Josephine Siao
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| Josephine Siao | ||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Chinese name | 蕭芳芳 (Traditional) | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Chinese name | 萧芳芳 (Simplified) | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Pinyin | xiao1 fang1 fang1 (Mandarin) | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Jyutping | siu1 fong1 fong1 (Cantonese) | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Birth name | Siao Liang | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Origin | Hong Kong | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Born | March 13, 1947 Suzhou, Jiangsu, China |
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| Occupation | Actress, Singer | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Genre(s) | Cantopop | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Instrument(s) | Singing | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Years active | 1960s - 1990s | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Spouse(s) | Clarence Chang | |||||||||||||||||||||
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Josephine Siao Fong-Fong MBE is a Hong Kong movie star who became popular as a child and continued her success as a mature actress, winning numerous awards including best actress at the 1995 Berlin Film Festival. Since retiring from show business she has become a writer and a psychologist, known for her work against child abuse.
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[edit] Biography
Josephine Siao Fong-Fong was born as Siao Liang in Luzhi in Suzhou, Jiangsu. At the age of two, she was brought to Hong Kong by her parents.
Siao's first movie appearance was at age six, and she became one of the biggest teen idols in Hong Kong during the late 1960s, along with frequent co-star Connie Chan Po-chu. The two were often cast in wuxia films as disciples of the same master and sometimes—when Connie played the male lead—as young heroes in love. Back in the 1960s, Josephine's and Connie's fans maintained a heated rivalry. News of their fans getting into catfights was not uncommon in those days.
Unlike many child stars, Siao made a successful transition to adult stardom, remaining one of Hong Kong's most prolific and popular actresses. She was also one of the directors (co-directing with Leung Po-Chih 梁普智) and writers of Jumping Ash (跳灰). This film is regarded as a prelude to the Hong Kong New Wave in the 1980s by film critics.
Having largely missed out on formal education because of her acting career as a child, Siao pursued her studies in later years despite the handicap of increasing deafness and the demands of raising a family (she has two daughters by her second husband). During this time she made fewer films, but her output included highly praised work such as her award-winning performance in Summer Snow (1995) as a middle-aged housewife trying to cope with a father suffering from Alzheimer's Disease.
Western fans of martial arts films will probably know her best from the Fong Sai-yuk films made in 1993, in which she played Jet Li's Kung Fu-fighting mother. (These films were released on Western DVD as The Legend.)
Siao has retired from show business since 1997 in favour of her work in child psychology. In particular, she is a noted campaigner against child abuse, and founded the End Child Sexual Abuse Foundation, which she now chairs, in 1999. She is also a published author.
Some of the milestones in her life include:
- 1970: Bachelor's degree in Mass Communications and Asian Studies at Seton Hall University
- 1974: won the best actress award at Spain Film Festival and Taiwan Film Festival
- 1990: obtained a Master's degree in child psychology from Regis University
- 1995: won the best actress award at the Berlin Film Festival for Summer Snow
- 1996: member of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire
[edit] Selective Filmography
- Jumping Ash (1976)
- Lam Au Chun (1978)
- The Spooky Bunch (1980)
- Plain Jane to the Rescue (1982)
- Fong Sai Yuk (1993)
- Fong Sai Yuk 2 (1993)
- Always on My Mind (1993)
- Summer Snow (1995)
- Hu-Du-Men (1996)
- Mahjong Dragon (1997)
[edit] Book by Siao Fong Fong
- 洋相 : 英美社交禮儀
[edit] Siao Fong Fong Performing Art Hall
The Siao Fong Fong Performing Art Hall was established in 1998 at Shantang street of Luzhi township in Siao family's former residence.
[edit] External links
- IMDB entry
- Siao Fong Fong movies at cinemasie.com
- End Child Sexual Abuse Foundation (founded and chaired by Siao)
| Awards and achievements | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by Sylvia Chang for Passion |
Hong Kong Film Awards for Best Actress 1988 for The Wrong Couples |
Succeeded by Anita Mui for Rouge |
| Preceded by Crissy Rock for Ladybird, Ladybird |
Silver Bear for Best Actress 1995 for Summer Snow |
Succeeded by Anouk Grinberg for Mon homme |
| Preceded by Joan Chen for Red Rose, White Rose |
Hong Kong Film Critics Society Awards for Best Actress 1995 for Summer Snow share with Siqin Gaowa |
Succeeded by Maggie Cheung for Comrades: Almost a Love Story |
| Preceded by Anita Yuen for He's a Woman, She's a Man |
Hong Kong Film Awards for Best Actress 1996 for Summer Snow |
Succeeded by Maggie Cheung for Comrades: Almost a Love Story |
| Preceded by None |
Golden Bauhinia Awards for Best Actress 1996 for Summer Snow |
Succeeded by Maggie Cheung for Comrades: Almost a Love Story |
| Preceded by Raymond Chow |
Hong Kong Film Awards Life Achievement Award 2009 |
Succeeded by TBD |
