Favourite Chinese people

[BlueWizard]

Posted: 1/29/06 at 5:51pm

To celebrate the New Year of the Dog, I thought I'd start a thread celebrating our favourite Chinese artists, politicians and humanitarians. I admit, I'm a pretty whitewashed yellow boy, but I still feel a wave of pride when someone from my heritage makes a positive contribution to the world.

So here are a few of my obvious favourites:


ANG LEE: Man of the moment. Film director, originally from Taiwan.


MICHELLE YEOH: Actress, humanitarian and martial arts superhero. Originally from Malaysia.


OLIVIA CHOW: Canadian politician, born in Hong Kong. She served the Toronto City Council for years and was elected to the federal parliament last week. Besides being a vocal spokesperson for the Chinese immigrant community in Toronto and Canada in general, she was one of the first politicians in the country to actively support gay rights, long before it was popular to do so.


DAVID HENRY HWANG: Playwright. Born in Los Angeles.


MAGGIE CHEUNG: Internationally-reknown actress. From Hong Kong.

Anyone want to add to the list?

Updated On: 1/29/06 at 05:51 PM

[mabel]

Posted: 1/29/06 at 5:54pm

Well, I for one heart our very own Type_A_Tiff! ...She was this weekend's BWW Celebrity of the day. Is that too much of a stretch?

[BlueWizard]

Posted: 1/29/06 at 5:57pm

Of course not!


TIFF: BroadwayWorld celebrity and International Woman of Mystery. Originally from somewhere in the more frigid regions of Canada.

Updated On: 1/29/06 at 05:57 PM

[Type_A_Tiff]

Posted: 1/29/06 at 5:57pm

Mabel, if your post had been ANYONE except for me, I'd smack you!!

And BlueWiz, with Ang, Michelle and Olivia on that list, you've pretty much covered my picks.


(PS. BlueWiz, I'm actually originally from Winnipeg, relocated to Vancouver - but it's all Canada, eh? And I'll die a happy gal if I'm forever associated with Strawberry Shortcake. Damn you, Kitzarina!)

Updated On: 1/29/06 at 05:57 PM

[AbbaRabbit]

Posted: 1/29/06 at 5:58pm

b.d. wong :)

Updated On: 1/29/06 at 05:58 PM

[Type_A_Tiff]

Posted: 1/29/06 at 5:59pm

Good choice, Abba.

[AbbaRabbit]

Posted: 1/29/06 at 6:01pm

can't forget the sexy law and order doctor :)

[BlueWizard]

Posted: 1/29/06 at 6:02pm

Here's a picture of B.D.:



I tried to get one without his shirt off, but all I could find was this:



Still pretty hot, though.

(Tiff, I made the appropriate corrections to my post about you. )

Updated On: 1/29/06 at 06:02 PM

[Type_A_Tiff]

Posted: 1/29/06 at 6:03pm

That was B.D. Wong in Mulan?! Yet another reason to love him.

(How was dinner, Blue?)

[AbbaRabbit]

Posted: 1/29/06 at 6:03pm

awwww... he looks so young in that first pic
<3

[BlueWizard]

Posted: 1/29/06 at 6:06pm

Yes, BD was the speaking voice for Shang in MULAN, while Donny Osmond was the singing voice (though they really could have stuck with BD for that as well).

Tiff, dinner was great! And huge. Today was pretty insane, too, one of the most Chinese of New Year's I've ever had. The family went out for dim sum in the morning, then hung out at Pacific Mall for a few hours to watch the dragon dances, then went dried herb shopping, then off to the Buddhist Temple to light some incense. And I had bubble tea. How has your CNY been?

Updated On: 1/29/06 at 06:06 PM

[AbbaRabbit]

Posted: 1/29/06 at 6:08pm

his little boy jackson is half chineese

[orangeskittles]

Posted: 1/29/06 at 6:09pm

Jane, my best friend in high school.

[Broadwaylady]

Posted: 1/29/06 at 6:10pm

Chow Yun Fat and B.D. Wong. Absolutely gorgeous.

[Type_A_Tiff]

Posted: 1/29/06 at 6:14pm

Oh wow! What herbs did you buy? We picked up some ginseng and strange dehydrated black thing, probably a sea...plant? Animal? And now it's being soaked and cooked for dinner. Thank GOD we're having siew yok, chicken and noodles as well. I have to admit, I'm not a fan of the expensive Chinese dishes, and my parents get to do all the cooking today while I hide in here! Hopefully doing bubble tea tonight - not good for the carb count, but it's an occasion!

It's strange, I find myself quite banana-ized but I always get this wave of pride around CNY, especially when we do all the customs and watch the dragon dancing.

I'm still working up the courage to say "Gong Hay Fat Choy" to the parents - normally I'd do it first thing when I wake up and they're in the living room, but we only greeted each other today when I went downstairs to help them with the groceries, and I know if I crack out the "Gong Hay Fat Choy", they'll know it's just my ploy to get the hong baw NOW.

[Jane2]

Posted: 1/29/06 at 6:17pm

I love Tiff. I also like a guy I work with whom I won't name here. BD Wong and John Lone come to mind right now, actor-wise.

[Rathnait62]

Posted: 1/29/06 at 6:18pm

Since when are you shy about hong baw, Tiff?

[Type_A_Tiff]

Posted: 1/29/06 at 6:22pm

Seeing as "hong baw" is literally translated as "red sack" and it's something I'm desperate to get my hands on this year. Do the math.

Updated On: 1/29/06 at 06:22 PM

[BlueWizard]

Posted: 1/29/06 at 6:23pm

Tiff, we bought some "sea cucumbers" (at least I think that's what they're called) and some...I dunno, random weird dried stuff that is supposed to be very good for you. I never realized it before, but some of these dried herbs are really, really expensive. I guess I'll appreciate my mom's broths and soups more now.

It's sad, because my sisters and I know nothing about Chinese herbs, and my mom is such an impressive encylopedia of knowledge. All that is going to disappear with our generation.

Updated On: 1/29/06 at 06:23 PM

[GClef2]

Posted: 1/29/06 at 6:26pm

Where is Bunny Swan on this list?

[Type_A_Tiff]

Posted: 1/29/06 at 6:30pm

I thought in an episode, Bunny Swan was said to be Icelandic?

I still say, "You come ovuh hee-ah, I tell you ev-ry-ting," though. Gotta admit.

BlueWiz, you're right. Do you speak any Chinese? I feel like I ought to become more fluent in my Cantonese, or pick up some Mandarin - it would be a shame if I had nothing to pass down to my children some day. (God knows I won't introduce the 'lai see' unless my arm is twisted! )

[Type_A_Tiff]

Posted: 1/29/06 at 6:35pm

She is SO stunning, Undi! Did you see her in Memoirs? It ended up being such a thankless role, especially given the juiciness in the book, but she looked gorgeous.

[wexy]

Posted: 1/29/06 at 6:50pm

Chien-Ming Wang of the New York Yankees

http://newyork.yankees.mlb.com/NASApp/mlb/team/player.jsp?player_id=425426

[YouWantitWhen????]

Posted: 1/29/06 at 6:52pm

Russell Wong is pretty pretty.

And, I love Jet Li, especially some of his earlier movies.

Zhang Yimou for his amazing set of films.

And Michele Yoeh.

[hannahshule]

Posted: 1/29/06 at 8:12pm

Anna May Wong

Big star in the 20's and 30's