The self-proclaimed Queen of #92;Martial Arts Films and #92;Kung-fu Video Queen, quick-fisted Cynthia Rothrock has been crushing skulls and thrilling international #92;action fans since her high kicking debut in Yes, Madam in 1985. Her lightning speed and adrenalized bone-crushing rivals that of such well-known #92;action stars as Steven Seagal and Chuck Norris -- only Rothrock can take down an army of baddies in three-inch heels. Born in Delaware in 1957, Rothrock gained appreciation for martial arts from an early age. At 13, she began taking lessons, and soon after was encouraged by parents and teachers to enter competitions to showcase her unique abilities. Soon earning her first black belt of at least five in varying disciplines, Rothrock would eventually earn a coveted spot in the Black Belt Hall of Fame and Kung-Fu Insider Hall of Fame.
Hailed by The Los Angeles Times, as quite simply, "the coolest actor in the world," the endearingly plebeian, yet strikingly handsome Chow Yun-Fat was a fixture of Hong Kong film and TV since his debut in the early 1970s. Most celebrated by American and British cultists as a hard-boiled action hero, Chow specialized in portrayals of honorable hitmen, gangsters, thieves and trigger-happy cops. A bona fide superstar in his native Asia, Chow‘s extensive credits spanned a variety of genres, including romances, dramas, slapstick comedies and supernatural thrillers. A favorite of both common folk and cinephiles alike, Chow segued effortlessly between commercial and artsy fare. Moreover, Chow came to define "cool" with his signature handling of cigarettes and firearms with equally devastating flair.
Hailed by producer-director Oliver Stone as "my all-time favorite actress", Hong Kong film star Michelle Yeoh (a.k.a. Michelle Khan) has no counterpart in Hollywood. She is a woman who has gained fame and fortune by starring in action films. Like leading male action hero Jackie Chan, Yeoh has been celebrated for performing her own death-defying stunts and handling her own fight scenes. Moreover, she has cultivated this reputation without compromising her femininity.
