Episode 72 - Cynthia Rothrock

Kung Fu Movie Guide Podcast

Cynthia Rothrock - the undisputed 'Queen of martial arts movies' - never anticipated a career as an action film star. The Scranton-raised martial artist initially headed west in search of furthering her kung fu knowledge, often competing in men's divisions to become a national champion, and touring the world in the process. It was a portentous audition for the Hong Kong action director Corey Yuen which would bring her fame and fortune; an audition which would catch the attention of Sammo Hung, who cast Cynthia in her first breakout film, 'Police Assassins' (1985), alongside another relative newcomer, Michelle Yeoh - and the rest, as they say, is history. Although, not quite, because Cynthia's journey in the film business has been full of highs and lows; huge successes, and false starts. Her three years in Hong Kong would produce undoubtedly her best on-screen fight work - a westerner who became the headline act in a new sub-genre of high-energy, stunt-filled fight films predominantly led by women - before success in the English-language Hong Kong-produced 'China O'Brien' films would see her travel back to the USA and into the highly lucrative world of straight-to-video actioners. She is, quite simply, a trailblazer - a performer who became a bankable star in both the east and the west at a time when the industry, and the martial arts genre in particular, was dominated by men. As a forerunner to Hollywood's pursuit in achieving greater gender parity in the action film world, Cynthia's legacy cannot be underestimated. Even now, aged 64, she shows no signs of slowing down, continuing to train, travel the world, appear in movies and teach martial arts.

LINKS

Cynthia Rothrock on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/CynthiaRothrockChannel

Cynthia Rothrock on IMDb: https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0001686/

Cynthia Rothrock on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/officialcynthiarothrock/

Cynthia Rothrock on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CYNTHIAROTHROCK

Cynthia Rothrock on Twitter: https://twitter.com/cynroth

Cynthia Rothrock's website: https://www.cynthiarothrockofficial.com/

Cynthia Rothrock profile on Kung Fu Movie Guide: http://bit.ly/CynthiaRothrockKFMG

Cynthia Rothrock 2011 interview with Kung Fu Movie Guide: http://bit.ly/CynthiaRothrockInt

KFC commercial (1983) starring Cynthia Rothrock: https://youtu.be/TkGYrkzkueo

Final fight scene - Yes, Madam (1985) aka Police Assassins: https://youtu.be/Oh8KnmRvqd0

Cynthia Rothrock vs. Sammo Hung - Millionaire's Express (1986): https://youtu.be/3ztk99MPOzk

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