Vivian Wu (simplified Chinese: 邬君梅 ; traditional Chinese: 鄔君梅 ; pinyin: Wū Jūnméi ; born February 5, 1966) is a Chinese actress, known for her roles in The Last Emperor (1987), Heaven & Earth (1993), The Joy Luck Club (1993), and The Pillow Book (1996) and as the historical figure of Soong Mei-ling , commonly referred to as Madam Chiang Kai-shek, in The Soong Sisters (1997 film) and The Founding of a Republic (2009 film) and Departed Heroes (2011 TV series).
Wu began acting at the age of fifteen in Shanghai Film Studio . In 1987, she attended the Hawaii Pacific University, studying tourism.
Wu made her first film appearance in 1987, as Wenxiu in Bernardo Bertolucci's The Last Emperor . She later appeared in the poorly received The Guyver , alongside Mark Hamill . She gained some critical acclaim, after appearing in The Joy Luck Club (1993), and The Pillow Book (1996), as Nagiko, a Japanese model, alongside Ewan McGregor. Beside films, she has also worked in television, making guest appearances in shows, such as The Untouchables , L.A. Law , Tales from the Crypt , Highlander: The Series , JAG , Murder, She Wrote , F/X: The Series , ER , and Ghost Whisperer . She also starred in the live action video game Supreme Warrior (1994). As May–Lin Eng in Eve and the Fire Horse (2005), Wu gained an Genie Award nomination. She also appeared in the Indiana Jones and the Emperor's Tomb as Mei Ying.
She was chosen by People as one of The 50 Most Beautiful People in the World in 1990.
Wu married Oscar L. Costo, director and producer on December 30, 1996.
Millennium "Siren " (1998)Dwelling Narrowness (2009)Strange World (1999 - 2000)Highlander: The Series (1994) May-ling ShenTales from the Crypt "Comes the Dawn" (1995) Jeri DrumbeaterMurder She Wrote "Kendo Killing" (4 Jan 1996) Miko IshidaSupreme Warrior (1995)Actress
2023
The Afterparty (TV Series) as
Vivian
- Vivian and Zoë (2023) - Vivian
- Isabel (2023) - Vivian
- Feng (2023) - Vivian
- Ulysses (2023) - Vivian
- Danner's Fire (2023) - Vivian (credit only)
- Sebastian (2023) - Vivian
- Hannah (2023) - Vivian
- Travis (2023) - Vivian
- Grace (2023) - Vivian
- Aniq 2: The Sequel (2023) - Vivian
2022
Irma Vep (TV Mini Series) as
Jade Lee
- The Spectre (2022) - Jade Lee
- The Poisoner (2022) - Jade Lee
2022
Modern Marriage (TV Series)
2022
Wan mei ban lv (TV Series)
2021
Station 19 (TV Series) as
Petra Lau
- I Guess I'm Floating (2021) - Petra Lau
2020
Qin Dynasty Epic (TV Series)
2020
Away (TV Series) as
Dr. Lu Wang
- Home (2020) - Dr. Lu Wang
- Spektr (2020) - Dr. Lu Wang
- Vital Signs (2020) - Dr. Lu Wang
- Goodnight Mars (2020) - Dr. Lu Wang
- A Little Faith (2020) - Dr. Lu Wang
- Space Dogs (2020) - Dr. Lu Wang
- Excellent Chariots (2020) - Dr. Lu Wang
- Half the Sky (2020) - Dr. Lu Wang
- Negative Return (2020) - Dr. Lu Wang
- Go (2020) - Dr. Lu Wang
2020
Knockout as
Fang Shengnan
