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Brigitte Lin

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Brigitte Lin
林青霞
Lin in 2018
Born
Brigette Lin Ching-hsia

(1954-11-03) 3 November 1954 (age 69)
OccupationActress
Years active1973–1994
Spouse
(m. 1994)
Children2
Chinese name
Chinese林青霞
Transcriptions
Standard Mandarin
Hanyu PinyinLín Qīngxiá
Yue: Cantonese
Jyutpinglam4 cing1 haa4

Brigitte Lin Ching-hsia (Chinese: 林青霞; pinyin: Lín Qīngxiá; born 3 November 1954) is a Taiwanese actress. She is regarded as an icon of Chinese language cinema for her extensive and varied roles in both Taiwanese and Hong Kong films.[1]

Biography

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Lin was born in Chiayi, Taiwan to 'waishengren' parents from eastern Shandong who moved to Taiwan in the KMT exodus in 1949.[2] She was scouted in 1972 on the streets of Taipei[3] by a film producer after she finished women's high school and was preparing for university.[4] Lin debuted in the film adaptation of Chiung Yao's Outside the Window (1973), which propelled her into stardom.[4][5] Lin, along with Joan Lin, Charlie Chin and Chin Han, thus became known as the "Two Chins, Two Lins" (二秦二林) for their extensive roles in romantic movies of the 1970s based on Chiung's novels that dominated the Taiwanese box office.[6] She subsequently joined Chiung Yao's company in 1976[7] and, by 1982, had played the lead in 12 of her films.[4][5]

Lin won the Best Actress award at the Asia-Pacific Film Festival for her role as a girl scout in Eight Hundred Heroes (1976).

She appeared in 55 films in the period between 1972 and 1979, and all her roles were romantic heroines in love stories. She then left for the U.S. in 1979 for a year and a half, to study and relax.[1]

Known for being a "screen goddess" by Chinese film lovers, Lin's early collaborations with Hong Kong New Wave directors Ringo Lam, Tsui Hark and Jackie Chan in Zu Warriors from the Magic Mountain (1983), The Other Side of Gentleman (1984), Police Story (1985) and Peking Opera Blues (1986) brought her success. In 1990, she won the Best Actress trophy at the 27th Golden Horse Awards for her depiction of a Chinese female writer who fell in love with a Japanese collaborator in Red Dust (1990).[5]

It was common for women to cross dress as male characters in Chinese movies and operas.[5] Lin is particularly well known for her androgynous roles, her earliest being Jia Baoyu, the male protagonist of the 1977 film adaptation of Dream of the Red Chamber.[8] In Peking Opera Blues (1986), she was a guerrilla revolutionary[9] and in Royal Tramp II (1992), she was the leader of the Heavenly Dragon Sect, both of whom were women characters dressed as men. And in Ashes of Time (1994), she played twin brother/sister duo Yin and Yang.[8] However, she is perhaps most well known for her role as Dongfang Bubai in Swordsman II (1992). Swordsman II marked the peak of her career in terms of box office earnings[5] for which she was listed among the 10 greatest performances in cinema of all time, by Time magazine.[10]

Subsequently, she starred in many other notable martial epics including New Dragon Gate Inn (1992) and The Bride with White Hair (1993).

At the height of her popularity, Lin was one of the most sought-after actresses in the Chinese film industry. She starred in more than 100 movies.[7] Lin was credited for boosting Taiwan's film production in the 1970s before earning even greater popularity in Hong Kong in the 1990s, becoming a trans-island legend of her time.[5]

She retired from acting in 1994. Her last acting role was in Ashes of Time (1994).[1]

Personal life

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Lin traces her family roots to Shandong, China.[1]

It's been reported that Lin has dated both Chin Han and Charlie Chin of "Two Chins, Two Lins" back in the 1970s, even sustaining a proposal from the latter before eventually cancelling it.[6][11]

Lin married Hong Kong businessman Michael Ying in 1994. She is the mother of Eileen Ying Oi Lum (born 1996) and Melani Ying Yin-oi (born 2001) and stepmother to Claudine Ying.[12]

She made her first public appearance since her marriage at the screening of Ashes of Time Redux during the 2008 New York Film Festival.[citation needed]

In 2015, Lin made an appearance as a regular cast member in Up Idol, a 12 episode Chinese reality show on Hunan Television.

