Athena Chu

Athena Chu Yan (born 25 October 1971) is a Hong Kong actress. She is married to Wong Koon‑Chung, guitarist of the band Beyond. Athena began her career in 1991 as a children’s programme host. She achieved fame in both film and television, most notably for her role as Zixia Fairy in the film A Chinese Odyssey Part Two: Cinderella’s Final Adventure.

Early life

Athena’s family originated from Macau. She was born in Hong Kong and spent her early childhood between Hong Kong and Macau before settling in Hong Kong at age seven. She grew up near Shek Yam Estate in Kwai Chung. Athena graduated from Caritas Yip Hon Millenary School in 1984 and from Luther Yip Ming Choi Secondary School in 1989. Interested in drama, she enrolled at the Hong Kong Academy for Performing Arts’ Drama Department in 1989 and graduated with a three‑year diploma in 1992. She received an Artiste Training Alumni Association Scholarship in 1990–91 and won Best Actress in her graduating production.

Career

In 1991, while still a student, Athena was scouted by a TV producer and joined TVB as the host of the children’s show Lightning Fax. She signed a part‑time contract to complete her studies, declining pageant invitations. After graduating in 1992, she became a full‑time TVB artiste and made her television debut in the series City Tales (1993). She also appeared in the film Fight Back to School II (1992), gaining audience attention.

Athena starred in numerous TVB dramas including The Legend of the Condor Heroes (1994) and The Integrity Unit (1996). After finishing The Legend of the Condor Heroes, she left TVB to pursue film and found her signature role as Zixia Fairy in A Chinese Odyssey Part Two: Cinderella’s Final Adventure (1995). She has acted in over 40 films and was nominated for Best Actress at the 36th Golden Horse Awards (1999) for the film Life Fit People.

She also pursued a singing career, signing with Top One Records in 1996 and releasing Mandarin albums Earthquake and Titi‑Ta, plus the Cantonese album Glass. She hosted radio programmes on RTHK and later formed her own company, releasing three albums and a photo book. Athena has been the face of major brands and starred in commercials for fashion, cosmetics, and electronics.

In 2011, she was nominated for an International Emmy Award for Best Actress for the RTHK drama The World Without Walls (Episode: The Third Choice). In 2017, she won Best Actress at the 13th China‑America Film Festival for the film Second First Love.

Athena joined Kaiser Entertainment in 2015.

Personal life

Athena was a fan of Wong Koon‑Chung in secondary school. They later became neighbours and began dating in 1999. They married in 2012 and have one daughter (born 2012).

An avid motorsport fan, Athena competed in the One Foundation Charity Race in 2009 and 2010.

Songs

• 1996: Washing Machine; Earthquake; Underwear; Nap Time; Sky Is Not Always Blue; Like; Necktie Love; Brushing Teeth; Lonely at Nineteen; Self‑Directed Drama
• 1997: Glass; A Certain Feeling; Want to See Him; Cancer & Scorpio; Glass (Deep Love Version)
• 1998: Finally; Ti‑Ti‑Ta; Shampoo; Candy; Deserter; Razor; Magic Mirror; Entwined in Love; Living Room; Alarm Clock; Correction Fluid; Love Addiction
• 2002: Once Upon a Time; Inch by Inch; Between You and Me; Spendthrift; Rainy Days; Jump Up; Cat and Fish
• 2003: Loving to Make Love
• 2004: Don’t Mess with Me; Ah‑Oh; Ah‑Oh (Mandarin); Subconscious; Magic; I Win; If One Day I Tell You
• 2005: Chasing Dreams; Sgt. Keroro theme (HK Cable)
• 2007: Snowy Farewell

Publications

• 2013: 6 lb 10 oz (OneDang Culture)