Qiu Yuen's journey in the world of Chinese martial arts and Beijing-opera skills began with a prestigious apprenticeship under the guidance of renowned masters Jackie Chan, Sammo Hung, and Kam-Bo, all of whom were trained by the same master, Yu Jim-yuen, at the Beijing Opera School, which is part of the esteemed Chinese Drama Academy.
In the early stages of her career, Qiu Yuen, also known as Cheung Cheun Nam, took on various roles, including that of a female stunt artist and a night club performer, during the late 1960s and early 1970s.
However, as she delved deeper into the industry, Qiu Yuen began to realize that the prospects for female stunt artists were bleak, and thus, she took a hiatus from her career to focus on her personal life. She got married and stepped away from the spotlight.
In 1974, at the tender age of 24, Qiu Yuen made a brief but notable appearance in the James Bond film, "The Man with the Golden Gun," where she played the role of a student who rescues Roger Moore.
After a hiatus of over 28 years, Qiu Yuen found herself back in the limelight, this time starring in the international smash hit, Kung Fu Hustle, in 2004. Interestingly, her return to the screen was largely a result of chance, as she was accompanying a junior woman from the China Drama Academy to an audition when Stephen Chow, the director and star, took notice of her exceptional skills.
Around the same time, Qiu Yuen's personal life was also undergoing a significant change, as she welcomed her first grandchild in 2004.
