Maggie Q

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Maggie Q
MaggieQSmileSDCCJuly10.jpg
Born Margaret Denise Quigley
(1979-05-22) May 22, 1979 (age 44)[1]
Honolulu, Hawaii, U.S.
Residence Pound Ridge, New York, U.S.
Other names Maggie D. Quigley
Occupation Actress, model
Years active 1998–present

Margaret Denise Quigley[2] (born May 22, 1979),[3] professionally known as Maggie Q, is an American actress and model. She achieved international fame starring as the title role on The CW's action-thriller series Nikita that aired from 2010 to 2013. In 2014, she portrayed Tori Wu in the film adaptation of Veronica Roth's novel Divergent and its sequels,[4] and starred in the Kevin Williamson CBS drama series Stalker as Lieutenant Beth Davis from 2014 to 2015.[5][6]

Early Life

Q was born and raised in Honolulu, Hawaii.[7][8] Her father is of Irish and Polish descent[9] and her mother is a Vietnamese immigrant.[8][10] Her parents met while her father was stationed in Vietnam during the Vietnam War.[11][12] Q grew up with four siblings.[8]

Q attended Mililani Waena Elementary School and Wheeler Intermediate School. She then attended Mililani High School, where she was on the cross country, track and field, and swim teams. She won the title of "Best Body" senior year, and graduated from Mililani High School in 1997.[8] She won an athletics scholarship to a private university and intended to study veterinary science. Q's family was unable to assist her financially; she left Hawaii during the summer in hopes of earning enough money so that she could start her studies in the autumn.[13]

Career

1996–97: Modeling

At the suggestion of a friend, Q began modeling in Tokyo at the age of 17, before making an unsuccessful move to Taipei, and finally trying in Hong Kong.[8][11][14] She has said it was not easy for her: "I had twenty bucks in my pocket. I mean, I literally did the same thing that my mother did when she left Vietnam... didn't speak the language... had no money."[10] But, it was in Hong Kong that she was selected by Jackie Chan, because he saw a potential action star. His intensive training taught her the importance of professionalism and always doing her own stunts. Q later said, "I had never done a day of martial arts in my life when I started in the business. I couldn’t even touch my toes."[11]

1998–2009: Start of acting career

In 1998,[15] she started her acting career in the TV drama House of the Dragon, which was a huge hit in Asia. In 2000, Q made her film debut as Anna in the horror film Model from Hell, and went on to star as an FBI agent Jane Quigley in the action thriller Gen-Y Cops the same year. Her appearance in Gen-Y Cops impressed Jackie Chan so much that she was cast in Manhattan Midnight and Rush Hour 2.[8]

In 2002, she starred as martial artist assassin Charlene Ching in the action film Naked Weapon. In 2005, Q played Harmony in the German-Singaporean TV mini-series House of Harmony, opposite Fann Wong. The same year she also co-produced the animal treatment documentary Earthlings narrated by Joaquin Phoenix.[16]

In 2006, she starred alongside Tom Cruise in Mission: Impossible III. She played Zhen, the only female member of the IMF team. In 2007, she appeared as Mai Linh in the Bruce Willis movie Live Free or Die Hard,[8] the fourth film in the Die Hard series, and as Maggie in Balls of Fury.

In 2008, Q played fictional Cao Ying, a granddaughter of the warlord Cao Cao in Three Kingdoms: Resurrection of the Dragon, her first ancient Chinese costume performance. That same year, she also appeared in the drama/thriller movie Deception starring Ewan McGregor and Hugh Jackman, as Tina, an investment banker[15] who introduced Jackman's character to an exclusive anonymous sex club list.

Q also stars in the video game Need for Speed: Undercover as the seductive lead character, federal agent Chase Linh, who is the player's only contact to the Tri-City Police.[17]

2010–present: Nikita, Divergent and Stalker

Maggie Q at Comic-Con 2013.

In 2010, Q became the lead character, an assassin gone rogue, on the CW series Nikita, based on the 1990 French film of the same name.[11] Since the premiere of Nikita, Q has been incorrectly stated as the first Asian American series lead in an American television drama;[18] actress Anna May Wong is the first Asian American series lead of an American television series with her show The Gallery of Madame Liu-Tsong which aired back in 1951.[19] Q received mostly positive reviews for her role in the series.[20][21] The character was included in TV Guide's lists of "TV's Sexiest Crime Fighters" and "TV's Toughest Ladies".[22][23]

In 2014, Q played the role of Dauntless faction member Tori Wu, in the film Divergent, the adaptation of the same-titled novel.[4] Q reprised her role in the sequel to Divergent, The Divergent Series: Insurgent, which began filming on May 27, 2014 and was released on March 20, 2015. She also stars in the CBS drama series Stalker[5] by Kevin Williamson as Detective Beth Davis along with Dylan McDermott and Mariana Klaveno.[6] The series premiered on October 1, 2014 for the 2014–15 fall television season.[24][25] The series was ordered for a full season on October 27, 2014.[26] The series however was canceled after one season, leaving the show on a cliffhanger.[27]

