Thursday, June 2, 2011

Who is Michelle Yeoh Choo-Kheng?

Who is Michelle Yeoh Choo-Kheng? The entertainment and acting world knows her as Michelle Yeoh. Yeoh  is a Hong Kong-based Malaysian actress and dancer, well known for performing her own stunts in the action films that brought her to fame in the early 1990s.
Born in Ipoh, Malaysia, she is based in Hong Kong and was chosen by People magazine as one of the 50 Most Beautiful People in the World in 1997.

She is best known in the Western world for her roles in the 1997 James Bond film Tomorrow Never Dies, playing Wai Lin, and the multiple Academy Award-winning Chinese action film Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon, for which she was nominated the BAFTA for "Best Actress". In 2008, the film critic website Rotten Tomatoes ranked her the greatest action heroine of all time.[1]
She is credited as Michelle Khan in some of her earlier films. This alias was chosen by the D&B studio who thought it might be more marketable to international and western audiences. Yeoh later preferred using her real name.[2]

Early life and career

Michelle Yeoh Choo Kheng was born 6 August 1962 to a prominent ethnic Chinese family in Ipoh, Malaysia, on 6 August 1962. Her parents are Janet Yeoh and Yeoh Kian Teik, a lawyer and MCA politician.[3] She was keen on dance from an early age, beginning ballet at the age of four. At 15 years old, she moved with her parents to England, where she was enrolled in a boarding school. Yeoh later studied at the Royal Academy of Dance in London, majoring in ballet. However, a spinal injury prevented her from becoming a professional ballet dancer, and she transferred her attention to choreography and other arts. She later received a B.A. degree in Creative Arts with a minor in Drama.
In 1983, at the age of 21, Yeoh won the Miss Malaysia beauty pageant. She was also Malaysia's representative at the 1983 Miss World pageant in London. From there, she appeared in a television commercial with Jackie Chan which caught the attention of a fledgling Hong Kong film production company, D&B Films.
Yeoh's career in Hong Kong started with a few commercials for Charles Jourdan, opposite action movie heroes Jackie Chan and Chow Yun-fat before being offered a film contract. The Charles Jourdan brand was handled by D&B Group in Hong Kong, run by Yeoh's future husband, Dickson Poon. In 1988, she retired from acting after marrying Poon. Three years later, the couple divorced and Yeoh returned to acting in 1992. Her first movie after the comeback was Police Story 3: Super Cop, which was partly shot in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. Yeoh also modelled for The Body Shop and L'Oreal.

Wider fame

Yeoh started her film career acting in action and martial arts films such as Yes, Madam in 1985, The Heroic Trio in 1993, and the Yuen Woo-ping films Tai Chi Master and Wing Chun in 1994. Yeoh has had no formal martial arts training and she relies on her dance training and instructors, and does her own fighting and most of her own stunts.[4]
Yeoh learned English and Malay before Cantonese, and cannot read Chinese characters; consequently she learned the lines for Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon phonetically.
She starred in the James Bond film Tomorrow Never Dies as Wai Lin (1997). Natasha Henstridge was rumored to be cast in the lead Bond girl role but eventually Yeoh was confirmed.[5] Brosnan was impressed, describing her as a "wonderful actress" who was "serious and committed about her work".[6] He referred to her as a "female James Bond" in reference to her combat abilities. She wanted again to perform her own stunts but was prevented because director Roger Spottiswoode considered it too dangerous. Still she performed all of her fighting scenes.[7][8] Thereafter, she was offered the role of Seraph in the two sequels to The Matrix, but she could not accept due to a scheduling conflict (the Matrix writers then changed Seraph into a male character and cast Collin Chou in the role).[9] In 2002, she produced her first English film, The Touch through her own production company, Mythical Films.
In 2005, Yeoh starred as the graceful Mameha in the film adaptation of Memoirs of a Geisha, and she continued her English-language work in 2007 with Sunshine. In 2008, Michelle Yeoh also starred in fantasy action film The Mummy: Tomb of the Dragon Emperor with Brendan Fraser and Jet Li.[10]
In 2010, she starred in Reign of Assassins.