Filmography

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Year English Title Chinese title Role Notes
1973 Outside the Window 窗外 Jiang Yanrong
1974 Gone with the Cloud 雲飄飄 Li Zhongjiang
Ghost of the Mirror 古鏡幽魂 Susu
Love, Love, Love 純純的愛 Lin Chunchun
The River of Cloudy 雲河 Liang Xinlan
Female Reporter 女記者 Shen Fuhui
Girlfriend 女朋友 Xia Xiaochan
The House of Love 愛的小屋 Xiao Yu
Green Green Meadow 青青草原上 Fang Menglan
Long Way from Home 長情萬縷 Lin Shanshan
1975 Misty Drizzle 煙雨 Ji Chunxia
The Life God 雲深不知處 White-clothed girl
Xiao Yi Huai Chun 小姨怀春 Wan Qing
Run Lover Run 愛情長跑 Shui Liping
Hot Wave 熱浪 Xia Xiaoyu
The Unforgettable Character 在水一方 Tu Hsiao-shuang
He Loved Once Too Many 水雲 Shui Jiao
Love Story of Pian Pian 翩翩情 Pian Pian
The Forest of Forever 長青樹 Luo Yanan
1976 Eight Hundred Heroes 八百壯士 Yang Huimin
Autumn Song 秋歌 Dong Zhiyun
The Chasing Game 追球追求 Fang Meihan
Tomorrow I'm 20 明天二十歲
Love Kungfu 戀愛功夫 Xia Xiaoyun
The Beauty with Two Faces 海天一色
Love Forever 海誓山盟 Yi Lian
Today and Tomorrow 昨夜,今夜,明夜
Forever My Love 楓葉情 Li Jinwen
Different Love 不一樣的愛 Song Xiaoyu
My Funny Intern 鬼馬俏醫生 Fang Jie
1977 Come Fly With Me 我是一沙鷗 Liu Yanmei
The Cloud of Romance 我是一片雲 Tuan Wanlu
The Dream of the Red Chamber 金玉良緣紅樓夢 Jia Baoyu
There's No Place Like Home 異鄉夢 Ye Hualing
The Love Affair of Rainbow 奔向彩虹 Xiao Hong
My Sweet Love 溫馨在我心 Li Huifang
Orchid in the Rain 幽蘭在雨中 Qiu Meng
1978 The Misty Moon 月朦朧鳥朦朧 Liu Lingshan
Love of the White Snake 真白蛇傳 Madam White Snake
Morning Fog 晨雾 Du Xiaowu
Moon on the Beach 沙灘上的月亮 Luo Xiaolu
A Journey of Love 無情荒地有情天 Yin Meizhen
Birds Are Singing Everywhere 處處聞啼鳥 Shen Yalun
The Story of Green House 綠色山莊 Fang Yizhu
1979 The Wild Goose on the Wing 雁兒在林梢 Tao Lifan
Love Under a Rosy Sky 彩霞满天 Yin Tsai-Chin
A Love Seed 一顆紅豆 Xia Chulei
Cheng Gong Ling Shang 成功嶺上
The Choice of Love 一片深情 Wen Jiayi
By Love Obsessed 情奔 Ruo Ping
An Unforgettable Day 難忘的一天 Tian Yuqiu
1980 Magnificent 72 碧血黃花
Marigold 金盞花 Han Peiyin
Poor Chasers 戀愛反斗星 Shen Rong
1981 Love Massacre 愛殺 Ivy
The Women Soldiers 中國女兵 Wen Jingyi
1982 Golden Queen's Commando 紅粉兵團 Fang Huijun
Burn Phoenix Burn 燃燒吧!火鳥 Wei Yanran
Pink Force Commando 紅粉遊俠 Hu Fangling
Lily Under the Muzzle 槍口下的小百合 Xiao Han
The Deadly Angels 脂粉奇兵
Hero vs Hero 慧眼識英雄 Shen Liangbai
1983 Zu Warriors from the Magic Mountain 新蜀山劍俠傳 Ice Queen
Fantasy Mission Force 迷你特攻隊 Lei Li
All the Wrong Spies 我愛夜來香 Ying Hong
Demon Fighter 午夜蘭花 Susu
Four Shy Guy 四傻害羞 Mo Hailun
Black and White Pearl 黑白珠 Guan Xuezhu
1983 Da Jing Qi 1938大驚奇
1984 The Other Side of Gentleman 君子好逑 Jojo
Victims of the Assassin 情人看刀 Ling'er
Seven Foxes 七隻狐貍 Miss Lin
1985 Police Story 警察故事 Selina Fong
1986 Peking Opera Blues 刀馬旦 Tsao Wan
Dream Lovers 夢中人 Cheng Yuet-heung
True Colours 英雄正傳 May
1987 Lady in Black 奪命佳人 Chan Mei-fung
The Thirty Million Dollar Rush 橫財三千萬 Sister Maria
Flag of Honor 旗正飄飄 Qin Feng
1988 Starry is the Night 今夜星光燦爛 To Cai-mei
1989 Web of Deception 驚魂記 Jane Lin
1990 Red Dust 滾滾紅塵 Shen Shaohua
1992 Swordsman II 笑傲江湖之東方不敗 Dongfang Bubai
Handsome Siblings 絕代雙驕 Hua Wuque
New Dragon Gate Inn 新龍門客棧 Yau Mo-yan
Royal Tramp 鹿鼎記 So Chuen Cameo
Royal Tramp II 鹿鼎記II神龍教 Long'er
Secret Love for the Peach Blossom Spring 暗戀桃花源 Yun Zhifan
1993 Swordsman III 東方不敗之風雲再起 Dongfang Bubai
Boys Are Easy 追男仔 Ching Siu-tung
The Bride with White Hair 白髮魔女傳 Lian Nishang
The Bride with White Hair 2 白髮魔女傳2 Lian Nishang
The Black Panther Warriors 黑豹天下 Ching-ching
The Eagle Shooting Heroes 射鵰英雄傳之東成西就 Third Princess
1994 Ashes of Time 東邪西毒 Murong Yang / Murong Yin / Dugu Qiubai
Chungking Express 重慶森林 Woman in blonde wig
Fire Dragon 火雲傳奇 Fire Dragon / Ying Ha
Semi-Gods and Semi-Devils 新天龍八部之天山童姥 Lei Chau-shui / Lei Chong-hoi
The Three Swordsmen 刀劍笑 Ming-kim
Deadful Melody 六指琴魔 Huang Xuemei
1998 Bishonen 美少年之戀 Narrator
2001 Peony Pavilion 遊園驚夢 Narrator
2015 Up Idol 偶像来了 Herself Reality show

