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Pei-Pei Cheng

Pei-Pei Cheng

Actor · Died July 17, 2024, aged 77 · Shanghai, China

Cheng Pei-pei (Chinese: 鄭佩佩, December 4, 1946–July 17, 2024) was an actress best known for her performance in the seminal 1966 King Hu wuxia film Come Drink with Me. It made her a contender for one of the first female action star. She continued to play expert swordswomen in a number of films throughout the 1960s. In 2000, she returned to international attention with her role as Jade Fox in Ang Lee's Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon. She followed this up with her portrayal of Long Po in the 2004 television miniseries Watery Moon, Hollow Sky, which was shown on Asian-American television as Paradise. She worked for Zhouyi Media in mainland China.

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Biography from TMDB.

Born
December 4, 1946
Died
July 17, 2024 (aged 77)
From
Shanghai, China
Works as
Actor
Titles
27 on MovieCove · 130 credits in all
Links
IMDb (opens in a new tab)TMDB (opens in a new tab)Wikidata (opens in a new tab)

Known for

TMDB popularity, last 156 days to Oct 27Down 18% in 30 days

What are Pei-Pei Cheng's films like?

Across their 26 MovieCove titles with a thematic analysis, their films lean Morality and Bonds.

Genres

Action14 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 57th percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Action movies
Drama5 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 79th percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Drama movies
Comedy4 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 26th percentile
: browse their Comedy movies

Their MovieCove films by primary genre. The badge is the typical Midcredits score of the genre's films, the median percentile; an up arrow marks a genre at or above their average across these genres.

Themes

share of theme weight
Morality
26%
Bonds
24%
Self
24%
Survival
10%
Society
8%
Power
6%
Ideas
3%
Family bonds8 titles, browse their movies with this themeJustice6 titles, browse their movies with this themeIdentity6 titles, browse their movies with this themeRevenge5 titles, browse their movies with this themeRomantic love5 titles, browse their movies with this themePurpose3 titles, browse their movies with this themeGrief4 titles, browse their movies with this themeComing of age2 titles, browse their movies with this theme

What they feel like to watch

their average across 26 films
ToneFeelDemandtheir average · filled zone: the category
Stylized: How far its world departs from everyday reality. Browse their stylized movies.
Tone · Style
naturalisticheightened

Grounded 8 · Stylized 9 · Heightened 9

Charged: How hard the emotional peaks hit while you watch. Browse their charged movies.
Feel · Intensity
gentleintense

Gentle 4 · Charged 14 · Intense 8

Shifting: How much it swings between very different feelings. Browse their shifting movies.
Feel · Swings
steadyswings

Steady 12 · Shifting 13 · Whiplash 1

Some laughs: How much of the runtime is played for laughs. Browse their some laughs movies.
Feel · Humor
noneconstant

A split, not a type: Straight-faced 18 · Some laughs 4 · Funny 4

Even-paced: How fast it moves from scene to scene. Browse their even-paced movies.
Demand · Pace
slowrelentless

Slow burn 8 · Even-paced 14 · Relentless 4

Engaged: How much focus it asks of you — look away and lose the thread? Browse their engaged movies.
Demand · Attention
casualfull focus

Casual 13 · Engaged 13 · Full focus 0

Affecting: How much it costs you emotionally; whether you need recovery time. Browse their affecting movies.
Demand · Emotional cost
easyheavy

Easy watch 9 · Affecting 12 · Heavy 5

Resolved: How much is left for you to interpret. Browse their resolved movies.
Demand · Resolution
resolvedambiguous

Resolved 21 · Open-ended 4 · Ambiguous 1

Roles they play

16 analyzed roles

Usually the Mentor: 6 of 16 analyzed roles.

