Yuen Qiu

Despite training alongside future Hong Kong martial arts stars Jackie Chan and Sammo Hung in the 1960s, it took actress Yuen Qiu over 40 years to achieve stardom in the city-state's male-dominated film industry. Alongside Chan and Hung, Qiu began her martial arts education at the famous Chinese Drama Academy at the age of 10. The physically taxing regimen was so difficult Qiu tried to run away halfway through her seven years of training, but was caught and received 30 lashes.

After graduating, Qiu became a female stuntwoman, receiving her first small credited part in 1973's early Jackie Chan vehicle "Fist of Anger." Dissatisfied with the quality of her parts in movies, Qiu continued acting sporadically until 1985 before retiring to concentrate on raising her two children. Her unexpected comeback nearly 20 years later was an accident: while accompanying a friend to an audition for a part in Stephen Chow's martial arts comedy "Kung Fu Hustle," she was spotted smoking by the director. Chow cast her as a chain-smoking, bullying landlady married to a meek husband played by her old classmate Yuen Wah. The flamboyant part brought her back into the public eye and Qiu has worked steadily ever since, often paired with Wah.