Michiko Nishiwaki

In this Japanese name, the family name is "Nishiwaki".

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

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]

Unusually in the Japanese society of the time, Michiko 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]

Her acting career began in the 1985 Hong Kong martial arts/comedy film My Lucky Stars after she caught the attention of Jackie Chan and Sammo Hung. She played a Japanese fighter. 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 didn't use a word of dialogue (since she couldn't 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. Michiko married in 1996^[3] and currently lives in Moorpark, California with her husband and son.

Filmography

Acting Credits

• Ghost Rock (2004)
• Man on the Moon (1999)
• Lethal Weapon 4 (1998)
• Top Fighter 2 (1996)
• Ging fa yu lau ang (1993)(Whore and Policewoman)
• Fatal Seduction (1993)
• City on Fire (1993)
• Yin yao hao qing (1993) (Hero Dream aka Naked Huntress)
• Ba hai hong ying (1992) (The Avenging Quartet)
• Raiders of Loesing Treasure (1992) (Treasure Hunters)
• Huo bao da quan zi (1992) (Big Circle Blues)
• Sing je wai wong (1992) (The Mighty Gambler)
• Yun yu di liu gan (1992) (Passionate Killing in the Dream)
• The Real Me (1991)
• Se jiang (1991) (Witchcraft vs. Curse)
• Zui jia zei pai dang (1990) (The Outlaw Brothers)
• Magic Cop (1990)
• The Best of the Martial Arts Films (1990)
• Free Fighter (1990)
• Hong tin huang jia jiang (1990) (Angel Terminators)
• Dragon Fighter (1990) (Hard to Kill)
• Jin pai shi jie (1990) (Princess Madam)
• Time Burst: The Final Alliance (1989)
• God of Gamblers (1989)
• Hu dan nu er gang (1989) (Widow Warriors)
• Miao tan shuang long (1989) (City Cops)
• Tie dan xiong feng (1989) (Live Hard)
• In the Line of Duty III (1988)
• Ojôsan tantei Tokimeki renpatsu! (1987) (Young Lady Detectives: Heart Beat!)
• Jikuu Senshi Spielban (1986) (TV) (Dimensional Warrior Spielban)
• My Lucky Stars (1985)

Stunt / Stunt Double appearances

• Mission: Impossible III (2006)
• Memoirs of a Geisha (2005)
• Collateral (2004)
• Kill Bill: Vol. 2 (2004)
• Kill Bill: Vol. 1 (2003)
• The Scorpion King (2002)
• Clockstoppers (2002)
• The Practice - M. Premie Unplugged (TV Series) (2002)
• Rush Hour 2 (2001)
• V.I.P -Crouching Tiger, Hidden Val (TV Series(24 November 2001)
• Chain of Command (2000)
• Play It to the Bone (1999)
• Man on the Moon (1999)
• Fantasy Island: Estrogen (31 October 1998)
• "Martial Law" (TV Series) (1998–2000)
• Blade (1998)
• Brave New World (1998)
• Red Corner (1997)

Notes and references

1. ^ "From Crunch Princess to Action Diva". Hong Kong Cinema. http://brns.com/michiko/pages/michbio1.html. Retrieved 2009-03-14. 
2. ^ ^{a b} "Michiko Nishiwaki". Cult Sirens. 2004. http://www.cultsirens.com/nishiwaki/nishiwaki.htm. Retrieved 2009-03-14. 
3. ^ "Clark County, NV Public Records". Clark County Recorder's Office. http://recorder.co.clark.nv.us/oncorewebecommerce/showdetails.aspx?id=3209970&rn=1&pi=0&ref=search. Retrieved 2009-09-03. 

External links

• Michiko Nishiwaki at the Internet Movie Database
• HK cinemagic entry

Persondata
Name	Nishiwaki, Michiko
Alternative names
Short description
Date of birth	1957
Place of birth
Date of death
Place of death