Mentor
6 of 16
Hero
4 of 16
Threshold guardian
3 of 16
Ally
2 of 16
Trickster
1 of 16
Show the 16 roles

Moods and endings

endings are an aggregate; no title is named

Dominant moods · mentions across their titles

Tense
13
Melancholic
14
Thrilling
7
Warm
6
Romantic
5
Other
26

How their films linger

Bittersweet11 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteHopeful8 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteFeel-good7 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteFun6 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteRousing4 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteWistful5 titles, browse their movies with this aftertaste

How their films end · 1 with a twist

  • Happy12
  • Bittersweet12
  • Ambiguous2

AI-generated from each title's plot synopsis and cast list, with extra plot summaries, reviews and Parents Guide notes for titles the model may not know, and the model's own knowledge of the ones it recognizes. Only analyzed titles count, so this covers part of the filmography; the feel axes count films only for now.

Where can I watch Pei-Pei Cheng's films?

As of October 24, 2026, 15 of their 27 MovieCove titles stream on a subscription or free service.

Also on these channels

Subscription and free streaming for Pei-Pei Cheng's titles on MovieCove; rent and buy are not counted. Titles are listed by Midcredits score, highest first, at most 12 per service; a dashed chip is a producer credit or a minor one, such as a thanks. A service opens the browse page, which counts movies only, so its number can differ.

Filmography

130 credits, 27 with a MovieCove page; 15 appearances as themselves are hidden until asked for.

  • Mulan(2020)

    as The Matchmaker

    Midcredits score: 32nd percentile of all films

  • Bell Chamber (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2019)

    as Qin Yi

  • In a New York Minute(2019)

    as Amy's Mother

    Midcredits score: 38th percentile of all films (provisional, few ratings)

  • Flirting Scholar from the Future (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2019)

    as Mistress Hua

  • Escaping (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2017)

    as 翠英

  • The Inn (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2017)

    Show 2 episodes · Actor

  • Meditation Park(2017)

    as Maria

    Midcredits score: 79th percentile of all films

  • Blind Date (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2017)

    Show 52 episodes · as Grandma

  • Little Valentine (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2017)

    Show 40 episodes · as Niu Zhenzhen

  • Goldstone(2016)

    as Mrs. Lao

    Midcredits score: 68th percentile of all films

  • Good Take, Too! (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2016)

    as (segment "The Lighthouse of My Life")

  • The Sleeping Beauty (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2016)

    Show 80 episodes · as 秦奶奶

  • Lost in Wrestling (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2015)

    as Yuanyuan

  • The Lost Tomb(2015)

    Show 12 episodes · as Granny Huo

    Midcredits score: 17th percentile of all shows

  • 回到未來錢 (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2015)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • My Amazing Bride (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2015)

    Show 40 episodes · as Nanny Guo

  • The Eyes of Dawn (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2014)

    Actor

  • The Scroll of Wing Chun White Crane (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2014)

    Actor

  • Lilting(2014)

    as Junn

    Midcredits score: 85th percentile of all films

  • Divas Hit the Road (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2014)

    Show 8 episodes · Actor

  • Return of the Heiress (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2013)

    Show 50 episodes · as Mother Rong

  • Legend of Hua Mulan (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2013)

    Show 57 episodes · as Grandma Xia

  • Singular Cay (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2012)

    Actor

  • 咏春传奇 (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2012)

    Show 27 episodes · Actor

  • 非常后妈 (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2012)

    Show 30 episodes · as 杜奶奶

  • 裂变 (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2012)

    Show 38 episodes · as Old Lady Gu

  • 自古英雄出少年 (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2012)

    Show 38 episodes · as 贝婆婆

  • Speed Angels (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2011)

    as Auntie Fen

  • Coming Back (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2011)

    as God Ni

  • Legendary Amazons(2011)

    as She Taijun

    Midcredits score: 18th percentile of all films

  • Shanghai Legend (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2011)

    Show 16 episodes · as 毛坚

  • The Guardsman (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2011)

