Quick Facts
Biography
Athena Chu (Chinese:朱茵, born 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
On 25, October 1971, Chu was born in Kowloon, Hong Kong. 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 druggie who finds God earned her a nomination for Best Actress at the Golden Horse Film Awards.
Regarded by many as a sex goddess, 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 Chinese 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 since 1998; and married him in 2012. Chu and Wong have a daughter Debbie (b. 2012).
Filmography
| Year | Title | Chinese title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1992 | 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 | Sandy | Nominated-12th Hong Kong Film Award for Best New Performer | |
| 1993 | Once a Cop | 超級計劃 | Annie Lee | |
| 1993 | 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-mei | ||
| 1994 | Lantern | 燈籠 | Fong | |
| Easy Money | 先洗未來錢 | Sisi Li | ||
| 1995 | Shaolin Kung Fu Kids | 笑林老祖 | Sister Lam | |
| Trouble Maker | 蠟筆小小生 | |||
| Remember M, Remember E | 那有一天不想你 | Chui Ching | ||
| Cupid Love | 七月俏佳人 | Ching-ching | ||
| A Chinese Odyssey Part One: Pandora's Box | 西遊記第壹佰零壹回之月光寶盒 | Purple / Lin Zixia | ||
| A Chinese Odyssey Part Two: Cinderella | 西遊記大結局之仙履奇緣 | Lin Zixia | ||
| 1996 | The Feeling of Love | 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-man | |
| 1998 | 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 | ||
| The Love and Sex of the Eastern Hollywood | 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 | Ching | ||
| 1999 | The H.K. Triad | O記三合會檔案 | ||
| The Boss Up There | 生命楂Fit人 | Fong Hei-tung | Nominated- 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 | Jojo | ||
| 2000 | Love Correction | 緣份有Take 2 | Emma Lau | |
| Conman in Tokyo | 中華賭俠 | Karen | ||
| 2001 | Stowaway | 驚天大逃亡 | Kam Lan | |
| Never Say Goodbye | 有人說愛我 | Jean | ||
| 2002 | Chinese Odyssey 2002 | 天下無雙 | Amour Amour | guest star |
| Time 4 Hope | 二人三足 | Cindy | ||
| 2003 | Shiver | 心寒 | Sammi Mok Sum-yi | |
| 2004 | 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 | Coco | |
| 2010 | Just Another Pandora's Box | 越光寶盒 | Purple Cloud | guest star |
| The Aroma City | 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 Zi | |
| 2017 | Once Again | 二次初恋 | Ye Lan | |
| 2018 | The Lingering | 古宅 | ||
| TBA | Ambans | 驻藏大臣 | Dawa Yingzong |
| Year | Title | Chinese title | Role | Network | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1993 | Romance Beyond | 都市的童話 | Ding Dang | TVB | |
| The Chord to Victory | 少年五虎 | Yeung Suet-lai | TVB | ||
| The Legendary Ranger | 原振俠 | Wan-choi | TVB | ||
| The Edge of Righteousness | 龍兄鼠弟 / 追日者 | Suen Ho-ho | TVB | ||
| 1994 | The Legend of the Condor Heroes | 射鵰英雄傳 | Wong Yung | TVB | |
| 1997 | Wars of Bribery | 廉政行動組 | Chiu Wing-yee | TVB | |
| Tears in Heaven | 蒼天有淚 | Xiao Yujuan | |||
| 2000 | The New Shaolin Temple | 新少林寺 | Princess Haotai | ||
| Kaixin Jiuhao | 開心就好 | Susie | |||
| The Duke of Mount Deer | 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 | A World Without Walls | 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 |
Discography
| Year | Title | Chinese Title |
|---|---|---|
| 1996 | 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 | |