Maggie Cheung, born on September 20, 1964, in Hong Kong, is a former actress who has left an indelible mark on the film industry. Raised in Hong Kong and Britain, she began her career after placing second in the 1983 Miss Hong Kong Pageant.

Her early life saw her attending St. Paul's Primary Catholic School in Happy Valley before moving to the United Kingdom at the age of eight. She spent part of her childhood and adolescence in Bromley, London, and attended St Edmund's School, Canterbury. Returning to Hong Kong at the age of 18, she initially took up modeling assignments and other commitments, which eventually led her to the world of acting.

Her career took off in the mid-1980s, and she quickly became one of Hong Kong's most beloved actresses. Her breakthrough role came in Jackie Chan's "Police Story" in 1985, where she played May, Chan's long-suffering girlfriend.

This role catapulted her to fame and opened doors to numerous opportunities in both comedies and dramas. Over the years, she has delivered some of the most memorable performances in Asian cinema.

Her most acclaimed films include "As Tears Go By," "Center Stage," "Green Snake," "Irma Vep," "Comrades: Almost a Love Story," "The Soong Sisters," "Hero," and "Clean." The Wong Kar-wai-directed "In the Mood for Love," in which she plays a cheongsam-wearing character opposite Tony Leung, is considered a classic in both the film and fashion worlds.

Her personal life has also been a subject of interest. She married French director Olivier Assayas in 1998, but the couple divorced in 2001. She later had a relationship with German architect Ole Scheeren from 2007 to 2011.

She is known for her polyglot abilities, speaking Cantonese, Mandarin, Shanghainese, English, and French fluently, a result of her upbringing in Hong Kong, England, and her ten-year stay in Paris.

In terms of lifestyle, Maggie Cheung has largely kept a low profile since retiring from acting in 2006. She rarely makes public appearances except for fashion events and award ceremonies. However, she remains a seminal figure in the movie industry, with her portrayals paving the way for the next century of cinematic masterpieces.

She has won the Hong Kong Film Award for Best Actress five times, holding the record for the most wins in that category. She also holds the record for the most wins for the Golden Horse Award for Best Leading Actress in Taiwan, having won four times.

In the West, she was awarded the Silver Bear for Best Actress at the Berlin International Film Festival in 1992 and Best Actress at the Cannes Film Festival in 2004. In 2004, she became the first Asian actress to be nominated for the French César Award for Best Actress. These awards are a testament to her incredible talent and the impact she has had on the film industry.