Maggie Q

Margaret Denise Quigley[2] (born May 22, 1979),[3] professionally known as Maggie Q, is an American actress, model and animal rights activist.

Maggie Q
Q at San Diego Comic-Con in July 2010
Born	Margaret Denise Quigley (1979-05-22) May 22, 1979[1] Honolulu, Hawaii, U.S.
Other names	Maggie D. Quigley
Occupation	Actress, model, health advocate
Years active	1998–present

She had starring roles in the action films Mission: Impossible III (2006), Live Free or Die Hard (2007), Priest (2011), and Fantasy Island (2020). She portrayed Tori Wu in the dystopian science-fiction action film Divergent (2014), and reprised her role in the sequels, Insurgent (2015) and Allegiant (2016).[4]

Q starred as the title role on The CW action-thriller series Nikita (2010–13). She also had a main role as FBI Special Agent Hannah Wells in the political thriller series Designated Survivor (2016–19)[5]

Early life

Quigley was born and raised in Honolulu, Oahu, Hawaii.[6][7] Her father is of Irish and Polish descent[8] and her mother is a Vietnamese immigrant.[7][9] Her parents met while her father was stationed in Vietnam during the Vietnam War.[10][11] Quigley has four siblings,[7] and was raised Catholic.[12]

Quigley attended Mililani Waena Elementary School and Wheeler Intermediate School. She then attended Mililani High School, where she was on the cross country, track and field, and swim teams. She won the title of "Best Body" senior year, and graduated in 1997.[7] She won an athletics scholarship to a private university and intended to study veterinary science. Quigley's family was unable to assist her financially. She left Hawaii during the summer in hopes of earning enough money so that she could start her studies in the fall.[13]

Career

Maggie Q at the world premiere of The Warrior and the Wolf in 2009

1996–2005: Modeling and Hong Kong films

At the suggestion of a friend, Q began modeling in Tokyo, Japan, at the age of 17, before making an unsuccessful move to Taipei, Taiwan, and finally trying in Hong Kong, where she started going by the stage name "Maggie " because the locals could not pronounce Quigley properly.[7][10][14] She has said it was not easy for her: "I had twenty bucks in my pocket. I mean, I literally did the same thing that my mother did when she left Vietnam... didn't speak the language... had no money."[9] But it was in Hong Kong that she was selected by Jackie Chan, who saw in her a potential action star. His intensive training taught her the importance of professionalism and always doing her own stunts. Q later said, "I had never done a day of martial arts in my life when I started in the business. I couldn't even touch my toes."[10]

In 1998,[15] she started her acting career in the TV drama, House of the Dragon, which was a huge hit in Asia. In 2000, Q made her film debut as Anna in the horror film, Model from Hell, and went on to star as FBI agent, Jane Quigley in the action thriller Gen-Y Cops the same year. Her appearance in Gen-Y Cops impressed Jackie Chan so much that she was cast in Manhattan Midnight and Rush Hour 2.[7]

In 2002, she starred as martial artist assassin Charlene Ching in the action film Naked Weapon. In 2004 she co-starred with Kelly Hu, Russell Wong and other Asian-American actors in a 30-second PSA produced by Mark Allen for CAUSE USA (Center for Asian Americans United for Self Empowerment), The Least Likely, encouraging Asian and Pacific Islander Americans to register and vote.[16][17][18][19] In 2005, Q played Harmony in the German-Singaporean TV mini-series House of Harmony, opposite Fann Wong. The same year she also co-produced the animal treatment documentary Earthlings narrated by Joaquin Phoenix.[20]

2006–2013: Hollywood career and Nikita

Lyndsy Fonseca and Maggie Q at a panel for the television series Nikita at San Diego Comic-Con in July 2010.

