Donnie Yen Breaks Down His Most Iconic Characters | GQ

Donnie Yen breaks down a few of his most iconic characters from 'Rogue One,' 'Once Upon a Time in China II,' 'The Ip Man' Series, 'Hero,' 'Wing Chun,' 'xXx: Return of Xander Cage' and 'Sakra.'

Director: Christopher Smith
Director of Photography: Barry Chung
Editor(s): Matthew Braunsdorf
Celebrity Talent: Donnie Yen
Producer: Kristen Rakes
Line Producer: Jen Santos
Production Manager: James Pipitone
Production Coordinator: Jamal Colvin
Casting Producer or Talent Booker: Dana Mathews
Local Producer: Roxanne Hui
Audio: Eric Leung
Camera B: Chiu Yan Kin
Lighting Assistant: Yuen Chi Tim
Production Assistant(s): Neo Ng
Post Production Supervisor: Rachael Knight
Post Production Coordinator:
Supervising Editor: Rob Lombardi
Assistant Editor: Diego Rentsch Billy Ward

00:00 "Am I too damn old to take that role?"
00:33 Rogue One
02:13 Once Upon a Time in China II
06:48 The Ip Man Series
11:39 Hero
14:21 Wing Chun
16:36 xXx: Return of Xander Cage
18:05 Sakra


ABOUT GQ
For more than 50 years, GQ has been the premier men’s magazine, providing definitive coverage of style, culture, politics and more. In that tradition, GQ’s video channel covers every part of a man’s life, from entertainment and sports to fashion and grooming advice. Welcome to the modern guide to style advice, dating tips, celebrity videos, music, sports and more.

[ChrisAlbertH]

I don't know anyone who would think that Donnie Yen is too "old" for any role, let alone an action role. This dude is legendary in my book.

[kung-fukennyfamily]

Can we just appreciate how Donnie Yen is 59 and he still looks like he's 30.

[TheSomeRocks]

"Knocking me out is fine but... I gotta finish the movie right?" -Donnie Yen

What a legend.

[robertnguyen]

I love how Donnie Yen, even when playing an almost stereotypical character, still wants to bring originality to the role. Playing a blind Asian martial arts master, but asking “can we give him a sense of humor?” He gives every character he plays a sense of humor, charm and likability. To spite being a larger than life character and martial arts master, he makes the characters he plays relatable, and that is why he’s a legend.

[monanaliza]

Can we just appreciate for a second how big deal it is that these kinds of videos are finally happening with international stars too?

[TheTekknician]

How he explains the "why" and the motivation of Sakra, that's exactly what cinema should be about. Making a beautiful story, make something entertaining, a happening that everyone enjoys being a part of. His explanation put a smile to my face :)

[nuthinbutnikk]

You can tell he's the kind of actor that really cares about the art. True artist.

[LuisCastillo-tgxw]

Michelle Yeoh, Jet Li, Jackie Chan, Sammo Hung and Donnie Yen are living legends and when they get together is just cinema magic

[daoyang]

I grew up on Jackie Chan, Jet Li and Donnie Yen. These legends will never be replaced.

[ammolator]

He was badass in John Wick 4. So glad he is getting more popular now. Hopefully can be in more movies and doesn't let age slow him down.

[solezeta]

And now he just got even more iconic in John Wick 4. I loved him in every single scene he was in.

[EganCraft]

I love Donnie Yen. Basically, “If Mike Tyson knocks me out, cool whatever. But I need to finish this movie on schedule 😂”

[chasehedges]

His performance in Rogue One is fantastic

[steezbuscemi]

Iron Monkey is one of the most underappreciated Kung Fu films and I was really hoping he would talk about it. I still remember going to see it in the theaters as a kid.

[ObiSol]

Man, I love Donnie Yen. Discovered him in IP Man and stayed for his entire career in cinematography. Such an aspiring actor/director that we don't have a lot of anymore.

[Syryu]

Jet Li nearly blinded him twice and Donnie Yen goes on to play two blind characters! 😆

[alvinkoh]

Can we appreciate how Donnie created most of his great movies without CGI.

[ao_qd]

His fight scenes with Jet Li were so amazing. The one in Hero is still one of my all-time favorites to this day. Thank goodness he wasn't blinded by either of those scenes.

[EscanorChi]

As a general Asian cinema and Kung Fu cinema fan since the 90s I cannot express how transcendent an experience the first IP Man was for me. It opened up my world to Donnie Yen and his many other amazing performances. Then later realising he'd been in so many other roles in movies I loved when I was younger, like Once Upon a time in china 2.

[j_sr]

"my blood spilling like kill bill" should be an established term. What a legend Mr. Yen