Zing-Ci Leung is known to many fans because she was the first wife of action star Donnie Yen. Yet she keeps a very low profile. Only a few facts about her life are public. She once worked in advertising in Hong Kong. She and Donnie Yen married in 1993 and later went their separate ways. After the divorce, she welcomed their son in 1995 and raised him mostly away from the spotlight. In this article, we share what is known and explain why her private path still interests readers today.
Personl Information
Item | Details |
---|---|
Full name | Zing-Ci Leung (also romanized as Leung Zing-ci; Chinese: 梁靜慈) |
Known for | First wife of actor and martial artist Donnie Yen |
Profession | Advertising executive (Hong Kong) |
Marriage | Married Donnie Yen in Nov 1993 (U.S.); marriage ended in less than a year |
Child | Jeff (Man-Zeok) Yen, born 1995 |
Public presence | Very private; few verified photos available publicly |
Other names seen in media | Sometimes written as Jowan Leung in entertainment press |
Current life | Lives a quiet life outside show business (details not public) |
Early life and work
Public records about Zing-Ci Leung’s early life are limited. What is widely reported is that she worked in the advertising field in Hong Kong. This detail appears in several profiles of Donnie Yen’s personal life and helps explain how she and Donnie moved in professional, urban circles during the early 1990s. Because she is a private person, there are no confirmed interviews or memoirs from her side, so we avoid guessing and stick to what is known.
Meeting Donnie Yen and a quiet wedding
The couple met around 1990. After three years of dating, they married quietly in the United States in November 1993. The wedding was private, and there were no big media photos at the time. This low-key start matched the calm and simple style that many later associate with Zing-Ci Leung.
A short marriage
The marriage lasted less than a year. The pair separated and later finalized their divorce. Sources do not give many confirmed reasons. Because the people involved have chosen not to share details, it is best to avoid rumors. The key point is that both moved on with respect for their own paths.

Motherhood and a life away from the spotlight
After the divorce, Leung discovered she was pregnant. In 1995, she gave birth to their son, known publicly as Jeff (Chinese name Man-Zeok, 甄文焯). Many stories mention that Jeff grew up mostly with his mother and kept a low profile. Over the years, a few media reports noted rare public moments with his father, such as family birthday posts or small gatherings. But overall, both mother and son stayed out of showbiz news.
Some outlets have also written that Jeff studied hard, joined drama activities at school and university, and later appeared in an occasional family photo on social media. These items usually come from event-based coverage, not from interviews with Zing-Ci Leung herself. This shows again how she prefers a quiet, normal life.
Reports about support and co-parenting
Older news reports say Donnie Yen continued to support his ex-wife and son financially after the split. One report said he provided a monthly allowance and arranged housing for them. While not from official records, it gives a picture of long-term responsibility and care for the child’s needs.
In recent years, some media covered rare public appearances of Jeff with his father and step-family, including a joint birthday celebration post. These stories suggest that even though the marriage ended long ago, the larger family keeps basic, respectful ties today.
Why so little is known?
There are two simple reasons:
- Privacy by choice. Zing-Ci Leung is not an actress or public figure. She does not give interviews.
- Responsible reporting. Reputable sources repeat only a few verified facts: her job in advertising, the marriage and timeline, and the birth of a son. When there is not much public data, it is better to keep the record short and clear.
Name variations and language notes

If you search online, you may see different spellings: Leung Zing-ci, Zing-Ci Leung, or even Jowan Leung in some entertainment stories. These differences come from romanization (how Chinese names are written in the Latin alphabet) and editorial choices in media. All of them refer to the same person, whose Chinese characters are 梁靜慈. Knowing these variants helps you find sources without confusion.
What we can learn from her story
Zing-Ci Leung reminds us that not every chapter of a famous person’s life belongs to show business. Her story is about privacy, parenting, and moving forward. She did not build a public profile after her marriage. Instead, she focused on family and personal life. Even when the media shared small updates about her son, the tone stayed gentle and respectful. For many readers, that is a powerful message: you can be linked to fame and still choose a simple, quiet road.
Key timeline
- 1990 – Meets Donnie Yen
- Nov 1993 – Marries Donnie Yen in the United States (private ceremony)
- 1994/within a year – Marriage ends; later the divorce is finalized
- 1995 – Birth of their son Jeff (Man-Zeok) Yen
- 2012 – News item claims ongoing support for ex-wife and son
- 2019–2025 – Occasional media notes show rare public moments with the grown-up son
Closing thoughts
Zing-Ci Leung chose a simple path outside the world of fame. The public record about her is short but clear: a career in advertising, a brief marriage to Donnie Yen, and a lasting role as a mother. By respecting the limits of what is known, we can tell her story in a fair way. It is a story about privacy, dignity, and family, and it still interests readers because it sits next to but not inside the bright lights of movie stardom.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
1) Who is Zing-Ci Leung?
She is the first wife of Donnie Yen and a former advertising executive from Hong Kong. She keeps a very private life.
2) When did she marry Donnie Yen?
They married in November 1993 in the United States after dating for about three years.
3) How long did the marriage last?
It ended in less than a year. The couple later finalized the divorce.
4) Do they have children together?
Yes. Their son Jeff (Man-Zeok) Yen was born in 1995.
5) Why is there so little information about her?
Because she is not a public figure and does not give interviews. Reliable sources only share a few confirmed facts.
6) Is “Jowan Leung” the same person as Zing-Ci Leung?
Yes. Some media use Jowan Leung as an English name for 梁靜慈, but it refers to the same person.
7) Did Donnie Yen support his ex-wife and son after the divorce?
Reports said he provided monthly support and housing. This was reported in the press, not in official court records.
8) What is known about their son Jeff today?
He largely stays out of the public eye. Some outlets say he studied at good schools and appears rarely with his father’s current family.
9) Are there many photos of Zing-Ci Leung online?
Very few verified photos exist. She does not maintain a public profile.
10) What is Zing-Ci Leung doing now?
Her current life is private. Media do not report on her daily work or activities, which shows her strong wish to live quietly.
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