Personal life

Dickson Poon
Yeoh was married to Hong Kong entrepreneur Dickson Poon, who owns businesses such as Harvey Nichols and Charles Jourdan.[11] She is a Buddhist.[12]
Jean Todt,
In March 2008, she visited Vietnam to film a documentary for the Asian Injury Prevention Foundation (AIPF). On 31 July 2008, she confirmed news that she was engaged to Jean Todt, a leading figure in motor racing, during an interview with Craig Ferguson on CBS's The Late Late Show.
Yeoh is also a supporter and ambassador of the Save China's Tigers project committed to protect the endangered South China Tiger.[13]

Awards, honours and styles

On 19 April 2001, Yeoh was awarded the Darjah Datuk Paduka Mahkota Perak (DPMP), which carries the title Dato' by Sultan Azlan Shah, the Sultan of Perak, her home state, in recognition of the fame she brought to the state.[14] The award was given in conjunction with the Sultan's 73rd birthday celebrations.
On 25 November 2002, she was honoured as The Outstanding Young Persons of the World (TOYP) (Cultural Achievement) by JCI (Junior Chamber International).
On 23 April 2007, French President Jacques Chirac awarded her Chevalier de la Légion d'honneur. The decoration was presented to her in a ceremony in Kuala Lumpur on 3 October 2007.[15]

Nominations

BAFTA Film Award 2001 – Best Actress (Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon)

Filmography

Year↓ Title↓ Role↓ Notes
1984 The Owl vs Bombo Miss Yeung
1985 Yes, Madam Inspector Ng
1985 Twinkle, Twinkle Lucky Stars Judo instructor
1986 In the Line of Duty Michelle Yip a.k.a. Wong ga jin si
1987 Dynamite Fighters Fok Ming-Ming
1987 Easy Money Michelle Yeung a.k.a. Tong tian da dao
1992 Police Story 3: Super Cop Inspector Jessica Yang
1993 The Heroic Trio Ching/Invisible Woman/Number 3
1993 Butterfly and Sword Lady Ko
1993 Executioners Ching/San/Carol
1993 Holy Weapon Ching Sze/To Col Ching
1993 Once a Cop Jessica Yang
1993 Tai Chi Master Siu Lin
1994 Shaolin Popey 2 - Messy Temple Ah King a.k.a. Shao Lin xiao zi II: Xin wu long yuan
1994 Wonder Seven Ying a.k.a. 7 jin gong
1994 Wing Chun Yim Wing Chun
1996 Ah Kam Ah Kam a.k.a A Jin de gu shi
1997 The Soong Sisters Soong Ai-ling/Madam Kung
1997 Tomorrow Never Dies Wai Lin
1999 Moonlight Express Sis a.k.a. Sing yuet tung wa
2000 Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon Yu Shu Lien
2002 The Touch Pak Yin Fay
2004 Silver Hawk Lulu Wong / The Silver Hawk
2005 Memoirs of a Geisha Mameha
2006 Fearless Ms. Yang (directors cut only)
2007 Sunshine Corazon
2007 Far North Saiva
2008 The Children of Huang Shi Mrs.Wang
2008 Babylon A.D. Sister Rebeka
2008 The Mummy: Tomb of the Dragon Emperor Zi Yuan
2009 Turning Point Michelle Yeoh Make Roads Safe documentary
2009 Among the Great Apes with Michelle Yeoh (documentary) Michelle Yeoh National Geographic documentary
2010 True Legend Sister Yu
2010 Reign of Assassins Zeng Jing Chinese title Jianyu a.k.a. Jianyu Jianghu
2011 Kung Fu Panda 2 Soothsayer (voice)
2011 The Lady Aung San Suu Kyi

 












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Who is Barbara Sinatra ?

Who is Barbara Sinatra? ,[1][2] The entertainment and modeling world knows her as Barbara Sinatra who was once a model and showgirl, and the wife of Frank Sinatra from 1976 until his death in 1998.

Early years

Barbara Blakeley was born October 16, 1926  in Bosworth, Missouri in 1926 to Charles W. Blakeley and the former Irene Prunty Toppass (died 1993, California); she was raised in Wichita, Kansas.