Awards and nominations

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Brigitte Lin's hand print and autograph at the Avenue of Stars in Hong Kong.
Year Award Category Nominated work Result
1975 Asia-Pacific Film Festival Best Actress Eight Hundred Heroes Won
1980 Golden Horse Awards Magnificent 72 Nominated
1982 Hero vs Hero Nominated
1984 Hong Kong Film Award Zu Warriors from the Magic Mountain Nominated
1986 Police Story Nominated
1990 Golden Horse Awards Red Dust Won
1993 Hong Kong Film Award Swordsman II Nominated
Handsome Siblings Nominated
Golden Phoenix Awards Outstanding Achievement Award[13] Won
2010 Iron Elephant Film Award Best Supporting Actress Ashes of Time Nominated
2018 Far East Film Festival Golden Mulberry Lifetime Achievement Award[1] Won
2023 Golden Horse Film Festival and Awards Golden Horse Lifetime Achievement Award[14] Won
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  • The Last Star of the East: Brigitte Lin Ching Hsia and Her Films (2005)[15]
  • 窗裏窗外 Inside and Outside the Window (2011)[16][17]
  • 雲去雲來 Cloud Goes, Cloud Comes (2014)[16]

References

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  1. ^ a b c d e Chu, Karen (4 April 2018). "Hong Kong Icon Brigitte Lin on Her Career, Wuxia and #MeToo: "It Cleanses the Film Industry"". The Hollywood Reporter. Archived from the original on 26 May 2023. Retrieved 30 November 2023.
  2. ^ "Ministry of Culture-Filmmakers & Performers". www.moc.gov.tw. Retrieved 2 December 2019.
  3. ^ "Brigitte Lin, a timeless national treasure". Taipei Times. 15 May 2018. Retrieved 2 December 2019.
  4. ^ a b c He Ying (何颖) (2008). "Brigitte Lin, Legend of the Ageless Beautiful Girl" 《林青霞,不老的玉女传奇》. 《快乐阅读》 [Happy Reading] (in Chinese). Changsha, Hunan: Hunan Education Press. p. 6. ISSN 1671-329X.
  5. ^ a b c d e f "Brigitte Lin: Writing Her Own Role". China Pictorial.
  6. ^ a b Yang, Jeff; Black, Art (2003). Once Upon a Time in China: A Guide to Hong Kong, Taiwanese, and Mainland Chinese Cinema. Simon and Schuster. ISBN 978-0-7434-4817-8.
  7. ^ a b "Screen icon Lin Ching-Hsia". CRI English. Archived from the original on 19 December 2008.
  8. ^ a b "Filmart Flashback: In 1977, Brigitte Lin Secured Her Gender-Fluid Legacy in 'Dream of the Red Chamber'". The Hollywood Reporter. 20 March 2018. Retrieved 3 December 2019.
  9. ^ "Movie Review: 'Peking' Bursting With Feminist Wit". Los Angeles Times. 25 June 1993. Retrieved 3 December 2019.
  10. ^ "All-Time 100 Movies: Great Performances". Time. ISSN 0040-781X. Retrieved 27 November 2020.
  11. ^ "Lin Ching-hsia tells on a suitor who stood her up for Teresa Teng". The Straits Times. 10 November 2014. Retrieved 3 December 2019.
  12. ^ "Taiwanese screen goddess Brigitte Lin, 65 and young at heart". South China Morning Post. 1 November 2019. Retrieved 2 December 2019.
  13. ^ "Golden Phoenix Awards, China (1993)". IMDb. Retrieved 3 December 2019.
  14. ^ "Golden Horse Awards honors Brigitte LIN and CHEN Kun-hou with Lifetime Achievement Award". Golden Horse Film Festival and Awards. 23 June 2023.
  15. ^ Akiko, Tetsuya (2005). The Last Star of the East: Brigitte Lin Ching Hsia and Her Films. Los Angeles, California: Akiko Tetsuya. ISBN 0976487128. OCLC 60449219.
  16. ^ a b Lin, Qingxia (24 August 2023). Yun qu yun lai (Di 1 ban ed.). Guilin Shi: Guangxi Normal University Press. ISBN 978-7549559503. OCLC 899206278.
  17. ^ "Legendary film star Lin Ching-hsia releases memoirs". Ecns.cn.
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