Maggie Q during a panel at San Diego Comic-Con in July 2013

In 2006 Q made her Hollywood breakthrough as co-star in Mission: Impossible III alongside Tom Cruise. She played Zhen, the only female member of the IMF team. In 2007, she appeared as Mai Linh in the Bruce Willis movie Live Free or Die Hard,[7] the fourth film in the Die Hard series, and as Maggie in Balls of Fury. In 2008, Q played fictional Cao Ying, a granddaughter of the warlord Cao Cao in Three Kingdoms: Resurrection of the Dragon, her first ancient Chinese costume performance. That same year, she also appeared in the drama/thriller movie Deception starring Ewan McGregor and Hugh Jackman, as Tina, an investment banker[15] who introduced Jackman's character to an exclusive anonymous sex club list. Q also stars in the video game Need for Speed: Undercover as the seductive lead character, federal agent Chase Linh, who is the player's only contact to the Tri-City Police.[21]

In 2010, Q became the lead character, an assassin gone rogue, on the CW series Nikita, based on the 1990 French film of the same name.[10] Since the premiere of Nikita, Q has been incorrectly described as the first Asian American series lead in an American television drama;[22] actress Anna May Wong is the first Asian American series lead of an American television series with her show The Gallery of Madame Liu-Tsong which aired 1951.[23] Q received mostly positive reviews for her role in the series.[24][25] The character was included in TV Guide's lists of "TV's Sexiest Crime Fighters" and "TV's Toughest Ladies".[26][27]

2014–present: Television work

In 2014, Q played the role of Dauntless faction member Tori Wu, in the film Divergent, the adaptation of the same-titled novel.[4] Q reprised her role in the sequel to Divergent, The Divergent Series: Insurgent, which began filming on May 27, 2014 and was released on March 20, 2015. She also starred in the CBS drama series Stalker[28] by Kevin Williamson as Detective Beth Davis along with Dylan McDermott and Mariana Klaveno.[29] The series premiered on October 1, 2014 for the 2014–15 fall television season.[30][31] The series was ordered for a full season on October 27, 2014.[32] The series however was canceled after one season, leaving the show on a cliffhanger.[33] In October 2013, Q started filming for A Conspiracy on Jekyll Island, starring alongside Frank Grillo, AnnaSophia Robb, Dianna Agron, John Leguizamo, Ed Westwick, Mary McCormack, Christopher McDonald and Minnie Driver.[34] The film is directed by Aram Rappaport and produced by Hilary Shor, Atit Shah and Aaron Becker. Jekyll Island is set to release in 2016.[35]

She reprised her role in The Divergent Series: Allegiant, the third installment of the Divergent series, which was released on March 18, 2016.[36] In February 2016, it was announced that she would co-star opposite Kiefer Sutherland in the ABC drama series Designated Survivor as Hannah Wells, a leading FBI agent.[5] The show was renewed by Netflix for a third and final season, which was released on June 7, 2019.[37]

Personal life

Q dated Los Angeles-based businessman Paul Alfonso from 2009 until 2010. Having met on-set in early 2014, on January 14, 2015, it was announced that Q was engaged to her Stalker co-star Dylan McDermott.[38] The couple stated in 2017 that they were not in any rush to have an actual wedding ceremony.[39] In February 2019, after a four-year engagement, the couple split.[40]

She has five tattoos: a cross on her right forearm, Tibetan script and a little triangle on her left forearm, and a Zulu proverb on her side "umuntu ngumuntu ngabantu", which means "a person's character is made by the collective". She has one of a phoenix on her left hip, which she has had to conceal for most of her roles except Nikita.[41] Q has suffered temporary hearing loss in her right ear after her eardrum was damaged during an explosive stunt in 2010.[42]

In 2007, she lived in Studio City, Los Angeles, California with her two (at one point, eight) rescued dogs.[7][43] She also has a house in Pound Ridge, New York.[44][45]