    Actor

  • My Wedding and Other Secrets(2011)

    as Mrs Chu

    Midcredits score: 42nd percentile of all films

  • 一一向前冲 (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2010)

    Show 28 episodes · as Dr. Tian

  • A Weaver on the Horizon (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2010)

    Show 36 episodes · Actor

  • Flirting Scholar 2(2010)

    as Madame Wah

    Midcredits score: 2nd percentile of all films

  • Fortune King Is Coming to Town! (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2010)

    as Mrs Liang

  • Remembrance Of Dreams Past (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2009)

    Show 42 episodes · as 陆老夫人

  • Blood Ties (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2009)

    as Madam Lee

  • Mysterious House (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2009)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • Taishan Kung Fu (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2009)

    Actor

  • Street Fighter: The Legend of Chun-Li(2009)

    as Zhilan

    Midcredits score: 1st percentile of all films

  • Basic Love (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2009)

    Actor

  • Club Sparkle (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2009)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • Kung Fu Killer(2008)

    as Myling

    Midcredits score: 19th percentile of all films

  • Kung Fu Killer (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2008)

    Show 2 episodes · as Myling

  • Love Under the Sign of the Dragon (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2008)

    as Tham

  • Special Boys (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2008)

    as 兰姑妈

  • 君子好逑 (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2007)

    Show 1 episode · as 铁夫人

  • They Wait(2007)

    as Aunt Mei

    Midcredits score: 29th percentile of all films

  • The Counting House (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2007)

    as Lia

  • Shanghai Baby (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2007)

    as Conny

  • Book and Sword: The Final Battle (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2006)

    Actor

  • 至尊红颜 (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2006)

    Show 2 episodes · Actor

  • Barbara Wood - Das Haus der Harmonie(2005)

    as Amah

    Midcredits score: 54th percentile of all films

  • Li Wei Resigns from Office (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2005)

    Show 42 episodes · as [Li Wei's mother]

  • Dandelion (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2005)

    Show 22 episodes · Actor

  • Strange Tales of Liao Zhai (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2005)

    Show 36 episodes · as 苗婆婆【阿宝】

  • Insuperable Kid Huoyuanjia (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2005)

    Actor

  • 天下太平 (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2005)

    Show 40 episodes · Actor

  • Watery Moon Hollow Sky (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2004)

    Show 30 episodes · as Granny Long

  • The Miracle Box (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2004)

    as Joanna's Mom

  • Sex and the Beauties (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2004)

    as Selina's mom

  • Shui Yue Dong Tian (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2004)

    Show 30 episodes · as 龙婆

  • Springs of Life (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2002)

    Show 1 episode · as Yun Shu Heng

  • Naked Weapon(2002)

    as Faye Ching

    Midcredits score: 33rd percentile of all films

  • Romance of Book and Sword (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2002)

    Show 46 episodes · as Empress Dowager Chongqing

  • Book and Sword (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2002)

    as Huang Tai Hou

  • Flying Dragon, Leaping Tiger(2002)

    as Liu Ru Yan

    Midcredits score: 21st percentile of all films

  • 杨门女将之白马贺寿 (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2001)

    as 佘赛花

  • 杨门女将之八妹游春 (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2001)

    Actor

  • 杨门女将之女将初征 (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2001)

    as 佘赛花

  • 杨门女将之天波府风波 (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2001)

    Actor

  • Shadow Mask (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2001)

    as Red Goddess

  • Legendary Fighter: Yang's Heroine (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2001)

    Show 40 episodes · Actor

  • 杨门女将 (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2001)

    Show 15 episodes · Actor

  • Heroes in Black (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2001)

    Show 20 episodes · as 冯 母

  • Lavender(2000)

    as Md Tung

    Midcredits score: 54th percentile of all films

  • The Young Detective (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2000)

    Show 40 episodes · as 包大娘

  • 少年包青天 (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2000)

