Michiko Nishiwaki

Michiko Nishiwaki (西脇 美智子, Nishiwaki Michiko, born November 21, 1957) is a Japanese actress and stunt woman, martial artist, fight choreographer, and former female bodybuilder and powerlifter. She performed the high-risk stunts as a double for Lucy Liu in the film Charlie's Angels.

Early life

Michiko Nishiwaki was born in Funabashi, Chiba, Japan. As a teenager growing up in Tokyo, she was interested in gymnastics and volleyball. She became interested in bodybuilding when she grew dissatisfied with her body image, regarding her legs as too heavy compared to her upper body.[1] Another turning point was her father's death, which motivated her to have her own say in the planning of her future.[2]

Career

Sports

Unusual for Japanese society at the time, Michiko became a powerlifter and eventually Japan's first female powerlifting champion and first female bodybuilding champion. She opened three fitness clubs co-owned by her brother.[2]

Feature films

Her acting career began in the 1985 Hong Kong martial arts/comedy film My Lucky Stars, in which she played a Japanese fighter. Her performance caught the attention of Jackie Chan and Sammo Hung. She also appeared in films such as The Line of Duty III in 1988, City Cops, Princess Madam, and God of Gamblers in 1989. She was quickly typecast, playing villains and femme fatales in most of her Hong Kong films. At times she did not use a word of dialogue, since she could not speak Cantonese well at the time. After returning to Japan, she went to Thailand to star in Whore and the Policewoman in 1993. She appeared in the 1999 film Man on the Moon, starring Jim Carrey, and did stunts for Hollywood films such as Red Corner, Blade, Charlie's Angels, and Rush Hour 2.

Michiko married in 1996[3] and subsequently moved to Moorpark, California, where she was living with her husband and son as of the middle of October 2013.

Filmography

Acting Credits

  • Ghost Rock (2004)
  • Man on the Moon (1999)
  • Lethal Weapon 4 (1998)
  • Top Fighter 2 (1996)
  • Ging fa yu lau ang (1993) (Whore and Policewoman)
  • Fatal Seduction (1993)
  • City on Fire (1993)
  • Yin yao hao qing (1993) (Hero Dream aka Naked Huntress)
  • Ba hai hong ying (1992) (The Avenging Quartet)
  • Raiders of Loesing Treasure (1992) (Treasure Hunters)
  • Huo bao da quan zi (1992) (Big Circle Blues)
  • Sing je wai wong (1992) (The Mighty Gambler)
  • Yun yu di liu gan (1992) (Passionate Killing in the Dream)
  • The Real Me (1991)
  • Se jiang (1991) (Witchcraft vs. Curse)
  • Zui jia zei pai dang (1990) (The Outlaw Brothers)
  • Magic Cop (1990)
  • The Best of the Martial Arts Films (1990)
  • Free Fighter (1990)
  • Hong tin huang jia jiang (1990) (Angel Terminators)
  • Dragon Fighter (1990) (Hard to Kill)
  • Jin pai shi jie (1990) (Princess Madam)
  • Time Burst: The Final Alliance (1989)
  • God of Gamblers (1989)
  • Hu dan nu er gang (1989) (Widow Warriors)
  • Miao tan shuang long (1989) (City Cops)
  • Tie dan xiong feng (1989) (Live Hard)
  • In the Line of Duty III (1988)
  • Ojôsan tantei Tokimeki renpatsu! (1987) (Young Lady Detectives: Heart Beat!)
  • Jikuu Senshi Spielban (1986) (TV) (Dimensional Warrior Spielban)
  • My Lucky Stars (1985)

Stunt / Stunt Double appearances

Notes and references

  1. ↑ "From Crunch Princess to Action Diva". Hong Kong Cinema. Retrieved 2009-03-14.
  2. 1 2 "Michiko Nishiwaki". Cult Sirens. 2004. Retrieved 2009-03-14.
  3. ↑ "Clark County, NV Public Records". Clark County Recorder's Office. Retrieved 2009-09-03.
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