 Lin Zixia1996 重慶愛情感覺 Ah Yin Hero of Swallow 神偷燕子李三 Chinny 1997 Ah Fai the Dumb 天才與白痴 Man-man1998 Temptress of a Thousand Face 千面嬌娃 Sherry Wong Tricky King 超級整蠱霸王 DKNY / Yandy Step into the Dark 夜半無人屍語時 Faith Ching Shanghai Affairs 新唐山大兄 Sin 愛在娛樂圈的日子 Yue Take Five 對不起，幹掉你 Raped by an Angel 2: The Uniform Fan 強姦2 制服誘惑 Po-man The Conman 賭俠1999 Ching1999 O記三合會檔案 生命楂Fit人 Fong Hei-tungNominated- 36th Golden Horse Award for Best Leading Actress Raped by an Angel 4: The Raper's Union 強姦終極篇之最後羔羊 Po-man Horoscope 1: The Voice from Hell 生人勿近之問米 Jojo2000 Love Correction 緣份有Take 2 Emma Lau Conman in Tokyo 中華賭俠 Karen2001 Stowaway 驚天大逃亡 Kam Lan Never Say Goodbye 有人說愛我 Jean2002 Chinese Odyssey 2002 天下無雙 Amour Amour guest star Time 4 Hope 二人三足 Cindy2003 Shiver 心寒 Sammi Mok Sum-yi2004 Sex and the Beauties 性感都市 Kwan Tak-han Love Is a Many Stupid Thing 精裝追女仔2004 Chu Yan guest star 2007 Whispers and Moans 性工作者十日談 Coco2010 Just Another Pandora's Box 越光寶盒 Purple Cloud guest star 芳香之城傳奇 So Ling-fong Let Love Come Back 讓愛回家 Ng Fan 2011 Scary Market 嘿店 Hui Zi2017Once Again二次初恋Ye Lan 2018The Lingering古宅TBAAmbans 驻藏大臣Dawa Yingzong
+Television Year TitleChinese titleRoleNetwork Notes1993 Romance Beyond 都市的童話 Ding Dang TVB 少年五虎 Yeung Suet-lai TVB 原振俠 Wan-choi TVB 龍兄鼠弟 / 追日者 Suen Ho-ho TVB 1994 射鵰英雄傳 Wong Yung TVB1997 Wars of Bribery 廉政行動組 Chiu Wing-yee TVB Tears in Heaven 蒼天有淚 Xiao Yujuan2000 新少林寺 Princess Haotai Kaixin Jiuhao 開心就好 Susie 小寶與康熙 A'ke / Chen Yuanyuan TVB 2002 Xiao Shiyilang 蕭十一郎 Shen Bijun CTV Palm of Ru Lai 如來神掌 Tu Xuehua / Sun Biyun / Sun Jinling ATV 2003 Nannü Zidian 男女字典 Kelly PCCW Network drama 2005 Eonian Hero 逐日英雄 Xiang Wanting 2006 Fox Volant of the Snowy Mountain 雪山飛狐 Yuan Ziyi ATV 2007 Baoxue Lihua 暴雨梨花 Lu Huanong 2008 Gorgeous Adventure 華麗冒險 Amy Yiqian Di Yanlei 一千滴眼淚 Shen Xinyi 2010 沒有牆的世界 Tai Mung RTHK television film, Nominated International Emmy Award for Best Actress 2011 Twin of Brothers 大唐雙龍傳之長生訣 Fu Junzhuo / Fu Junyu
Source:
Discography Year Title Chinese Title1996 Earthquake 地震1997 Glass 玻璃 1998 Ti Ti Ta 踢踢踏 2002 Let's Jump 跳起来 2003 Possession 迷恋 2004 Attitude
References
External links
HK Cinemagic entry