Hollywood actress and martial arts star Cheng Pei-pei, known as the “Queen of Martial Arts Films,” passed away in July due to atypical Parkinson’s disease. During the 97th Academy Awards ceremony held on March 2nd in the United States, a tribute segment was dedicated to honoring Cheng Pei-pei by showcasing her role as the “Jade Fox” in the movie “Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon,” evoking memories for countless fans.
The 97th Academy Awards ceremony took place on March 2nd, with Morgan Freeman appearing during the segment honoring film industry figures who had passed away in the previous year. He mentioned the iconic martial arts actress Cheng Pei-pei, who passed away in July and posthumously received a “Lifetime Achievement Award” at the 61st Golden Horse Awards, showcasing a classic action scene from her performance in “Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon.”
Cheng Pei-pei starred in the film “Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon,” which won the Best Foreign Language Film at the 73rd Academy Awards. Additionally, “Mulan” was nominated for Best Costume Design and Best Visual Effects at the 93rd Academy Awards.
In the tribute segment, other late film figures such as Gene Hackman, Maggie Smith, Donald Sutherland, and director David Lynch were also remembered.
Cheng Pei-pei’s daughter, Atom Cheng, shared a clip of her mother’s appearance at the Oscars on Instagram, expressing gratitude for remembering her late mother. She described Cheng Pei-pei as a role model in acting and motherhood, saying, “Thank you for remembering my departed mother, Cheng Pei-pei. She will always be a great example for me as an actress and a mother. I love you, mommy!”
Cheng Pei-pei’s legacy as an iconic martial arts actress spanned over six decades in the film industry. Her portrayal of the character “Golden Swallow” in the martial arts film “Come Drink with Me” solidified her position as a “female swordsman” on the silver screen. She also starred in Ang Lee’s film “Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon,” which won the Best Foreign Language Film at the 73rd Academy Awards and the Best Feature Film at the 37th Golden Horse Awards, as well as being nominated for Best Adapted Screenplay at the 73rd Academy Awards.
In the 2000 film “Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon,” Cheng Pei-pei played the role of the martial arts master “Jade Fox,” who trained the character of Yu Jiaolong (played by Zhang Ziyi), breathing life into a cynical and resentful character of a seasoned female swordsman. This performance earned her the Best Supporting Actress award at the Hong Kong Film Awards.
Ang Lee recalled his collaboration with Cheng Pei-pei on “Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon,” praising her portrayal of the character’s humanity, exceeding his expectations for an antagonist in a martial arts film. He also revealed that Cheng Pei-pei stepped up to mentor the young actress Zhang Ziyi on set, which deeply moved him and contributed to the global success of “Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon.” Reflecting on Cheng Pei-pei’s passing, Ang Lee mourned, describing her as the eternal “Queen of Martial Arts Films” in our hearts.