“Come Drink With Me” Chinese Theatrical Poster
The career of Cheng Pei-pei has seen her smash through the glass ceiling on multiple occasions. The world of martial arts was never the same after Pei-pei’s breakthrough role in Come Drink With Me in 1966, where she took watching audiences by storm by becoming the world’s first female martial arts star. That would be the catalyst film for Pei-pei to go on and transform the industry into how we know it today.
Since breaking onto the stage in the 1960’s, Pei-pei has gone on to star in more than 50 films, which tells you everything you need to know about this actress and her attitude towards work. They tell you that if you do what you love, then you’ll never work a day in your life and this legendary Chinese actress is the living and breathing example of that saying. In another tribute towards her glittering career, Pei-pei was given CAAMfest’s Spotlight award in May 2018.
The second female martial artist we want to feature is Cheng Pei-pei.
She has one of the most incredible careers as both a martial artist and an actor. She is one of the most celebrated swords-women that has ever taken the screen! pic.twitter.com/cARGLq29nW
— ProForce MA (@ProForceMA) March 8, 2018
When the news broke that Cheng Pei-pei was to be honoured at CAAMfest, the 72-year old took it in her stride and was as gracious as ever as she said: “I am so honoured. It is my honour to come to San Francisco”. Despite being the global superstar that she is, it hasn’t turned this groundbreaking woman into someone who doesn’t recognize the privilege of being singled out in her industry. Despite the fact that this has been happening for over 50 years, Cheng Pei-pei is as humble as they come.
The work that Cheng Pei-pei has done has had a massive effect on the martial arts and kung fu industry, and the fallout is still being felt today. Thanks to the ground she has covered, Pei-pei has opened the door to both men and women enjoying the martial arts film industry, which has created a massive amount of demand. It’s not just on the screen where martial arts has had a spin-off, it has branched out into our everyday lives through technology.
From the making of films, TV shows and even on stage productions, the world can’t get enough, and you can’t help but feel in debt to the role Cheng Pei-pei has played in making this a more inclusive industry. It’s hard to imagine it has branched off into so many different sectors without a woman taking up a prominent role within the industry. Another of the many by-products of the martial arts film industry has been the introduction of kung fu slot games on online casinos. Casinos Killer lists the 10 best online casinos where punters can now enjoy playing martial arts games when they aren’t in front of the TV watching it. This demand is only set to grow in the future.
.@liltingfilm‘s Cheng Pei-pei has been nominated in @BIFA_film‘s Best Actress category! pic.twitter.com/FobBMlRwbe
— Film London (@Film_London) November 3, 2014
Few industries have evolved like the martial arts one and, with every new generation coming through, there is the same amount of interest and appreciation. One can only wonder where it will be in fifty years’ time. If you were to ask a 19-year old Cheng Pei-pei in 1966 while staring in Come Drink With Me if she thought her career would have this much of an impact on the industry going forward it’s unlikely she would have said yes. No one could have foreseen just how influential Cheng Pei-pei would go on to become.
It doesn’t look like there will be any letting up at 72, either, with Cheng Pei-pei in good health and harbouring a desire to keep using the life-changing talents she has been given ins some form or another.