Animal rights activism

Q is outspoken on the subject of animal rights and has taken part in PETA Asia's campaigns promoting vegetarianism.[46] A vegetarian for many years, she has said that giving up meat was one of the most rewarding decisions she has ever made. "I feel better, I have more energy, on, and off the set, and I have the satisfaction of knowing that I'm doing something to help stop animal suffering." In 2008, Maggie Q was named PETA Asia-Pacific's "Person of the Year."[47] The same year, the organization also listed Q as one of the "Best-Dressed Celebrities" of 2008. She has since taken the step to cut all animal products from her diet by becoming a vegan.[48] PETA declared her to be one of three "Sexiest Vegans" of 2017.[49] Maggie Q is currently an ambassador for Animals Asia Foundation.[50]

Filmography

Film

Year	Title	Role	Notes
2000	Model from Hell	Anna	Chinese: 鬼名模
	Gen-Y Cops	Jane Quigley	Chinese: 特警新人類2
2001	Manhattan Midnight	Susan / Hope
	Rush Hour 2	Girl in car
2002	Naked Weapon	Charlene Ching	Chinese: 赤裸特工
2003	The Trouble-Makers	Miss Clary	Chinese: 一屋兩火
2004	Magic Kitchen	May	Chinese: 魔幻厨房
2004	Around the World in 80 Days	Female Agent
	Rice Rhapsody	Gigi	Chinese: 海南雞飯
2005	Taped	Maggie	Short film
	Dragon Squad	Yuet	Chinese: 猛龍
2006	Mission: Impossible III	Zhen Lei
2007	The Counting House	Jade
	Live Free or Die Hard	Mai Linh
	Balls of Fury	Maggie Wong
2008	Three Kingdoms: Resurrection of the Dragon	Cao Ying	Chinese: 三國之見龍卸甲
	Deception	Tina
	New York, I Love You	Janice Taylor	Segment: "Yvan Attal"
2009	The Warrior and the Wolf	Harran Woman	Chinese: 狼灾记
2010	Operation: Endgame	High Priestess
	The King of Fighters	Mai Shiranui
2011	Priest	Priestess
2014	Divergent	Tori Wu
	Unity	Narrator	Documentary
2015	The Divergent Series: Insurgent	Tori Wu
2016	The Divergent Series: Allegiant	Tori Wu
2017	The Crash	Hilary
	Slumber	Alice
2018	The Con Is On	Irina
	Modest Heroes	Mom (voice)	Segment: "Life Ain't Gonna Lose"
2020	Fantasy Island	Gwen Olsen
	The Argument	Sarah	Post-production
2021	The Asset	Anna	Post-production
TBA	The Death of Me	Actor	Post-production

Television

Year	Title	Role	Notes
1998	House of the Dragon	Devine	Recurring role
2002	Mission in Trouble	Yeung Lan	Main role; Chinese: 雄心密令
2005	House of Harmony	Harmony	Television film
2010–13	Nikita	Nikita Mears	Lead role; 73 episodes
2012–19	Young Justice	Wonder Woman (voice)	Recurring role; 6 episodes
2014–15	Stalker	Beth Davis / Michelle Webber	Lead role; 20 episodes
2016–19	Designated Survivor	Hannah Wells	Main role; 50 episodes

Video games

Year	Title	Voice role	Notes
2008	Need for Speed: Undercover	Chase Linh

Music videos

Year	Artist	Title
2000	Chris Yu	"Subway"
2002	Santana featuring Michelle Branch	"The Game of Love"

As producer

Year	Title	Notes
2005	Earthlings	Co-producer
2006	Love Asia	Producer
TBA	Queen of Canton	Executive producer

Awards and nominations

Year	Association	Category	Work	Result
2007	Asian Excellence Awards	Supporting Film Actress	Mission: Impossible III	Won
2009	Hawaii International Film Festival	Maverick Award	The Warrior and the Wolf	Won
2010	IGN Summer Movie Awards	Best TV Hero	Nikita	Nominated
2011				Nominated
	Teen Choice Awards	Choice TV Actress: Action		Nominated
2012	IGN Summer Movie Awards	Best TV Hero		Nominated
	Teen Choice Awards	Choice TV Actress: Action		Nominated
2013	TV Guide Awards	Best Ensemble		Nominated
	Teen Choice Awards	Choice TV Actress: Action		Nominated
2014	Young Hollywood Awards	Best Cast Chemistry – Film	Divergent	Nominated

