Angela Mao, born Mao Ching Ying in 1950, was the third of eight children to a family of entertainers for the Peking Opera House. She began her career as a Chinese Opera actress, where she developed her flexibility and martial arts skills. Her talent was soon discovered by film producer Raymond Man-Wai Chow, who made her a star.
As she continued to train in hapkido, Angela was drawn to the new kung fu style, which was in high demand by Hong Kong producers. Her career was marked by a significant breakthrough, as she was one of the first women to make a name for herself in the film industry, which had previously been dominated by men.
