Summer is the time for epic, action-packed blockbusters, and they’re all the better when starring Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson — alongside New York Film Academy alum Hannah Quinlivan.
Already a household name in her native Taiwan, the NYFA Acting for Film alum and model is poised for international stardom with the release of Universal Pictures’ blistering action feature, Skyscraper.
In Skyscraper, The Rock is a security advisor who must rescue his family from a burning skyscraper. As if a super high rise in flames isn’t obstacle enough, the hero and his family must also battle thieves and terrorists, including Quinlivan’s ice-cold assassin, Xia.
Along with her own prolific modeling and acting work, Quinlivan is no stranger to the spotlight following her 2015 marriage to Taiwanese superstar Jay Chou. The pair have two children. Impressively, Quinlivan auditioned for her role in Skyscraper only three days after delivering her second child via C-section, while confined to a wheelchair.
Quinlivan has previously appeared in a slew of international hits, including The Shanghai Job and Moon River.
Quinlivan told The New Paper that she trained in boxing and Chinese gongfu to prepare for her arduous fight scenes, which include a claustrophobic car battle with co-star Neve Campbell.
“It was really fun playing [Xia] because you won’t be a villain in real life,” Quinlivan said, “so it’s a very good experience being a bad-ass.”
The film is Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson’s third major action offering of the summer, coming close on the heels of Rampage, which co-starred NYFA alum and motion capture actor Jason Liles, and Jumanji, produced by NYFA Guest Speaker Ted Field.
Please note: NYFA does not represent that these are typical or guaranteed career outcomes. The success of our graduates in any chosen professional pathway depends on multiple factors, and the achievements of NYFA alumni are the result of their hard work, perseverance, talent and circumstances.