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 suc