    Show 53 episodes · as 包夫人

  • Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon(2000)

    as Jade Fox

    Midcredits score: 97th percentile of all films

  • Fist Power (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2000)

    as Brian's mother

  • The Truth About Jane and Sam (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1999)

    as Sam's mother

  • A Man Called Hero(1999)

    as Hero's Mother

    Midcredits score: 38th percentile of all films

  • Hua Mulan (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1999)

    Show 48 episodes · as 李亮的母亲

  • Four Chefs and a Feast (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1999)

    Actor

  • Lord of Imprisonment (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1999)

    Show 55 episodes · as 老板娘

  • Young Master Of Shaolin (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1999)

    Show 40 episodes · as 五枚师太

  • 马永贞之争霸上海滩 (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1998)

    Show 22 episodes · as 马大娘

  • Master Ma (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1997)

    Show 42 episodes · Actor

  • 千秋家国梦 (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1997)

    Show 30 episodes · as 朱夫人

  • How to Meet the Lucky Stars (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1996)

    Actor

  • Wong Fei Hung Series : The Final Victory (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1996)

    Actor

  • Wong Fei Hung Series (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1995)

    Show 20 episodes · Actor

  • From Zero to Hero (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1994)

    Actor

  • Lover's Lover (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1994)

    Actor

  • The Gods Must Be Funny in China(1994)

    Actor

    Midcredits score: 10th percentile of all films

  • Wing Chun(1994)

    as Ng Mui

    Midcredits score: 80th percentile of all films

  • Kung Fu Mistress (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1994)

    Actor

  • Kidnap of Wong Chak Fai (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1993)

    as Kung Tse Sam

  • Flirting Scholar(1993)

    as Madame Wah

    Midcredits score: 95th percentile of all films

  • Painted Faces(1988)

    as Master Cheng

    Midcredits score: 88th percentile of all films

  • Huo Dong Ge (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1984)

    Show 30 episodes · as 陈士超

  • All the King's Men (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1983)

    Actor

  • Lady Piranha (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1982)

    as Jo 'Lady Piranha' Chan

  • Whiplash (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1974)

    as Hu Pien-Tze

  • None But the Brave (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1973)

    as Shao Ying

  • The Yellow Muffler (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1972)

    as Singer

  • The Shadow Whip(1971)

    as Miss Yun/Yang Kai Yun

    Midcredits score: 57th percentile of all films

  • The Lady Hermit(1971)

    as Leng Yu Shuang (Lady Hermit)

    Midcredits score: 85th percentile of all films

  • Brothers Five (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1970)

    as Heroine Yen Hsing-kung

  • Lady of Steel (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1970)

    as Fang Yingqi

  • The Golden Sword (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1969)

    as Ngai Jin-Feng

  • Raw Courage (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1969)

    as Shangguan Xiuyi

  • The Flying Dagger(1969)

    as Yu Ying

    Midcredits score: 57th percentile of all films

  • Dragon Swamp (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1969)

    as Qing-Erh / Fan Ying

  • The Jade Raksha (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1968)

    as Leng Qiu Han (The Jade Raksha)

  • That Fiery Girl (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1968)

    as Hot Chilli/Pearl

  • Golden Swallow(1968)

    as Golden Swallow Xie Ru Yan

    Midcredits score: 70th percentile of all films

  • Blue Skies (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1967)

    as Chen Yun

  • The Dragon Creek (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1967)

    as Kuo Erh Niu

  • The Thundering Sword (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1967)

    as So Jiau Jiau

  • Operation Lipstick (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1967)

    as Li Bing

  • Hong Kong Nocturne (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1967)

    as Chia Chuan Chuan

  • Princess Iron Fan (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1966)

    as White Bone Demon

  • Come Drink with Me(1966)

    as Golden Sparrow

    Midcredits score: 79th percentile of all films

  • The Lotus Lamp (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1965)

    as Liu Yan-Chang

  • Song of Orchid Island (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1965)

    as Olan

  • Lover's Rock (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1964)

    as Lin Chiu-tzu

  • The Last Woman of Shang (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1964)

    as Dancing Girl

Career shape

Star power in the 97th percentile of 239,109 people with a billed film role, over a full career of 130 titles from 1964 to 2020; peak year 2001.