2019
The Best Partner (TV Series) as
Liao Jiamin
- Episode #1.38 (2020) - Liao Jiamin (as Wu Junmei)
- Episode #1.36 (2020) - Liao Jiamin (as Wu Junmei)
- Episode #1.33 (2020) - Liao Jiamin (as Wu Junmei)
- Episode #1.31 (2020) - Liao Jiamin (as Wu Junmei)
- Episode #1.29 (2020) - Liao Jiamin (as Wu Junmei)
- Episode #1.27 (2020) - Liao Jiamin (as Wu Junmei)
- Episode #1.14 (2019) - Liao Jiamin (as Wu Junmei)
- Episode #1.10 (2019) - Liao Jiamin (as Wu Junmei)
2019
Mr. Fighting (TV Series) as
Teng Dan
- Episode #1.1 (2019) - Teng Dan
2018
Xia Yi Zhan Bie Li (TV Series)
2018
Ruyi's Royal Love in the Palace (TV Series) as
Niohuru Zhenhuan
2018
Cry Me a Sad River as
Lin Huafeng (Ren Min's mother)
2018
Pei du ma ma (TV Series) as
Hu Yuanyuan
2017
Qin ai de ta men (TV Series) as
Qiu Ya
- Episode #1.27 (2017) - Qiu Ya (as Wu Junmei)
- Episode #1.25 (2017) - Qiu Ya (as Wu Junmei)
- Episode #1.21 (2017) - Qiu Ya (as Wu Junmei)
- Episode #1.15 (2017) - Qiu Ya (as Wu Junmei)
2017
Father and Son as
Wu Tiantian
2017
The House That Never Dies II as
Xie Meiying (Zhisheng's Stepmother)
2017
The First Half of My Life (TV Series) as
Aunt Wu
2017
In Harm's Way as
Old Niuniu
2017
Liu ren wan can as
Su Qin
2016
A Love for Separation (TV Mini Series) as
An Ni (2016)
- Episode #1.3 (2016) - An Ni (2016)
- Episode #1.2 (2016) - An Ni (2016)
- Episode #1.1 (2016) - An Ni (2016)
2016
Yes! Mr Fashion (TV Mini Series) - Episode #1.10 (2016)
- Episode #1.9 (2016)
- Episode #1.7 (2016)
- Episode #1.8 (2016)
- Episode #1.4 (2016)
- Episode #1.3 (2016)
- Episode #1.5 (2016)
- Episode #1.6 (2016)
- Episode #1.2 (2016)
- Episode #1.1 (2016)
2015
Graduation Song (TV Series) as
Zhuyu Qiong
2014
Perfect Couple (TV Series) as
Liu Ruyue (as Wu Junmei)
2013
La ma zheng zhuan (TV Series) as
Li Muzi
2013
The Palace as
Concubine De
2011
Snow Flower and the Secret Fan as
Aunt
2011
Departed Heroes (TV Series) as
Song Mei Ling
2011
The Story of a Piano as
Wu Man
2009
Wo ju (TV Series) as
Mrs. Song
2009
The Founding of a Republic as
Soong May-ling
2007
Ghost Whisperer (TV Series) as
Prophet Ghost / Dana Clark
- The Gathering (2007) - Prophet Ghost / Dana Clark
- The Prophet (2007) - Prophet Ghost
2006
Shanghai Red as
Zhu Mei Li
2005
Eve and the Fire Horse as
May-Lin Eng
2005
Beauty Remains as
Ying Zi
2003
Encrypt (TV Movie) as
Diana
2003
Indiana Jones and the Emperor's Tomb (Video Game) as
Mei Ying (voice)
2002
Red Skies (TV Movie) as
Wu Wen Li
1999
Strange World (TV Series) as
Japanese Woman
- The Devil Still Holds My Hand (2002) - Japanese Woman
- Age of Reason (2000) - Japanese Woman
- Food (2000) - Japanese Woman
- Rage (2000) - Japanese Woman
- Man Plus (2000) - Japanese Woman
- Skin (2000) - Japanese Woman
- Eliza (1999) - Japanese Woman
- Down Came the Rain (1999) - Japanese Woman
- Aerobe (1999) - Japanese Woman
- Spirit Falls (1999) - Japanese Woman
