Joan Chen was born into a family of esteemed medical professionals, where she was nurtured and educated in China at the prestigious Shanghai Film Academy and the Shanghai Institute of Foreign Languages. Her journey in the entertainment industry began when she was discovered by renowned Chinese director Jin Xie while observing a filming session with a school group. Her outstanding performance in the 1979 film "Xiao hua" (also known as "The Little Flower") earned her the coveted Best Actress award in China, earning her the nickname "The Elizabeth Taylor of China" for achieving unparalleled stardom at such a young age.
In 1981, Chen relocated to the United States to pursue higher education, initially attending the State University of New York at New Paltz, followed by California State University at Northridge. She gradually secured a series of small roles in films and television, with her breakthrough coming in 1986 when producer Dino De Laurentiis spotted her in the parking lot of Lorimar Studios and cast her in the film "Tai-Pan". Although the film did not fare well, it led to her being cast as the ill-fated Empress in Bernardo Bertolucci's critically acclaimed film "The Last Emperor" (1987).
Chen's role as the enigmatic mill owner Josie Packard in the cult television series "Twin Peaks" (1990) remains one of her most notable roles in Europe and North America. However, the practice of type-casting East Asians in Hollywood has resulted in a scarcity of significant roles for Chen since then, often being cast as a villainess in her recent roles.
After taking a hiatus to start a family, Chen returned to the screen, securing important supporting roles playing women in early middle age, such as the mother of a principal adult character. As a result, her career is thriving once more on both sides of the Pacific. Her two directing endeavors received critical acclaim, and in a 2008 interview, she revealed her plan to direct again, but was putting it on hold until her daughters were grown, as directing took her away from them too much, whereas acting could be done on a part-time basis.