Biggest box office

Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon (2000)

$214M worldwide

Highest rated

Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon (2000)

Midcredits 97th

Film career

19642020

Peak 2001 · back in prominent film roles after a quiet stretch. Top draw in 8 MovieCove titles. Film roles by billing, audience size and rating; 25+ votes. A show carries a single first-air date, so shows are not on the curve.

By role

only this rolewith another role
Acting130 of 130: 130 only acting, 0 with another role · typical Midcredits score54th

By decade

1960s18 · acting1970s7 · acting1980s4 · acting1990s19 · acting2000s45 · acting2010s36 · acting2020s1 · acting

Billing

usually 4th · top billed in 18% of 17 roles
669106

Counts from TMDB across their full career, self appearances out; a title counts in every role they held on it. The ring is the typical Midcredits score (the median percentile) of the role's titles that are on MovieCove, shown from 5 scored. Billing is TMDB cast order for roles with 25+ votes, billed in the top 30; the columns are the share of top-billed roles in each era, 5-year spans from the year on the label, merged until each holds at least 5 roles.

How do Pei-Pei Cheng's films land?

Their typical MovieCove film has a Midcredits score in the 54th percentile, the median of all 26; across their 26 films with reception data, the typical film sits in the 59th percentile for acclaim.

Acclaim · how much people like their films

59thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 26

Approval · how many liked their films

53rdpercentile
Typical film, the median of 26

Reach · how many have seen their films

53rdpercentile
Typical film, the median of 26

Midcredits score across 27 titles, by percentile

  • 75th and up8
  • 50th to 74th6
  • 25th to 49th6
  • Below 25th7

Shape of the crowd

11 of their 27 titles are Crowd Pleasers.

  • Universally Loved2
  • Universally Panned1
  • Cult Classic5
  • Crowd Pleaser11
  • Mixed8

Most divisive · actor

In a New York Minute (2019)

89th percentile spread · 33% rated it 4 or lower

Most loved · actor

Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon (2000)

Midcredits 97th · 85% liked

Reviewers score the acting 64/100 in their films, across 22 reviewed titles; fans 75, detractors 39. The element that speaks to their work as an actor.

Percentiles are each film's standing among all films on MovieCove; the typical film is the median, so one outlier cannot drag it. Percentiles and reviewer scores count the films IMDb credits them on, for now; the Midcredits score bands, the shape of the crowd and the two cards count their MovieCove titles, shows included (a show ranked among shows), appearances as themselves left out. A descriptor is the shape of a title's IMDb rating distribution against the catalog; "most divisive" needs a spread wider than half of all titles, and a card names only a principal credit: a craft role, and on a show a crew role or a run of episodes, never a courtesy credit or a one-off guest spot.

Is Pei-Pei Cheng's work okay for kids?

Across a limited sample of up to 3 MovieCove titles with content scores.

Their medianMedian of all films
Violence & Gore3 titlesmedian 52 · moderateMedian of all films: 44
Sex & Nudity3 titlesmedian 38 · moderateMedian of all films: 32
Alcohol & Drugs3 titlesmedian 11 · minimalMedian of all films: 33
Frightening / Intense3 titlesmedian 44 · moderateMedian of all films: 39

Severity 0–100 from the Content Guide. Categories with under 10 votes on a title are not counted.

Who does Pei-Pei Cheng work with?

People who share at least 2 of Pei-Pei Cheng's MovieCove titles, grouped by what they did on them; Hsing-Lung Chiang shares the most, 5.

Directors

Actors

Composers, cinematographers and editors

Producers

Mixed roles