ACTOR
Joan Chen
42 archived facts 4 topics 1 source Last reviewed Oct 2026
All facts (42)
- #001
Joan Chen's grandfather was a famous Shanghai pharmacologist. After being falsely accused of being a counter-revolutionary and a foreign spy, he swallowed a lethal dose of cyanide at a public meeting in protest of the Cultural Revolution.
- #002
Joan Chen became a US citizen at the age of 28.
- #003
Joan Chen speaks Mandarin, English and Shanghainese.
- #004
Because she achieved stardom while still a teenager, Joan Chen was called "China's Elizabeth Taylor," while her ability to move beyond the ingenue role and portray strong, complex female characters earned her the name "China's Meryl Streep."
- #005
Joan Chen's Chinese name, "Chong," means "charge on!" and "to rush."
- #006
Joan Chen was named one of the world's 50 most beautiful people by People magazine.
- #007
Joan Chen shaved her head completely for the role of Qingshou (Violet) in the film Temptation of a Monk (1993).
- #008
Joan Chen is a friend of the writer Anchee Min. The two became friends at the Shanghai Film Studio when they were young. Min was told to stay away from Chen because she was considered politically incorrect. The two nevertheless maintained their friendship, and Chen later helped Min emigrate to the US in 1984. Min said: "Joan Chen was very successful in China at that time. She was a rising star. I was weak, I was politically incorrect. No one wanted to be associated with me. Joan Chen was told not to be with me. She was told it was good for her, but she always stood by me, showing her friendship and support. I will never forget that."
- #009
Joan Chen is a friend of the actress Ye Chen. Both actresses worked at the Shanghai Film Studio. Joan later appeared in Mao's Last Dancer (2009), in which Ye Chen's husband, Charles Foster, was played by Kyle MacLachlan, Joan's co-star in Twin Peaks (1990).
- #010
At a press conference held during the 61st Cannes Film Festival for 24 City (2008), Zhangke Jia, Joan Chen and Tao Zhao observed a minute of silence in memory of the victims of the devastating 2008 earthquake in China. 24 City (2008) was shot in Chengdu, in Sichuan province, where the earthquake occurred.
- #011
Joan Chen attended film school in Shanghai with the writer Anchee Min. In 1984 she helped Min emigrate from China to the US, and she is mentioned in Min's autobiography "Red Azalea."
- #012
On May 19, 2008, Joan Chen appeared alongside James Kyson and Amy Hanaiali'i Gilliom in a public service announcement for the Banyan Tree Project campaign, which aims to stop HIV/AIDS-related stigma in Asian and Pacific Islander communities.
- #013
Joan Chen is a spokesperson for China's Pink Ribbon Breast Cancer Prevention campaign.
- #014
Joan Chen received Cal State Northridge's Distinguished Alumni Award.
- #015
On January 8, 2010, Joan Chen attended the opening ceremony of the International Center at the San Francisco Presidio of the Family Violence Prevention Fund, the world's first international center dedicated to eliminating violence against women and children.
- #016
Joan Chen is known as Chen Chong in Mandarin and Chan Chung in Cantonese.
- #017
At the 2nd Asian Film Awards, Joan Chen was nominated twice for two different roles: Best Supporting Actress for The Sun Also Rises (2007) and Best Actress for The Home Song Stories (2007). She ultimately won Best Supporting Actress for The Sun Also Rises (2007).
- #018
Joan Chen narrated the MP3 audio guide Louis Vuitton Soundwalk Shanghai City Guide, one of three audio guides made for Chinese cities (Beijing, Shanghai and Hong Kong), produced by Louis Vuitton and Soundwalk and released in June 2008. The Beijing City Guide is narrated by Gong Li and the Hong Kong City Guide by Shu Qi.
- #019
When Joan Chen became pregnant with her daughter Angela Frances, her adoption proceedings were cancelled.
- #020
Joan Chen served as curator of the 1st Singapore Sun Festival, whose theme was "The Art of Living Well." She selected and curated five films depicting "The Art of Living Well" for screening at the festival: The Diving Bell and the Butterfly (2007), Dead Man Walking (1995), Hannah and Her Sisters (1986), Still Life (2006) and Edward Scissorhands (1990). She also took part in an on-stage interview session titled "A Conversation with Joan Chen," presented by Ben Slater.
- #021
On 26 January 2010, Joan Chen attended the opening ceremony of the first luxury brand MCM store in Shanghai. Chen wore the MCM couture evening gown, the only one of its kind in the world.
- #022
Joan Chen's brother is the artist Chase Chen, also known as Chuan Chen. He was born in Shanghai in 1959.
- #023
Joan Chen chaired the Altadis-New Directors Award jury at the 56th San Sebastian Film Festival.
- #024
Joan Chen was first spotted at a Chinese rifle range by Lan Ping, the wife of Zedong Mao. Lan Ping later recommended Joan to film producers.
- #025
Joan Chen was a jury member at the I've Seen Films International Film Festival, founded by Rutger Hauer.
- #026
In 2001, Joan Chen was a member of the Dramatic jury at the Sundance Film Festival.
- #027
Joan Chen was a jury member at the 11th Shanghai International Film Festival. The jury also included German producer Ulrich Felsberg, Danish director Bille August, Israeli writer Gila Almagor, Japanese director Kaori Momoi and Chinese director Jianqi Huo, and was chaired by Hong Kong director Wong Kar-Wai.
- #028
Joan Chen was a jury member at the 3rd Abu Dhabi Middle East International Film Festival. The jury was chaired by Abbas Kiarostami and also included Sunil Doshi, Mohamed Khan, Nayla Al Khaja and Michael Fitzgerald.
- #029
Seventeen (2008) was filmed in China's Zhejiang province.
- #030
Joan Chen appeared on the cover of Trends Health magazine alongside actresses Lan Ke and Yili Ma to promote China's Pink Ribbon breast cancer prevention campaign.
- #031
On 23 March 2009, Joan Chen attended the 3rd Asian Film Awards, where she and Oliver Stone presented the Best Director award to Hirokazu Koreeda.
- #032
Joan Chen is an ambassador for the environmental organization WildAid and appeared in a public service announcement for WildAid and the Discovery Channel on the protection of pythons.
- #033
On 27 March 1993, Joan Chen attended the 8th Independent Spirit Awards.
- #034
Joan Chen is friends with Wayne Wang.
- #035
Joan Chen's performance in The Home Song Stories (2007) earned her five Best Actress awards and two nominations.
- #036
Joan Chen served as curator of the 1st Singapore Sun Festival in Singapore.
- #037
Since 2005, Joan Chen has been a member of the Committee of 100, an organization of Chinese Americans that aims to serve as a bridge between China and the United States. Other members include Yo-Yo Ma, Teddy Zee and Lucy Liu.
- #038
In 1996, Joan Chen was a member of the Official Competition jury at the 46th Berlin International Film Festival.
- #039
Joan Chen filmed Passion Island (2012).
- #040
Joan Chen is a childhood friend of the writer Geling Yan.
- #041
Joan Chen attended the 14th Pusan International Film Festival.
- #042
Joan Chen attended the 61st Cannes Film Festival.
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