Angela Mao Ying, born on 20 September 1952 under the name Mao Jingying, was a Hong Kong martial-arts actress raised in Taiwan. At six she entered Taiwan's National Fu Hsing Dramatic Arts Academy and trained for eight years in Peking opera, her schoolmates including Chang Yi and James Tien. After graduating she worked in a Peking opera troupe as a wudan, or female warrior role, and under the stage name Mao Fujing was ranked first among Taiwan's Ten Best Wudans. She made her screen debut in The Eight Bandits in 1968. In 1970 the director Huang Feng spotted her and invited her to join the newly founded Golden Harvest (HK) Limited as a contract player. She took the lead in The Angry River (1971), the first title Golden Harvest put into production, and appeared in The Invincible Eight (1971), the company's debut release. Lady Whirlwind (1972) established her as a star, and to prepare for Hap Ki Do (1972) she studied Korean martial arts under Ji Han-jae. She became Golden Harvest's leading action heroine, playing Su Lin, the sister of Bruce Lee's character, in Enter the Dragon (1973), and appearing in Back Alley Princess (1973), When Taekwondo Strikes (1973), Stoner (1974), The Himalayan (1976), A Queen's Ransom (1976) and Broken Oath (1977), winning popularity in Hong Kong, Taiwan and Japan. In 1976 she was named to the Wah Kiu Yat Po Ten Star Golden Globe list. After finishing her Golden Harvest contract in the mid-1970s she worked freelance in Hong Kong and Taiwan, returning to Taiwan to make films from about 1977. She retired in 1993 after the birth of her younger son, later settling in the United States and running restaurants in Flushing, New York. Known for her tough screen presence and genuine martial skill, she was nicknamed 'the female Bruce Lee'.
Angela Mao was Golden Harvest's leading action heroine in its early years, carving a place for a female action star in the male-dominated kung fu genre. Her genuine martial arts skills made hits such as Lady Whirlwind and Hap Ki Do selling points in Hong Kong, Taiwan and Japan, and she appeared alongside Bruce Lee in Enter the Dragon.
Achievements
- 1968 · Made her screen debut in The Eight Bandits
- 1970 · Was spotted by director Huang Feng and joined the newly founded Golden Harvest (HK) Limited as a staple actress
- 1972 · Rose to stardom with Lady Whirlwind and trained under the Korean master Ji Han-jae for Hap Ki Do
- 1976 · Named to the Wah Kiu Yat Po Ten Star Golden Globe list for film