Trivia

Was offered a role in X2: X-Men United (2003) but turned it down because "If I start making films like that, they won't be proud. I'd feel like I was cheating. And I don't want half the world, we have 1.3 billion people in China, to know I'm cheating. That matters to me. I have more pride than that."

Is fluent in English, French and Chinese (both Cantonese and Mandarin, and understands Shanghainese).

Declined lead role in Memoirs of a Geisha (2005) because of racial sensitivity between the Japanese and the Chinese, due to WWII.

Filmed a role in Inglourious Basterds (2009) but all of her scenes were deleted from the final cut.

In Hong Kong, she has been handed every role she has played since she was 18 without an audition.

Signed her divorce paper with Olivier Assayas on the set of Clean (2004) which was directed by her ex-husband.

The first Chinese actress ever to win the Best Actress award at the Berlin International Film Festival (1992 - for Center Stage (1991)) and Cannes Film Festival (2004 - for Clean (2004)).

Although an icon of Asian cinema, she is actually a European with extended residence in Hong Kong.

She and Tony Leung Chiu-wai made 7 movies together: 2046 (2004), Days of Being Wild (1990), Ashes of Time (1994), In the Mood for Love (2000), The Banquet (1991), The Eagle Shooting Heroes (1993), and Hero (2002). They also starred together in a short-lived TV-series: San jaat si hing (1984).

Grew up in Bromley, Kent, when she lived in the UK.

Olivier Assayas wrote the characters of Maggie Cheung (in Irma Vep (1996)) and Emily Wang (in Clean (2004)) specifically with her in mind.

In April 2010 Cheung was appointed as UNICEF's Ambassador to China.

Retired from acting in 2013.

Guest model of Hermès during Paris Fashion Week in March 1998.

In July 2011 Cheung was awarded the degree Doctor honoris causa at the University of Edinburgh, UK.

First runner-up and Miss Photogenic in Miss Hong Kong and a semi-finalist in Miss World. (1983)

Learned French for her role in Augustin, King of Kung-Fu (1999).

Acted in 6 movies with Brigitte Lin Ching Hsia, whom she considered her idol and an actress she respected.

Her parents are Shanghainese. While she cannot speak the dialect, she understands it.

Member of the jury at the Venice Film Festival in 1999.

Member of the jury at Marrakech International Film Festival 2010.

Spokesperson of LUX shampoo in mid-late 1990's in Greater China.

Center Stage (1991) was turning point in her career. Before this film was made, she was only offered the roles of beautiful Asian women in Western films.

Member of the 'Official Competition' jury at the 47th Berlin International Film Festival in 1997.

Wanted to be a hairdresser as a child.

Resides in Beijing, China. (2009)

She was a finalist to star in Memoirs of a Geisha (2005).

Member of the jury at the Cannes Film Festival in 2007.

Is not known to have any children.

Ex-sister-in-law of Michka Assayas.

Upper East Side, New York (August 2005)

Ex-daughter-in-law of Jacques Rémy.