Maria Yi is a retired Chinese actress from Shanghai

Shanghai

Shanghai is the largest city by population in China and the largest city proper in the world. It is one of the four province-level municipalities in the People's Republic of China, with a total population of over 23 million as of 2010...

. She appeared in films by Hong Kong

Hong Kong

Hong Kong is one of two Special Administrative Regions of the People's Republic of China , the other being Macau. A city-state situated on China's south coast and enclosed by the Pearl River Delta and South China Sea, it is renowned for its expansive skyline and deep natural harbour...

's Golden Harvest Productions

Golden Harvest

Golden Harvest is a film production, distribution, and exhibition company based in Hong Kong. It played a major role in becoming the first Chinese film company to successfully enter the western market for an extended period of time, especially with the films of Bruce Lee and Jackie Chan...

 in the 1970s, most notably in The Big Boss

The Big Boss

The Big Boss, previously known by its U.S. title Fists Of Fury is a 1971 Hong Kong martial arts action crime thriller film. The Big Boss was Bruce Lee's first major film. It was written to star James Tien; however, Lee's strong performance relegated Tien, already a star in Hong Kong, to second...

 and Fist of Fury

Fist of Fury

Fist of Fury, formerly known as The Chinese Connection and The Iron Hand in the United States, is a 1972 Hong Kong martial arts film directed by Lo Wei. It starred Bruce Lee in his second major film after The Big Boss...

, both starring Bruce Lee

Bruce Lee

Bruce Lee was a Chinese American, Hong Kong actor, martial arts instructor, philosopher, film director, film producer, screenwriter, and founder of the Jeet Kune Do martial arts movement...

.

Career

Yi began acting as a teenager, and though she made only a handful of films, she received top billing in most of them. After appearing in The Chase

The Chase (1971 film)

The Chase or Zhui Ji released in the US and worldwide as The Shanghai Killers is a 1971 Hong Kong action film with sword fighting directed by Wong Tin Lam.-Plot:...

 with James Tien

James Tien (actor)

James Tien Chun is a Hong Kong actor from Guangdong, China. He appeared in almost 70 films, primarily in Hong Kong action cinema, including roles in the films of martial arts stars including Bruce Lee, Jackie Chan and Sammo Hung. He often played villains or supporting roles...

 in 1971, both she and Tien were cast in Bruce Lee

Bruce Lee

Bruce Lee was a Chinese American, Hong Kong actor, martial arts instructor, philosopher, film director, film producer, screenwriter, and founder of the Jeet Kune Do martial arts movement...

's film The Big Boss

The Big Boss

The Big Boss, previously known by its U.S. title Fists Of Fury is a 1971 Hong Kong martial arts action crime thriller film. The Big Boss was Bruce Lee's first major film. It was written to star James Tien; however, Lee's strong performance relegated Tien, already a star in Hong Kong, to second...

. She also had a small role as a martial arts

Martial arts

Martial arts are extensive systems of codified practices and traditions of combat, practiced for a variety of reasons, including self-defense, competition, physical health and fitness, as well as mental and spiritual development....

 student in Lee's next film, Fist of Fury

Fist of Fury

Fist of Fury, formerly known as The Chinese Connection and The Iron Hand in the United States, is a 1972 Hong Kong martial arts film directed by Lo Wei. It starred Bruce Lee in his second major film after The Big Boss...

. Yi would co-star in two more films directed by Lo Wei

Lo Wei

Lo Wei was a famous Hong Kong film director and film actor best known for launching the martial arts film careers of both Bruce Lee, in The Big Boss and Fist of Fury, and Jackie Chan, in New Fist of Fury....

, appearing with another star of the time, Jimmy Wang Yu

Jimmy Wang Yu

Jimmy Wang Yu is a Chinese actor, director, producer, and screenwriter. He shot to fame with the Shaw Brothers Studio's martial arts film, The One-Armed Swordsman, in 1967...

.

Yi married a wealthy businessman in June 1974 (one of the guests at her wedding was Big Boss and Fist of Fury co-star Nora Miao

Nora Miao

Nora Miao ); born February 8, 1952 ) is a Hong Kong actress who appeared in many kung-fu films in the 1970s. She was contracted to Golden Harvest, and spent her time making films in Hong Kong and in Taiwan, where she starred in several romance movies....

). She made her final film, Tiger of Northland, in 1976.

Filmography

Released	English title of original release
1971	The Chase The Chase (1971 film) The Chase or Zhui Ji released in the US and worldwide as The Shanghai Killers is a 1971 Hong Kong action film with sword fighting directed by Wong Tin Lam.-Plot:...
1971	The Big Boss The Big Boss The Big Boss, previously known by its U.S. title Fists Of Fury is a 1971 Hong Kong martial arts action crime thriller film. The Big Boss was Bruce Lee's first major film. It was written to star James Tien; however, Lee's strong performance relegated Tien, already a star in Hong Kong, to second...
1972	Fist of Fury Fist of Fury Fist of Fury, formerly known as The Chinese Connection and The Iron Hand in the United States, is a 1972 Hong Kong martial arts film directed by Lo Wei. It starred Bruce Lee in his second major film after The Big Boss...
1973	A Man Called Tiger
1973	Seaman No. 7
1973	Story of Mother
1974	The Tournament
1976	Tiger of Northland

External links

• Maria Yi Bio