References

1. "Monitor". Entertainment Weekly (1208). May 25, 2012. p. 21.
2. Chozick, Amy (September 1, 2010). "'Nikita': Don't Make Maggie Q Have to Hurt You". The Wall Street Journal. Retrieved October 23, 2010.
3. "Maggie Q". TV Guide. Retrieved October 29, 2014.
4. Nevets, Stephen. "New 'Divergent' Images Spotlights Massive Cast, Action Including Ashley Judd, Maggie Q". The Global Dispatch. Retrieved March 14, 2014.
5. Andreeva, Nellie (February 5, 2016). "'Designated Survivor' Casts Kal Penn, Maggie Q, Natascha McElhone, Italia Ricci".
6. "The 5-minute Interview: Maggie Q, Actress". The Independent. London. October 31, 2007. Retrieved October 23, 2010.
7. "Mission Very Possible". Midweek. Archived from the original on April 30, 2011. Retrieved October 23, 2010.
8. "Talking Mission: Impossible III with Maggie Q". MovieWeb. Retrieved October 23, 2010.
9. "Maggie Q (7/27/2010)". Lopez Tonight. Archived from the original on January 28, 2011. Retrieved October 31, 2010.
10. Yuan, Jada (August 22, 2010). "Hong Kong's Hit Girl". New York. Retrieved August 24, 2010.
11. "Kick ass girl". The Times. London. April 23, 2006. Retrieved October 24, 2010.
12. "Maggie Q Talks Designated Survivor, Her Engagement and Big Break!". Youtube. Retrieved April 18, 2018.
13. Brzeski, Patrick (January 19, 2011). "Maggie Q on her Hollywood success". TimeOut Hong Kong. Retrieved October 29, 2014.
14. Ito, Robert (February 8, 2007). "The Maggie Q story: Gone to Asia with an eye toward Hollywood". The New York Times. Retrieved October 24, 2010.
15. Burke, Jodie (April 24, 2008). "Maggie Q in 'Deception'". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved October 24, 2010.
16. CAUSE Launches New Public Service Announcement Urging Young Asian Americas To Vote.
17. Building Cinematic Composites: A Creative COW Magazine Extra, interview with Mark Allen.
18. The Least Likely on Allen's YouTube channel.
19. "CAUSE". CAUSE.
20. "Single Most Powerful Information With Professional Cast and Crew in EARTHLINGS". Nation Earth. Archived from the original on August 18, 2010. Retrieved October 23, 2010.
21. "International Box Office Sensation Maggie Q to Star in Need for Speed Undercover". teamxbox. Archived from the original on May 5, 2011. Retrieved October 23, 2010.
22. Rasul, Juliana June. "The new and improved Maggie Q". AsiaOne. Archived from the original on October 19, 2013. Retrieved July 29, 2013.
23. "Film reveals real-life struggles of an onscreen 'Dragon Lady'". UCLA Today. January 3, 2008. Archived from the original on July 20, 2011. Retrieved January 27, 2010.
24. Stanley, Alessandra (September 7, 2010). "Lethal Woman With Weapons Is Out for Covert Vengeance". The New York Times. Retrieved June 27, 2011.
25. Bianco, Robert (September 9, 2010). "'Nikita' star Maggie Q brings killer looks to killer role". USA Today. Retrieved June 27, 2011.
26. "TV's Sexiest Crime Fighters". TV Guide. Retrieved June 26, 2012.
27. "Maggie Q Pictures,Nikita Photos - Photo Gallery: TV's Toughest Ladies". TV Guide. Retrieved September 14, 2012.
28. Swift, Andy (May 9, 2014). "CBS Fall 2014 Series Orders — NCIS: New Orleans, The Odd Couple, More". TVLine. Retrieved March 12, 2015.
