This week, The Black Belt List honors martial artists who transitioned from gaining fame in martial arts to becoming leading men and women in the challenging world of Hollywood.

Their dedication to martial arts matched their commitment to acting, and their hard work has truly paid off.

These are our magnificent seven - from stunt performers to leading stars!!

Michelle Lee

Michelle Charlene Lee is a dynamic Asian American actress known for her roles as Violet in Blood and Treasure 2, Mileena in Mortal Kombat Legacy, and appearances in Black Widow and Venom. She has also graced the cover of Inside Kung Fu Magazine. With a black belt in Wushu, Michelle continues to showcase her remarkable skills in both the entertainment and martial arts worlds.

Her impressive career spans both acting and stunt work, with notable roles as a stuntwoman in Pirates of the Caribbean 3, Captain Marvel, and motion capture performances for iconic video game characters like Ellie in The Last of Us 2, Ada Wong in Resident Evil 6, and MJ in Spider-Man 4.

Michelle's exceptional blend of acting and physical prowess has earned her significant accolades, including a SAG Award for Outstanding Action Performance by a Stunt Ensemble for Top Gun: Maverick and a SAG nomination for Best Ensemble Cast in Pirates of the Caribbean 3. 

Jon Foo

Jon Foo is a British actor, martial artist, and stunt performer celebrated for his role as Jin Kazama in the 2009 live-action film Tekken. 

Inspired by his parents' passion for martial arts, his father in Karate and his mother in Judo. Jon began training in Kung Fu and later expanded to MMA. He started his journey with the London Chinese Acrobats, eventually signing with a major film company in Asia.

A skilled practitioner of wushu, Jon has showcased his talents in films such as Tom-Yum-Goong (US title: The Protector), Batman Begins, House of Fury, Left for Dead, and Life (Shi cha qi xiao shi). Renowned for his stunt work, he gained widespread recognition as Jin Kazama in Tekken and portrayed Ryu in the short film Street Fighter: Legacy.

Zoe Bell

Zoe Bell, renowned for her incredible talent leading a double life as a stunt double and actress, has earned a reputation for her unmatched dedication and skill in martial arts and acting.

Born on Waiheke Island, New Zealand, her background in gymnastics and martial arts, Zoe Bell’s Hollywood career began as a stunt woman first as Lucy Lawless’s stunt double in the cult classic Xena – Warrior Princess and subsequently as Uma Thurman’s stunt double in Quentin Tarantino’s Kill Bill Vol 1 and Vol 2.

Bell continued to work with Tarantino, as an actor in Death Proof and as stunt coordinator on Once Upon a Time in Hollywood. Bell is the recipient of the Taurus World Stunt Award for Best Overall Stunt by a Stuntwoman and a Screen Actors’ Guild Award.

Neil Brown Jr.

Neil Brown Jr. has carved a niche for himself in Hollywood with memorable roles across television and film. Neil's journey began with appearances in the martial arts TV series WMAC Masters. 

Perhaps best known for his portrayal of Guillermo, the leader of the Vatos in The Walking Dead, Neil's career is marked by versatility and talent and as the role of Ray Perry in the CBS series SEAL Team, further solidifying his status as a talented actor. 

He gained further recognition playing Felix on South Beach and DJ Yella in the acclaimed 2015 biopic Straight Outta Compton.

Fernando Chien

Fernando Chien, also known as Funan Chien, is a Taiwanese actor and stunt performer celebrated for his roles in Fast Five and TNT's The Last Ship. Though introduced to Taekwondo and Karate at six, he seriously pursued martial arts in his twenties, focusing on Hung-Gar Kung Fu in Montreal.

In 2002, Fernando relocated to Los Angeles to chase his film and TV dreams. There, he expanded his martial arts repertoire to include Wushu, Jiu-Jitsu, and Muay Thai, training under experts like Gokor Chivichyan and Gene LeBell at the Hayastan MMA Academy. Currently, he trains with the Werdum Combat Team.

Fernando skillfully navigates between acting and stunt work, joining the renowned action team Reel Kick. His film credits boast appearances in Crank, The Mummy: Tomb of the Dragon Emperor, Red Dawn, Fast Five, and Iron Man 3. On television, he has featured in series such as NCIS: Los Angeles, The Guild, and Star Trek: Enterprise. In 2016, he portrayed President Peng Wu on The Last Ship.

Darren Shahlavi

Darren Shahlavi began his martial arts training at the age of seven in a theater in Manchester, England. At seventeen, a seminar on "Hong Kong style fight choreography" by Kung Fu star Donnie Yen ignited his ambition to work in Hong Kong cinema as a path to Hollywood  In the early 1990s, Shahlavi moved to Hong Kong, starting as a stuntman. His breakthrough came when director Woo-Ping Yuen cast him as the lead villain in Tai Chi Chuan.

In 2010, Darren returned to Hong Kong cinema, co-starring with Donnie Yen and Sammo Hung in Ip Man 2. He played "The Twister," a British boxing champion, in this acclaimed film about Bruce Lee’s Kung Fu master, Ip Man. The movie became a box office hit and revitalized his fanbase among action enthusiasts.

Darren's martial arts prowess led to roles in films like Riddick, Blade: Trinity, 300, Watchmen, and Night at the Museum. He also appeared in Hollywood projects such as I Spy alongside Eddie Murphy and The Final Cut with Robin Williams, along with TV guest spots on Sanctuary, Human Target, and Reaper.

Darren's subsequent projects included Born to Raise Hell with Steven Seagal, Hangar 14 with Steve Austin, and starring roles in Aladdin and the Curse of the Djinn and Mortal Kombat.

Raymond Park aka Ray Park

Raymond Park is from Glasgow, Scotland, is a British actor, martial artist, and stuntman. He gained fame as Darth Maul in Star Wars: Episode I – The Phantom Menace and Solo: A Star Wars Story, performing motion capture in Star Wars: The Clone Wars. 

At age seven, Park moved with his family to London. Inspired by his father's love for Bruce Lee, he began martial arts training, studying Hapkido, Shaolin Kung Fu, and modern wushu. By 15, he traveled to Malaysia to hone his skills. From 1991 to 1996, he competed internationally with the British national wushu team before shifting his focus to acting in the late 1990s.

Park's film career began as a stunt double in Mortal Kombat Annihilation. He played various non-speaking monster roles, including Baraka. His breakout role came in 1999 as the Sith Lord Darth Maul in The Phantom Menace. Although the character's voice was dubbed by Peter Serafinowicz, Park's physical performance left a lasting impact. He later appeared in Fanboys as a security guard with a nod to his Star Wars role.  Park's first speaking role came as Toad in X-Men. That led to Snake Eyes in G.I. Joe: The Rise of Cobra and G.I. Joe: Retaliation, and Edgar in Heroes.

He also served as Christopher Walken’s stunt double in Sleepy Hollow, participating in pivotal action scenes.

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