Cynthia Ann Christine Rothrock is one of the greatest martial arts/action stars in the world. Few other performers can match her presence and energy on screen. She has earned the title of 'Queen of the Martial Arts Films'.

Cynthia Rothrock is not only a great action star, but also an incredibly accomplished martial artist. While others may 'talk the talk'. CR can definitely 'walk the walk'. She started training at a young age and quickly fell in love with the martial arts. Eventually she became a champion and her reign is legendary: 5 consecutive forms championships (Karate Illustrated), a record that still stands today, and most likely will stand for a very long time. What makes her championships even more incredible is that at the time, there wasn't a category for women to compete in. She won her championships competing in the men's category.

In all, Cynthia Rothrock holds 5 BlackBelts
Tang Soo Do
Tae Kwon Do
Eagle Claw
Whu Shu
Northern Shaolin

Her acting career actually began in a Kentucky Fried Chicken commercial. The company took notice of her status as a martial arts champion and asked her to appear in a series of KFC ads featuring champions from various sports. This was only the beginning of Cynthia's plunge into the entertainment industry.

While tagging along with some friends to an open audition by Golden Harvest Films, who were searching for the next Bruce Lee, she made an impression on the producers. Soon after that initial meeting, she was asked to star in a Hong Kong film with Michelle Yeoh. The film, 'Yes, Madam' was a huge hit, and broke Hong Kong box office records. It didn't take long for the producers at Golden Harvest, to ask Cynthia back to star in more movies. Her days of teaching martial arts in California were over and Cynthia Rothrock was about to become one of the biggest stars Asia had ever seen.

Cynthia Rothrock made 12 movies in Asia. Many people consider her work in Hong Kong as some of her best. But Hong Kong has a slightly different way of making action movies than Hollywood. Actors do most(if not all) of their own stunts and all of their own fight scenes. They usually make actual contact with punches and kicks, instead of near miss 'air-strikes'. So when you see CR getting hit in the stomach, that's CR getting hit in the stomach, not some double. At the end of every film, Cynthia Rothrock was bruised and battered. Once, her nose was even broken shooting a scene(They kept filming, of course). CR considered ending her career many times, going home bruised and in pain every night can be a big eye opener. But each time, after she saw the way the action translated to the Big Screen, CR would decide to stay in the movie business.

When Cynthia returned to the US, she had to tone down her scenes a bit. Comparing her films made in Hong Kong and her later US work, the difference is noticeable. Her fight scenes in American films are still exciting and among the best made today, but her work in Asian cinema is inspired.

Not one to be pigeonholed, Cynthia Rothrock made a conscious effort to widen her acting range. Once in the US, she co-starred in 2 comedies, Fast Getaway and Fast Getaway 2. Not only was CR playing for laughs, she was also the villian in a film for the first time. Cynthia also expanded her role in actual film making. She co-produced and starred in Rage and Honor, one of her most popular and successful movies.

Cynthia Rothrock continues to astonish fans with her martial arts films while at the same time expanding her reach in the industry. Not only does she star in a average of 2 films a year, she is also a featured commentator at many martial arts events and takes the time to make a number of personal appearances.