29. Harnick, Chris. "Maggie Q Is Coming Back to TV in a New Kevin Williamson Project—Get the Details!". E!. Retrieved March 19, 2014.
30. Kondolojy, Amanda (May 9, 2014). "CBS Orders 'CSI: Cyber', 'NCIS: New Orleans', 'The Odd Couple', 'Stalker', 'Madam Secretary', 'Scorpion' & 'The McCarthys'". TV by the Numbers. Retrieved May 14, 2014.
31. Swift, Andy (May 9, 2014). "Fall TV: CBS Orders NCIS and CSI Spin-Offs, Odd Couple, Kevin Williamson's Stalker and 4 More to Series (But Not How I Met Your Dad?)". TVLine. Retrieved May 14, 2014.
32. "CBS Gives Full Season Orders to 'Scorpion', 'Madam Secretary', 'NCIS: New Orleans' & 'Stalker'". TV by the Numbers. October 27, 2014. Archived from the original on July 23, 2015. Retrieved March 12, 2015.
33. Ausiello, Michael (May 8, 2015). "Battle Creek, Stalker, The McCarthys Cancelled at CBS". TVLine. Retrieved May 8, 2015.
34. Justin Kroll. "'The Butler' Producer Sets up Next Pic Starring Frank Grillo and Minnie Driver (EXCLUSIVE)". Variety.
35. Kroll, Justin. "'The Butler' Producer Sets up Next Pic Starring Frank Grillo and Minnie Driver (EXCLUSIVE)". Variety. Retrieved March 1, 2015.
36. "Third Book in Veronica Roth's Blockbuster Divergent Trilogy, Allegiant, Will be Produced and Released as Two Separate Rilms". Lionsgate. Retrieved May 19, 2015.
37. Nellie, Andreeva; Petski, Denise (October 18, 2018). "'Designated Survivor': Anthony Edwards & Julie White Cast In Season 3 On Netflix". Deadline. Retrieved October 27, 2018.
38. Butler, Karen (January 18, 2015). "Dylan McDermott and Maggie Q get engaged". United Press International. Retrieved October 24, 2018.
39. Staff writers (September 27, 2017). "Dylan McDermott reveals why he hasn't married Maggie Q yet". Fox News. Retrieved October 24, 2018.
40. Jordan, Julie; Stone, Natalie (February 28, 2019). "Dylan McDermott and Maggie Q Split Following 4-Year Engagement". People. Retrieved March 4, 2019.
41. "'Nikita': Maggie Q reveals her tattoo's origin story". Zap2it. Archived from the original on October 31, 2010. Retrieved October 23, 2010.
42. "Maggie Q". Maxim UK. Archived from the original on October 5, 2011. Retrieved October 31, 2010.
43. "Interview with Maggie Q". CNN. November 19, 2007. Retrieved October 23, 2010.
44. Truong, Peggy (July 29, 2013). "'Nikita' Star Maggie Q Buys Historic $1.2M New York Estate". Celebuzz. Retrieved March 12, 2015.
45. Sherman, Catherine (July 30, 2013). "Maggie Q Sells Studio City Stunner for Rustic Mill House". Zillow.com. Retrieved March 12, 2015.
46. "Features | Nearly Nude Maggie Q Says, 'Spice Up Your Life - Go Vegetarian'" (Press release). PETA Asia-Pacific. Retrieved March 12, 2015.
47. "Maggie Q Named Peta's Person of the Yea". PETA Asia-Pacific. Archived from the original on July 22, 2011. Retrieved October 23, 2010.
48. "PETA Announces the Best-Dressed Celebrities". PETA Asia-Pacific. Archived from the original on August 19, 2010. Retrieved October 23, 2010.
49. Daisy Murray, "PETA's 'Sexiest Vegan' List Is In, And Not Just One, But Three Women Won," ELLE, July 10, 2017.
50. "Entrepreneur & Hollywood star Maggie Q pledges support and names a bear!" – via www.facebook.com.

External links

• Maggie Q on IMDb
• Maggie Q at AllMovie
• Maggie Q at Fashion Model Directory