In October 2013, Q started filming for A Conspiracy on Jekyll Island, starring alongside Frank Grillo, AnnaSophia Robb, Dianna Agron, John Leguizamo, Ed Westwick, Mary McCormack, Christopher McDonald and Minnie Driver.[28] The film is directed by Aram Rappaport and produced by Hilary Shor, Atit Shah and Aaron Becker. Jekyll Island is set to release in 2016. [29]

She was also confirmed to reprise her role in the third installment of the Divergent series which is scheduled to be released on March 18, 2016.[30]

Personal Life

Q is outspoken on the subject of animal rights and has taken part in PETA Asia's campaigns promoting vegetarianism. In a PETA ad, she posed nearly nude in a bed of crimson chili peppers to spread the word that going vegetarian is the best way to "spice up your life" as well as help animals, one's health, and the environment. A second ad for PETA Asia features her wearing a bikini made entirely of strategically placed lettuce leaves next to the tagline "Turn Over a New Leaf – Try Vegetarian!"[31]

A vegetarian for many years, she has said that giving up meat is one of the most rewarding decisions she has ever made. "I feel better, I have more energy, on, and off the set, and I have the satisfaction of knowing that I'm doing something to help stop animal suffering." In 2008, Maggie Q was named PETA Asia-Pacific's "Person of the Year".[32] The same year, the organization also listed Q as one of the "Best-Dressed Celebrities" of 2008. She has since taken the step to cut all animal products from her diet by becoming a vegan.[33]

Q previously dated Hong Kong actor Daniel Wu, who was also a costar of Naked Weapon.[34] She has three tattoos: one on each arm and one of a phoenix on her left hip, which she has had to conceal for most of her roles except Nikita.[35] Q also suffered temporary hearing loss in her right ear, when her eardrum was blown out in an explosive stunt.[36]

In 2007, she lived in Studio City, Los Angeles, California with her two (at one point, eight) rescued dogs.[8][37] She also has a house in Pound Ridge, New York.[38][39]

In February 2015, she announced her engagement to her Stalker co-star Dylan McDermott.[40]

Filmography

Film
Year Title Role Notes
2000 Model from Hell Anna Chinese: 鬼名模
2000 Jackie Chan Presents: Metal Mayhem Jane Quigley Chinese: 特警新人類2
2001 Manhattan Midnight Susan/Hope
2001 Rush Hour 2 Girl in car
2002 Naked Weapon Charlene Ching Chinese: 赤裸特工
2003 The Trouble-Makers Miss Clary Chinese: 一屋兩火
2004 Magic Kitchen May Chinese: 魔幻厨房
2004 Around the World in 80 Days Female agent
2004 Rice Rhapsody Gigi Chinese: 海南雞飯
2005 Taped Maggie Short film
2005 Earthlings Documentary; co-producer
2005 Dragon Squad Yuet Chinese: 猛龍
2005 House of Harmony Harmony Television film
2006 Mission: Impossible III Zhen Lei Asian Excellence Award for Supporting Film Actress
2007 The Counting House Jade
2007 Live Free or Die Hard Mai Linh
2007 Balls of Fury Maggie Wong
2008 Three Kingdoms: Resurrection of the Dragon Cao Ying Chinese: 三國之見龍卸甲
2008 Deception Tina
2008 New York, I Love You Janice Taylor Segment "Yvan Attal"
2009 The Warrior and the Wolf Harran Woman Chinese: 狼灾记
2010 Operation: Endgame High Priestess
2010 The King of Fighters Mai Shiranui
2011 Priest Priestess
2014 Divergent Tori Wu
2014 Unity Narrator Documentary
2015 The Divergent Series: Insurgent Tori Wu
2016 A Conspiracy on Jekyll Island Hilary In post-production
2016 The Divergent Series: Allegiant Tori Wu In post-production
2016 The Brits Are Coming Irina Filming
Television
Year Title Role Notes
1998 House of the Dragon Devine Unknown episodes
2002 Mission In Trouble Yeung Lan Chinese: 雄心密令
2010–13 Nikita Nikita Lead role; 73 episodes
2012 Young Justice Wonder Woman Voice; 2 episodes
2014–15 Stalker Beth Davis/Michelle Webber Main cast; 20 episodes
2016 Red Flag Ching Shih Lead Role
Video games
Year Title Role
2008 Need for Speed: Undercover Chase Linh
Music videos
Year Artist Title
2000 Chris Yu "Subway"
2002 Santana featuring Michelle Branch "The Game of Love"

Awards and nominations

Year Association Category Work Result
2007 Asian Excellence Awards Supporting Film Actress Mission: Impossible III Won
2009 Hawaii International Film Festival Maverick Award The Warrior and the Wolf Won
2010 IGN Summer Movie Awards Best TV Hero Nikita Nominated
2011 Nominated
Teen Choice Awards Choice TV Actress: Action Nominated
2012 IGN Summer Movie Awards Best TV Hero Nominated
Teen Choice Awards Choice TV Actress: Action Nominated
2013 TV Guide Awards Best Ensemble Nominated
Teen Choice Awards Choice TV Actress: Action Nominated
2014 Young Hollywood Awards Best Cast Chemistry – Film Divergent Nominated

See also

References

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  39. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  40. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.

External links

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