- Azrael's Breed (1999) - Japanese Woman
- Lullaby (1999) - Japanese Woman
- Pilot (1999) - Japanese Woman
2000
ER (TV Series) as
Janet Wade
- Flight of Fancy (2000) - Janet Wade
2000
Dinner Rush as
Nicole Chan
2000
Secret Agent Man (TV Series) as
Ling #1
- Uncle S.A.M. (2000) - Ling #1
1998
The Legend of Pig Eye
1998
A Bright Shining Lie (TV Movie) as
Lee
1998
Millennium (TV Series) as
Tamara Shui Fa Lee
- Siren (1998) - Tamara Shui Fa Lee
1997
The Soong Sisters as
Soong May-ling / Madam Chiang
1996
F/X: The Series (TV Series) as
Taya Kwan
- Eye of the Dragon (1996) - Taya Kwan
1993
Murder, She Wrote (TV Series) as
Miko Ishida / April Dunbar
- Kendo Killing (1996) - Miko Ishida
- A Death in Hong Kong (1993) - April Dunbar
1995
JAG (TV Series) as
Angelique Sonsiri
- Déjà Vu (1995) - Angelique Sonsiri
1995
The Pillow Book as
Nagiko
1995
Highlander (TV Series) as
May-Ling Shen
- They Also Serve (1995) - May-Ling Shen
1995
Tales from the Crypt (TV Series) as
Jeri Drumbeater
- Comes the Dawn (1995) - Jeri Drumbeater
1994
Supreme Warrior (Video Game) as
Yu Ching
1994
Vanishing Son IV (TV Movie) as
Lili
1994
Vanishing Son III (TV Movie) as
Lili
1994
Vanishing Son II (TV Movie) as
Lili
1994
Vanishing Son (TV Movie) as
Lili
1993
Heaven & Earth as
Madame Lien
1993
L.A. Law (TV Series) as
Chu Hua
- Pacific Rimshot (1993) - Chu Hua
1993
Message from Nam (TV Movie) as
France Tran
1993
The Joy Luck Club as
An Mei's Mother
1993
The Untouchables (TV Series) as
Song Wo
- Chinatown (1993) - Song Wo
1993
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles III as
Mitsu
1993
Raven (TV Series) as
Nike Kie
- Playback (1993) - Nike Kie
1991
The Guyver as
Mizky Segawa
1989
Shadow of China as
Moo-Ling
1987
The Last Emperor as
Wen Hsiu (as Wu Jun Mei)
1986
Chao guo jie xing dong as
Tong Nian (as Junmei Wu)
Producer
2010
Shanghai Blue (producer)
2006
Shanghai Red (producer)
2005
Chinaman (co-producer: China)
Composer
2007
The Monterey Park Blues (Video short)
Soundtrack
2020
Away (TV Series) (performer - 1 episode) - Half the Sky (2020) - (performer: "Achy Breaky Heart")
1993
Murder, She Wrote (TV Series) (performer - 1 episode) - A Death in Hong Kong (1993) - (performer: "Pretty Girl from Kowloon" - uncredited)
Costume Designer
2011
Baby's Breath (Short)
Editor
2016
De Criança Para Criança (TV Series)
Self
2010
To Whom It May Concern: Ka Shen's Journey (Documentary) as
Self
2010
Asia Uncut with Jon Niermann (TV Series) as
Self
- Episode dated 14 March 2010 (2010) - Self
2008
Ka Shen's Journey (Documentary) as
Self
2005
A Date with Luyu (TV Series) as
Self
- Wu Junmei: Dian ying qing yuan (2005) - Self
1994
Digital Pictures: Behind the Scenes 1994 (Video documentary short) as
Self - Actress / Yu Ching
1994
The 51st Annual Golden Globe Awards (TV Special) as
Self - Presenter
Archive Footage
2003
Maximum Surge (TV Movie) as
Yu Ching (uncredited)