Cynthia Rothrock (born March 8, 1957) is an American martial artist and actress in martial arts films. She holds black belt rankings in seven styles of martial arts and was a high-level competitor in martial arts before becoming an actress. In 2014, she was inducted into the International Sports Hall Of Fame. In 2016, Martial Arts History Museum bestowed Rothrock the official title of "The Queen Of Martial Arts." Rothrock was born in Wilmington, Delaware, and began training in martial arts at the age of 13. She quickly rose through the ranks, winning numerous championships in karate, kickboxing and taekwondo. In 1981, she was named World Champion in Forms and Weapons. In 1985, Rothrock made her film debut, alongside Michelle Yeoh, in the Hong Kong action film "Yes, Madam!" The film was a box office success and made Rothrock a star in Asia. She went on to star in several more Hong Kong films, including "Millionaires' Express" (1986), "Magic Crystal" (1986), "Righting Wrongs" (1986) and "Lady Reporter" (1989). Rothrock would return to the United States to further her acting career in many more martial arts films, including two "China O'Brien" movies in 1990, as well as "Lady Dragon" (1992), "Rage And Honor" (1992) and "Sworn To Justice" (1996). In 2024, Rothrock co-wrote, produced and starred in a crowd-funded martial arts western, entitled "Black Creek," for which there's also an accompanying graphic novel. Rothrock made history by becoming the inaugural woman to grace the cover of Karate Illustrated (August 1981)[20] and holds the distinction of being the first woman featured on the cover three times in the magazine's history. In March 2024, Black Belt Magazine named Rothrock in its list of "The Most Influential Women Martial Artists on the Planet." Along with teaching martial arts, Rothrock is also a successful businesswoman, with her own line of martial arts clothing and accessories.

Filmography

• 2027Black Creek: Retribution — Rose Jennings, Producer, Writer
• 2026Prey of Wrath — Brenda Sands
• 2025Darkness of Man — Nurse Leslie
• 2025Dying for Living — Sin
• 2024Black Creek — Rose Jennings, Writer, Producer, Costume Design
• 2024Fyre Rises — Commander Bodie
• 2024Lady Scorpions — Alena Moore
• 2024No Time To Think — Rachel Adams
• 2024Taken from Rio Bravo — Margaret
• 2024The Last Kumite — Julie Jackson
• 2023Buckle Up — Lady X
• 2022Ryan Carson — Ally Watson
• 2021New York Ninja — Det. Janet Flores (voice)
• 2018Cool Cat Kids Superhero — Momma Cat
• 2018Fury of the Fist and the Golden Fleece — Counter Attendant
• 2017A Doggone Hollywood — Mom in Car
• 2017Death Fighter — Valerie
• 2017Star Raiders: The Adventures of Saber Raine — Kandra Syn
• 2016Asian Ghost Story
• 2016Showdown in Manila — Haines
• 2015Cool Cat Saves the Kids — Momma Cat
• 2015The Martial Arts Kid — Cindy, Co-Producer
• 2014Mercenaries — Mona
• 2013Badass Showdown — Ivy
• 2012Santa's Summer House — Nanna
• 2004Sci-Fighter — Sally Kirk / The White Dragon
• 2003Lost Bullet — Cynthia
• 2002Outside the Law — Julie Cosgrove, Executive Producer
• 2002Redemption — Erin Murphy
• 2000Manhattan Chase — Nancy
• 1999Tiger Claws III — Linda Masterson
• 1998The Hostage — Agent Rebecca Peters
• 1997Deep Cover — FBI Special Agent Kate Mason
• 1997Night Vision — Kristin O'Connor
• 1997The Dukes of Hazzard: Reunion! — Bertha Jo
• 1996Eye for an Eye — Tina
• 1996Sworn to Justice — Janna, Associate Producer
• 1996Tiger Claws II — Linda Masterson
• Hercules: The Legendary Journeys — Enforcer II
• 1995Portrait in Red — Laurel
• 1994Fast Getaway II — Lilly
• 1994Guardian Angel — Cynthia McKay
• 1993Angel the Kickboxer — Kristi Jones
• 1993Irresistible Force — Charlotte Heller
• 1993Lady Dragon 2 — Susan 'The Golden Angel' Morgan
• 1993Rage and Honor II: Hostile Takeover — Kris Fairchild, Associate Producer
• 1993Undefeatable — Kristi Jones
• 1992Angel Of Fury — Nancy Bolan
• Eek! The Cat — Cynthia Rothrock (voice)
• 1992Honor and Glory — Tracey Pride, Producer
• 1992Lady Dragon — Kathy Galagher
• 1992Rage and Honor — Kris Fairchild, Associate Producer
• 1991Fast Getaway — Lilly
• 1991Martial Law II: Undercover — Billie Blake
• 1991Tiada Titik Balik — Kathy
• 1991Tiger Claws — Linda Masterson
• 1990China O'Brien — China O'Brien
• 1990China O'Brien II — China O'Brien
• 1990Martial Law — Billie Blake
• 1990No Witnesses
• 1990Prince of the Sun — Bencheuk
• The Word
• 1989City Cops — Inspector Cindy
• 1989Lady Reporter — Cindy
• 1988Jungle Heat
• 1988The Inspector Wears Skirts — Madam Law
• 1987Fight to Win — Sensei Lauren
• 1987No Retreat, No Surrender 2: Raging Thunder — Terry
• 1986Magic Crystal — Cindy Morgan
• 1986Millionaires' Express — Mountain Bandit
• 1986Righting Wrongs — Senior Insp. Sandy Jones / Cindy Si
• 198524 Hours to Midnight — Devon Grady
• 1985Yes, Madam! — Senior Inspector Carrie Morris
• Anadellia Rises — Priscilla Kasper
• Operation Dagon
• Vendetta Vette — LaRue

Appearances as themselves (20)

• 2026The Untold Story of No Retreat No Surrender — Self
• 2024American Expendables: The Films of North American Pictures — Self (archive footage)
• 2023The Hanged Man: The Story of Ron Van Clief — Herself
• 2021Re-Enter the 'New York Ninja' — Self
• The Art of Action — Self
• 2019In Search of the Last Action Heroes — Self
• 2019Iron Fists and Kung Fu Kicks — Self
• 2017Fists of Fury — Self
• 2014Spirit2Power — Self
• Too Young to Die — Self
• 2002Modern Warriors — Self
• 2002The Art of Action: Martial Arts in the Movies — Self
• Through the Night with... — Self
• 1998Masters of the Martial Arts Presented by Wesley Snipes — Self
• 1996American Tigers — Herself
• 1995Encyclopedia of Martial Arts: Hollywood Celebrities — Self
• 1994Cinema of Vengeance — Self
• 1990The Best of the Martial Arts Films — Self
• 1985Defend Yourself! — Herself
• Chinese Hercules: The Bolo Yeung Story — Self