
In 1998, she started her acting career in the TV drama House of the Dragon, which was a huge hit in Asia. She later said, "I had never done a day of martial arts in my life when I started in the business. His intensive training taught her the importance of professionalism and always doing her own stunts. had no money." But in Hong Kong she became a protege of Jackie Chan, who saw in her a potential action star. I mean, I literally did the same thing that my mother did when she left Vietnam. She has said it was not easy for her: "I had twenty bucks in my pocket. She tried again in Hong Kong, where she began using the stage name Maggie Q because the locals could not pronounce Quigley properly. Q at the world premiere of The Warrior and the Wolf in 2009 1996–2005: Modeling and Hong Kong films Īt a friend's suggestion, Q began modeling in Tokyo, Japan at the age of 17, before making an unsuccessful move to Taipei, Taiwan. She left Hawaii at the end of one school year in hopes of earning enough money to resume at the beginning of the next one. She won an athletics scholarship to a private university and intended to study veterinary science however, her family was unable to assist her financially. She won the title of "Best Body" senior year, and graduated in 1997. She then attended Mililani High School, where she was on the cross country, track and field, and swim teams. She attended Mililani Waena Elementary School and Wheeler Intermediate School. She has four siblings, was raised Catholic and attends church.

Her parents met while her father was stationed in Vietnam during the Vietnam War. Her father is of Irish and Polish descent and her mother is a Vietnamese immigrant. Q was born and raised in Honolulu, Hawaii.

2.1 1996–2005: Modeling and Hong Kong films.