Marriages

She first married Robert Harrison Oliver, an executive with the Miss Universe pageant, in the mid- to late-1940s, a marriage which produced a son, Robert "Bobby" Oliver, but ended in divorce. Blakeley became a Las Vegas showgirl in the 1950s, modeling clothing for Mr. Blackwell. She met Zeppo Marx in Las Vegas, and the two eventually married.
Her son Bobby assumed the family name of his stepfather when Zeppo and Barbara married on September 18, 1959. It had been assumed that Bobby Marx had been legally adopted by Marx. Tina Sinatra has claimed that, according to Robert Harrison Oliver, no such adoption took place. Barbara and Zeppo divorced in 1973. Later, after marrying Frank Sinatra, Barbara would try to get Frank to legally adopt Bobby Marx when Marx was a grown man; Sinatra's children intervened to prevent it.
In the early 1970s she started seeing Frank Sinatra, as a friend at first and later as a lover. The two were married from July 11, 1976 until his death on May 14, 1998. It was Sinatra's fourth and final marriage, and the longest-lasting one, despite Barbara's cool relations with the children from his first marriage. She converted to Roman Catholicism at Sinatra's request.

Legacy

Frank and Barbara Sinatra founded the Barbara Sinatra Children's Center in Rancho Mirage, California in 1986. The center is next door to the Betty Ford Center on the campus of the Eisenhower Medical Center. The not-for-profit facility provides individual and group therapy for young victims of physical, sexual, and emotional abuse.[3]

Miscellaneous

Author of "Lady Blue Eyes: My Life With Frank" (Crown Archetype), released May 31, 2011[4]

Melanie Griffith played Barbara in The Night We Called It a Day, a film about Frank Sinatra.

 

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Wednesday, June 1, 2011

Who is Vivica Anjanetta Fox ?

Who is Vivica Anjanetta Fox? [1] The entertainment and acting world knows her as Vivica Fox. Fox is an American actress and television producer. She is best known for her roles in the films Independence Day, Set It Off, Soul Food, Why Do Fools Fall In Love, and Kill Bill: Vol. 1.

Early life

Fox, was born July 30, 1964 in South Bend, Indiana. Fox is of African American and Native American descent,[2][3] the daughter of Everlyena, a pharmaceutical technician, and William Fox, a private school administrator.[4] She is a graduate of Arlington High School in Indianapolis, Indiana and Golden West College with an Associate Art degree in Social Sciences.[2]

Career

Fox moved to California to attend Golden West College. While in California she started acting professionally, first on soap operas such as Generations, Days of our Lives and The Young and the Restless. She was cast as Emily Franklin in the pilot episode of ABC's Living Dolls, a spin-off of the sitcom Who's the Boss? but was replaced with Halle Berry for the remaining episodes. Another early role saw her as Patti LaBelle's fashion designer daughter, Charisse Chamberlain, on the NBC TV series Out All Night. She also appeared as Jazz's sister on the hit show The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air and on Beverly Hills, 90210. She got her big break in film in two 1996 movies, Independence Day, and Set It Off.
From 2004 to 2006 Fox starred in and co-produced the Lifetime Network drama series, Missing. Fox was a judge on The WB's talent show The Starlet. Fox participated in the third season of ABC's hit television show, Dancing with the Stars, she was voted off after the fourth week. In September 2007, she appeared in the sixth season of HBO’s Curb Your Enthusiasm as a mother of a family displaced by a hurricane and taken in by Larry and Cheryl. Then, on October 1, she appeared in an episode of the show The Game.
In August 2008, she filmed Shark City in Toronto.[5] Fox also hosted her own VH1 reality series entitled Glam God (2008).
In 2009, Fox served as celebrity spokesperson for the newly revamped Psychic Friends Network. After receiving backlash for her involvement with the network, Fox denied any involvement with the company, despite having filmed a commercial and promo video which had already gone to air.[6]
On March 2, 2010, while Fox appeared as a guest on The Wendy Williams Show, Fox announced that she would be starring in a play entitled Cheaper to Keep Her, produced by I'm Ready Productions. Fox was one of TV Guide Network's red carpet correspondents for the 82nd Academy Awards which were held on Sunday, March 7, 2010.
Also in March 2010, Fox appeared on an episode of "Talk Cruze," hosted by Micah Jesse, where she admitted she was starstruck by Tom Selleck.[7]

Personal life

50 Cent 
Christopher Harvest.
In December 1998, Fox married singer Christopher Harvest. The couple divorced in 2002.[8] Fox later dated rapper 50 Cent in 2003.[9]
On March 20, 2007, Fox was arrested on suspicion of DUI.[10]
Omar "Slim" White
On December 26, 2010, Vivica Fox got engaged to her younger boyfriend, Atlanta club promoter Omar "Slim" White, during the holidays.[11]

