FRANCOISE YIP as CONSTABLE KELLY MAH

Francoise Yip, as “Constable Kelly Mah”, dons the same bulky uniform and a by-the-book attitude she had in the last Beachcombers movie, but reveals a softer side in A Beachcombers’ Christmas.

Born in Vancouver, British Columbia, Francoise Yip is the only daughter of a Chinese father and French mother. At an early age, Yip passed on an opportunity to study music full-time to pursue a degree in political science. It was during these years at university that, at the persistence of a friend, Yip began modeling. Despite finding early success, her career as a model did not last long.

In 1994, after an international casting call, Yip was chosen to star alongside Jackie Chan in Rumble in the Bronx. The critical and financial success of Rumble in Asia (and its subsequent number one box office run in the United States) made Yip an instant success and garnered her two Hong Kong Film Award nominations.

She went on to gain a foothold as a bankable female lead in numerous Hong Kong films before being asked to star with martial arts cinema great Jet Li in Tsui Hark's Black Mask. It was in this film that Yip demonstrated her outstanding athletic ability as a dark and commanding femme fatale.
Shortly after the release of Black Mask and after several years of living in Asia, Yip returned to her homeland to resume her studies and work on Ernest Dickerson's Futuresport with Wesley Snipes and Vanessa Williams.
Yip also played a series lead in Flatland 4 with Dennis Hopper, on location in Shanghai. In 2001, she co-starred with Nicolas Lea in the award-winning independent feature Lunch With Charles. She was requested by Joel Silver (with whom she worked on Romeo Must Die) for a recurring character on his WB series Freedom, which she shot in conjunction with her recurring role as Dr. Donna Wong in the CBC series These Arms of Mine. Between her series roles, Yip landed the lead in the feature film The Queen's Messenger and then went on to play a supporting lead in the MOW Cabin Pressure. Since the last New Beachcombers movie, she has landed a long list of features including Alone in the Dark, Blade 3, The Deal, and Edison, and has had guest appearances on the TV series Smallville and Dead Zone.

Yip’s skills include stunt and wire work, martial arts for the screen, firearm etiquette, squib, dancing, piano, skiing, ice skating, roller blading, swimming and golf. She speaks English, French and basic Cantonese.

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