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Michiko Nishiwaki

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

Michiko nishiwaki
Occupation(s)stuntwoman, martial artist, actress, bodybuilder
Years active1984 — present

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, Nishiwaki 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. She made a cameo appearance in the 2022 movie Everything Everywhere All At Once.

Nishiwaki 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

Films
Year Title Role
1985 My Lucky Stars Japanese Fighter
1986 Jikuu Senshi Spielban (Dimensional Warrior Spielban) ( TV Series) - Rikkî
1987 Ojôsan tantei Tokimeki renpatsu! (Young Lady Detectives: Heart Beat!) Misao Matsuda
1988 In the Line of Duty III - Michiko Nishiwaki
1988 Tie dan xiong feng Lily
1989 Miao tan shuang long (City Cops) Michiko
1989 God of Gamblers (1989) Ko Chun's female Yakuza opponent
1989 Time Burst: The Final Alliance her self
1990 Hu dan nu er gang (Widow Warriors) Chieko
1990 Outlaw Brothers (1990) Miego
1990 Magic Cop (1990) The Sorceress
1990 Dragon Fighter (Hard to Kill)
1990 The Best of the Martial Arts Films Herself (archive footage)
1991 The Real Me her self
1991 Se jiang (Witchcraft vs. Curse) Simol
1991 Sing je wai wong her self
1992 (The Mighty Gambler) Joyce Huang (Mainlander)
1992 Yin yao hao qing (Hero Dream aka Naked Huntress) Yi
1992 Hong tin huang jia jiang (Angel Terminators) Miss Nishiwaki
1992 Yun yu di liu gan (Passionate Killing in the Dream) Sha Sha Lee
1992 Pi li bao zuo her self
1992 Huo bao da quan zi (Big Circle Blues) Kwan Show-Yun
1993 Ba hai hong ying (The Avenging Quartet) Sen
1993 Fatal Seduction her self
1993 Nancy Cheng
1993 City on Fire Chia-Chi
1996 Top Fighter 2 Herself (archive footage)
1998 Lethal Weapon 4 her self
1999 Man on the Moon Female Karate Fighter (uncredited)
2003 Ghost Rock Hana

Stunt and Stunt Double appearances

Stunts
Year Title
1997 Red Corner
1998 Brave New World
1998 Blade
1998 Fantasy Island: Estrogen
1998–2000 Martial Law (TV Series)
1999 Man on the Moon
1999 Play It to the Bone
2000 Chain of Command
2001 V.I.P - Crouching Tiger, Hidden Val (TV Series (24 November 2001))
2001 Rush Hour 2
2002 The Practice - M. Premie Unplugged (TV Series)
2002 Clockstoppers
2002 The Scorpion King
2003 Kill Bill: Volume 1 (2003)
2004 Kill Bill: Volume 2 (2004)
2004 Collateral
2005 Memoirs of a Geisha
2006 Mission: Impossible III

Notes and references

  1. ^ "From Crunch Princess to Action Diva". Hong Kong Cinema. Retrieved 2009-03-14.
  2. ^ a b "Michiko Nishiwaki". Cult Sirens. 2004. Retrieved 2009-03-14.
  3. ^ "Clark County, NV Public Records". Clark County Recorder's Office. Retrieved 2009-09-03.[permanent dead link]