So who are the top women in martial arts action films? Some of the women in this list are among the most qualified and experienced martial artists in the world.
1- Michelle Yeoh
Michelle Yeoh, Born: 6 August 1962, is a Malaysian actress who rose to fame with frequent roles in 1990s Hong Kong action films and is best known internationally for her roles in the 1997 James Bond film Tomorrow Never Dies and the Chinese language martial arts film Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon (2000).
Born in Ipoh, Malaysia, she won the Miss Malaysia pageant of 1983 at the age of 20. She later achieved fame in the early 1990s after starring in a series of Hong Kong action films in which she performed her own stunts, such as Yes, Madam (1985), Police Story 3: Supercop (1992) and Holy Weapon (1993). She was credited as Michelle Khan in her early Hollywood films. She was nominated for the BAFTA Award for Best Actress for her work in Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon.
She has appeared in many English, Mandarin and Cantonese language films. Her other works include Memoirs of a Geisha (2005), Reign of Assassins (2010), Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon: Sword of Destiny (2016), Star Trek: Discovery (2017) and The Lady (2011), in which she portrayed Aung San Suu Kyi. In 2018, she starred in the American romantic comedy-drama film, Crazy Rich Asians. She has also recently acted in Master Z: The Ip Man Legacy.
2- Cynthia Rothrock
Cynthia Ann Christine Rothrock, Born: 8 March 1957, is an American martial artist and actress in martial arts films. Rothrock holds black belt rankings in seven styles of martial arts and was a high level competitor in martial arts before becoming an actress.
3- Yukari Oshima
Yukari Ōshima, Born: 31 December 1963, is a Japanese former actress and martial artist. She gained prominence in Hong Kong and became popular in the Philippines as Cynthia Luster. Due to Filipinos' interest in Jackie Chan, she became Chan's pseudo female equivalent.
4- Chris Yen
Chris Yen Tze-ching, Born: 4 August 1974, is a Hong Kong martial artist, fashion designer and actress. She is best known as the younger sister of the actor Donnie Yen. She was noted for her roles in the films Black Rose Academy, Adventures of Johnny Tao: Rock Around the Dragon, and Give 'Em Hell, Malone.
5- Angela Mao
Angela Mao Ying, Born: 20 September 1950, is a Taiwanese actress and martial artist who appeared in many martial arts films in the 1970s. One of the most famous martial artist actresses of her time, she is nicknamed "Lady Whirlwind" and "Lady Kung Fu". She was positioned as a female version of Bruce Lee.
6- Gina Carano
Gina Joy Carano is an American actress, television personality, fitness model and a former mixed martial artist. Carano began training in Muay Thai before transitioning to competitive MMA, where she competed in Strikeforce and EliteXC. She was featured in ESPN The Magazine as well as Maxim.
7- Moon Lee
Moon Lee Choi-Fung, Born: 14 February 1965, is a former Hong Kong actress who frequently played roles related to the action and martial arts genres in TV serials and films. She was particularly notable in the subgenre known as girls with guns.
8- Cynthia Khan
Yang Li-tsing, better known internationally by her stage name Cynthia Khan, Born: 13 December 1968, is a Taiwanese actress. She starred in many Hong Kong and Filipino girls with guns films.
9- Dana Hee
Dana Hee, Born: 9 November 1961, is an American martial artist, stuntwoman, action film actress and model, who has also worked as sports color commentator, trainer, spokesperson, motivational speaker and master of ceremonies, as well as a rancher. She was a gold medalist at 1988 Summer Olympics in taekwondo.
Michiko Nishiwaki, Born: 21 November 1957, is a Japanese actress and stunt woman, martial artist, fight choreographer, and former female bodybuilder and powerlifter. She performed the high-risk stunts as a double for Lucy Liu in the film Charlie's Angels.
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