Jade Xu Explained

Jade Xu
Native Name:徐慧慧
Native Name Lang:zh
Birth Name:Xu Huihui
Birth Date:9 February 1986
Birth Place:Shanghai, China
Hometown:Las Vegas, Nevada, United States
Occupation:Martial artist, athlete, actress, coach
Spouse:David Torok
Sport:Wushu Taolu
Event:Changquan, Daoshu, Gunshu
Team:Italy Wushu Team (2003-2009)
Coach:Xu Guan Guan

Jade Xu Hui-hui (; born February 9, 1986) is a Chinese-born martial artist, actress, stunt performer, and former wushu taolu competitor, who has resided and competed in Italy and the United States.[1] She is a three-time world champion and is one of the most renowned athletes to represent a European country at the World Wushu Championships.

In her acting career, she is best known for portraying Helen Takahama / Widow in the Marvel Cinematic Universe films Black Widow and Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings (both 2021).[2] [3] [4]

Early life

On February 9, 1986, Xu was born in Shanghai, China. Xu's mother was Xu Guan-guan who also served as her coach.[5] [6] Xu moved with her family to Italy at the age of nine.[7] [6]

Career

Competitive Wushu

At the age of six, Xu started practicing wushu. Representing Italy, Xu's international debut was at the 2003 World Wushu Championships in Macau, where she won a silver medal in daoshu.[8] Two years later, she was a triple medalist in the 2005 World Wushu Championships in Hanoi, Vietnam, becoming the world champion in daoshu.[9] She was the world champion in the same event two years later at the 2007 World Wushu Championships in Beijing, China.[10] This qualified her for the women's daoshu and gunshu combined event in the 2008 Beijing Wushu Tournament where she won the silver medal.[11] Her last major international competition was at the 2009 World Wushu Championships in Toronto, Canada, where she was the world champion in gunshu and also won a silver medal in daoshu.[12]

Acting

After retiring from competitive wushu, Xu transitioned to acting. She first starred as Sister Mahjong in Tai Chi 0 and Tai Chi Hero, and in the title role in the Chinese TV series The Legend of Wing Chun. In 2012, Xu was recruited to perform in Cirque du Soleil's show, in which she plays one of the four central characters. In 2021, she played a Black Widow named Helen in Marvel Studios' Black Widow and reprised her role in Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings, credited simply as "Widow".[13]

Personal life

Xu is married to David Torok, a fellow wushu competitor.[6] They both reside in the Las Vegas, Nevada.

Filmography

Film

Video game

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: THE ACTRESS . 2024-05-17 . jade-xu-official . en.
  2. Web site: Hood . Cooper . October 29, 2020 . Shang-Chi Stunt Jackets Might Tease Marvel Villain Fin Fang Foom . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20201108101925/https://screenrant.com/shang-chi-movie-villain-fin-fang-foom-tease/ . November 8, 2020 . July 21, 2021 . Screen Rant.
  3. Web site: News jade-xu-official. https://web.archive.org/web/20210124000202/https://www.jadexu.com/news. January 24, 2021. July 21, 2021. Jadexu.com.
  4. Web site: Chichizola. Corey. July 20, 2021. Kevin Feige Live-Tweeted Black Widow, And Dropped Some Cool Behind-The-Scenes Stories . live. https://web.archive.org/web/20210721001021/https://www.cinemablend.com/previews/2570686/kevin-feige-live-tweeted-black-widow-behind-scenes-yelena. July 21, 2021. July 21, 2021. CinemaBlend.
  5. Web site: Il Kung Fu è donna. Jade Xu. Kung Fu is a woman. Jade Xu. 2021-08-09. kungfulife.net. it.
  6. Steve Bornfeld, "Jade in the USA: Martial arts champ Jade Xu brings her moves to Las Vegas in Michael Jackson ONE ", Vegas Seven Fall Arts Preview (August 21, 2013).
  7. http://asianmoviepulse.com/2012/11/an-interview-with-rising-female-star-xu-huihui-jade/ King Of Kung Fu: An interview with rising female star Xu Huihui (Jade)
  8. Web site: 7th World Wushu Championships, 2003, Macau, China, Results. 2021-07-23. International Wushu Federation.
  9. Web site: 8th World Wushu Championships, 2005, Results. 2021-07-23. International Wushu Federation.
  10. Web site: 2007-11-16. 9th World Wushu Championships, 2007, Beijing, China, Results. 2021-07-23. International Wushu Federation.
  11. Web site: 2008-08-23. C14AP_Two Events Combined Results_Women's Daoshu & Gunshu. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20080922183850/http://results.beijing2008.cn/WRM/ENG/BCK/WS/85002.shtml. 2008-09-22. 2021-07-23. The official website of the BEIJING 2008 Olympic Games.
  12. Web site: 2009-10-30. 10th World Wushu Championships, 2009, Toronto, Canada, Results. 2021-07-23. International Wushu Federation.
  13. Web site: Bonomolo . Cameron . September 4, 2021 . Marvel's Shang-Chi Clip Reveals a Black Widow Cameo . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20210904074521/https://comicbook.com/movies/news/marvel-shang-chi-spoilers-clip-black-widow-cameo-helen-jade-xu/ . September 4, 2021 . September 4, 2021 . ComicBook.com.