Filmography

Films
Year↓ Film↓ Role
↓
Notes
1996 Don't Be a Menace... Ashtray's Mother
1996 Independence Day Jasmine Dubrow
1996 Set It Off Francesca "Frankie" Sutton
1997 Booty Call Lysterine
1997 Batman & Robin Miss B. Haven
1997 Soul Food Maxine
1998 Why Do Fools Fall in Love Elizabeth "Mickey" Waters
1999 Idle Hands Debi LeCure
1999 A Saintly Switch Sara
1999 Teaching Mrs. Tingle Miss Gold
2001 Double Take Shari Uncredited
2001 Kingdom Come Lucille
2001 Two Can Play That Game Shante Smith
2001 Little Secrets Pauline
2002 Juwanna Mann Michelle Langford
2002 Boat Trip Felicia
2003 Kill Bill: Vol. 1 Vernita Green/Jeanie Bell ("Copperhead")
2003 Ride or Die
Producer
2004 Motives Constance Simms Producer
2004 Ella Enchanted Lucinda
2005 The Salon Jenny Producer
2005 Getting Played Andrea Collins Producer
2006 The Hard Corps Tamara
2006 Citizen Duane Duane's Teacher
2007 Kickin' It Old Skool Roxanna Jackson
2007 Father of Lies Barbara Robinson
2008 Three Can Play That Game Shante Smith Producer
2008 Unstable Fables: Tortoise vs. Hare Dotty Tortoise Voice
2008 Private Valentine: Blonde & Dangerous Sgt. Louisa Morley
2008 Cover Zahara Milton
2009 The Slammin' Salmon Customer
2009 Hollywood & Wine Jackie Johnson
2009 Shark City Veronica Wolf
2009 Do You Think About Me (Music Video) 50 Cent's girlfriend
2009 Degrassi Goes Hollywood (TV Movie) Cameo Appearance
2010 Cleopatra Smiles Cleopatra[12]
2010 Trapped: Haitian Nights Violet Martin[13] Detective
Television
Year↓ Title↓ Role↓ Notes
1988 China Beach Toffee Candette 2 episodes
1988 Days of our Lives Carmen Silva Unknown episodes
1989 Who's the Boss? Emily Franklin 1 episode
1989 Living Dolls Emily Franklin 1 episode
1989–
1990
Generations Maya Reubens Unknown episodes
1991 The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air Janet 1 episode
1991 Beverly Hills, 90210 Sherice Ashe 1 episode
1992 Family Matters Halawna 1 episode
1992–
1993
Out All Night Charisse Chamberlain 19 episodes
1993 Matlock Celebrity Patient at Clinic 1 episode
1995 Martin Patrice 1 episode
1995 The Watcher Elizabeth 1 episode
1995 The Tuskegee Airmen Charlene TV movie
1995 The Young and the Restless Stephanie Simmons Unknown episodes
1996 Living Single Tina 1 episode
1997 Arsenio Vicki Atwood 6 episodes
1998 Getting Personal Robyn Buckley 1 episode
1999 A Saintly Switch Sara Anderson TV movie
1999 Cosby Anita 1 episode
1999 The Hughleys Regina 3 episodes
2000 City of Angels Dr. Lillian Price 13 episodes
2000 Hendrix Faye Pridgeon TV movie
2001 The Proud Family Margaret (Voice) 1 episode
2002 My Wife and Kids Kelly Kyle 1 episode
2003 Ozzy & Drix Ellen Patella (Voice) 2 episodes
2003 The Twilight Zone Adelaide Tyler 1 episode
2003 Tremors Delores 1 episode
2003 The Parkers Claire 1 episode
2003 Kim Possible: A Sitch in Time Future Monique (Voice) TV movie
2004 Alias Toni Cummings 2 episodes
2004–
2006
1-800-Missing FBI Agent Nicole Scott 36 episodes
Co-executive producer
2005 Loonatics Unleashed Black Velvet (Voice) 1 episode
2006 All of Us Beverly Hunter 2 episodes
2006 Icons
1 episode
2007–
2009
Curb Your Enthusiasm Loretta Black 11 episodes
2008 Little Britain USA
1 episode
2008 Law & Order Kate Tenny 1 episode
2008 Glam God with Vivica A. Fox
Executive producer
2009 'da Kink In My Hair Karen 1 episode
2009–
2010
True Jackson, VP True's mom 1 episode
2010– Scooby-Doo! Mystery Incorporated Voice of Angel Dynamite recurring
2010- Drop Dead Diva Maria Ellis 1 episode




 


















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