Introduction: between an ethnic actor and a global ambassador

Chinese movie star Jackie Chan appeared at the White House on the evening of 19 January 2011. He joined President Barack Obama for the State Dinner honouring the President of the People's Republic of China, Hu Jintao. It was a highly prestigious occasion with a guest list including politicians, celebrities, media elites, and musicians, plus two former American Presidents, Jimmy Carter and Bill Clinton. As is his habit when att ending overseas events, Jackie Chan wore a mandarin collar shirt and a black jacket with no tie, and he was praised by Politics Daily as ‘the best dressed man’ at the dinner (‘Jackie att ends state dinner for Hu Jintao’ 2011). In a journal entry posted on his official website, Jackie Chan recalled an anecdote from the dinner: ‘While I was talking to him (Hu Jintao), President Obama came over to the table and said, “You know, Jackie Chan is very famous here in the States.” President Hu Jintao replied, “He's more famous in China!” Laughter followed’ (‘My visit to the White House’ 2011). This presidential dialogue exchange, brief and causal, that revolves around the celebrity's fame paid homage not only to Jackie Chan as a Chinese actor, but also to his transnational star power as a bridging agent between the two countries.

Jackie Chan epitomises the transnational capacity of Chinese stars yet without abandoning his ethnic identity. Following Bruce Lee, Chan succeeded in establishing his status as one of the best known and longstanding martial arts actors in Hong Kong cinema. Journeying throughout China, Asia, and the West for four decades, Chan gained countless fans, Chinese and international, through his distinctive personality that blends martial arts with slapstick comedy. He also impressed Hong Kong and international audiences with his deathdefying stunts that are mostly performed by himself. His 1980s movies introduced him to audiences beyond Hong Kong as the result of the films’ distribution in Southeast Asia and overseas Chinese communities. In 1995, he established his foothold in North America with a wide release of Rumble in the Bronx (1994) in America.