Cool topic Totty.

Of course I agree with Yukie Nakama. She can do serious drama and screwball comedy with ease.

Obviously we'll take Bruce, Jet and Jackie as read shall we? And I think I'll leave Zhang Ziyi for GLOWlad.

So my list:

Toshiro Mifune



The Guvnor. Nuff said.


Takeshi Kitano



Not since Buster Keaton have a I seen a man be able to express so much with just one facial expression. Can play the tough guy, the sympathetic everyman, the bad guy or a comic foil without changing a thing yet still appears different every time. Probably the only actor to be able to fill Shintaro Katsus sandals as Zatoichi.


Shu Qi



Despite being a nude model and star of CAT III films, Shu managed to leave the stigma of being hired for her looks behind and made her name in comedies. She has proven herself in dramatic roles and action films too. She just needs that one big hit to establish herself.


Song Kang-ho



Another versatile actor from Korea. Whether it is a comedy role or serious one, he manages to steal the scene if not the whole film - with ease. Maybe not a stand out name but you know his face.


Tadanobu Asano



Probably the nearest modern Japan has to a method actor. His roles as a Ronin in Kitanos Zatoichi, the sadistic gang member Kakihara in Ichi The Killer or the troubled but brilliant medical student Hiroshi in Vital, show his versatility and ability to reinvent himself to the point of being unrecognisable each time.


Andy Lau



From playing second fiddle to Jackie Chan to cheesy comedies, Andy Lau has steadily built himself a reputation as a top leading man in Hong Kong cinema and has the impressive catalogue of hits to show for it.


Tony Leung



The baby faced Hong Kong actor is no slouch in the martial arts department or as an action hero but he also shines in comedies. However he plays the role of the conflicted and under pressure with such ease and believability. He has remarkable gravitas for someone still with plenty of years ahead of him.


Tatsuya Fujiwara



The Battle Royale star has metamorphosised over the years - on screen of course - from the introverted school boy to a confident young man. Has the looks and ability to switch between good guy and bad without compromise. Could be a huge name in the future.

-- Edited by Man In Black at 22:38, 2007-10-31

With my limited knowledge of Asian cinema Ive kind of bent the rues a bit and featured some Asian actors best known for working in the west...hope you don't mind!


Lost's Yun-Jin Kim...who is delectable. The best reason not to give up on Lost...


Michiko Nishiwaki, my fave of the babes of Hong Kong martial arts cinema down the years.


Lauren Kim, you won't of heard of this beautiful Chinese-American actress I guess, she has to date had only tiny roles in big American movies, and big roles in obscure American movies. Meryl Streep she isn't, but she is athletic, kicks arse and is very very beautiful.


Zhang Ziyi...my pick for most beautiful girl in the world, vastly talented too...

-- Edited by GLOWlad at 21:24, 2007-11-03

Wasn't Michiko Nishiwaki the girl in one of the Jackie Chan films Winners & Sinners or My Lucky Stars one of those where she beat up the female lead and Sammo Hung laid her out with one punch?

GLOWlad you should really join a DVD rental place like Lovefilm and catch up on all the great Asian film and Anime. You're missing out on too much gold!

Nice stuff Glowlad ^^. You know when you go over to japan, try pick up some japanese films there, a lot have japanese subs but some dont..But yes broaden your horizon, watch Asian cinema because in my and no doubt MIB's eyes its the best in the world with some of the best actors and actress's in the world today.Ill check some of the actors work out you both suggested when i can.Zhang Ziyi can easily play a bad girl because she did that great in Rush Hour 2 didnt she? Or was it the first?..Cant remember!

She also has a 90 second cameo at the very end of My Wife Is A Gangster 2 where she plays a (presumably) bad guy.

No, Shu Qi is the main actress in the third film. In fact, the third film has nothing to do with the other two in any way whatsoever.

Memoirs of a Geisha was controversial in China and Japan, with Chinese actresses playing key Japanese roles. Behind this. there is a lot of unfinished business between the two nations. I think a sincere and heartfelt apology from Japan for its actions in world war 2 towards China and Korea would ease tensions.

Indeed Mib. Japan did a lot of terrible things in the past espicially to the poor koreas, iv been taught a lot about what they did in the past by my korean friends and its horrifying, so most koreans dislike the Japanese along with the Chinese.Iv not fully watched Memoirs of a geisha myself yet but it is indeed a bold move to use chinese actress for the main role.I have to watch that sometime .

Indeed Glowlad. Some of the stories iv heard about Japan and what their soldiers got up to by killing and brutalizing thousands of innocent korean people decades ago really makes me sad,its awful that such a great country has such a terrible past like that,iv seen several photographs of graphic murders by the japanese to Korean women and children that just isnt acceptable in this world...Its amazing such a kawaii place like Japan has had such a past like that but thankfully things are gradually improving between the nations, slowely, but improving. Im not great with this kind of talk ^^ but i wish Japan would admit its faults and what it did and apologize for the past.

Amazing how a topic starting with japanese actors and such turns into a topic about war and japanes history and such things!

There was also uproar when Zhang Ziyi kissed Japanese actor Ken Wantanabe in the film.

Michelle Yeoh tried to defend the casting decision by saying that they were actors playing roles just like any other role. It's a fair point but it is also indicative of Hollywood's ignorance when it comes to casting Asian roles - they think we don't know the difference so it doesn't matter.

Unfortunately there aren't many Japanese actresses in Hollywood so they went for the bankable option as you would expect them to.

nice stuff glowlad :) i wish i was as smart as you and Mib about really delicate and politcal subjects like what has been said about. But back on topic and i have to say iv really taken a liking to Shingo Katori this year, this guy is a hugely popular in japan as a member of a rock group called SMAP and has starred in many things from Saiyuuki and Ninin to other shows.He oozes charisma and is really funny,but he can also be a very good serious actor to.The 11 show series of Saiyuuki was made into the brilliant feature and its rumoured he will be back in a second series of the show so i cant wait. Heres a couple of pics of him ^_^.



Its easy to see why he is so popular, he can do everything!
Also here is a picture of my faverate Japanese comedian Machi machi which is far nicer then the one in my avatar, i watched her in a lot of tv shows there and she is really adoreable,scarey but cute and very funny,i think shes been in a few tv series and such,i have to see her live,shes awesome.



Quite pretty when she doesnt do those faces :).

Not familiar with him but RIP anyway.

i really liked aya takanashi from the old tom selleck movie mr.baseball, did she ever do anything else?

A quick Google/imdb search for Aya Takanashi came up with nothing I'm afraid Creep.

Shes real cute Mib! Iv almost seen the complete 3rd series of Gokusen and its great.Yukie is just do damned adoreable!

[youtube=http://it.youtube.com/watch?v=_tXKXkHaVD4]

Masako Natsume tribute i found online and thought id share here,made me weep a little bit,beautiful song to.I saw her in one film and a lot in the Monkey television show and she was fantastic,and a really beautiful woman.Was quite surprising when i found out she passed espicially at 27,very beautiful tribute.Going to post a few of my current faverate asian stars here soon :),wish more people would apprechiate them like me and mib do though..

-- Edited by Totoro101 at 16:52, 2008-09-30

I've not seen her works but according to IMDb she was only 39 and it was suicide which is just tragic.

R.I.P