Josephine Siao

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Josephine Siao
Chinese name 蕭芳芳 (traditional)
Chinese name 萧芳芳 (simplified)
Pinyin Xiāo Fāngfāng (Mandarin)
Jyutping siu1 fong1 fong1 (Cantonese)
Birth name Siao Liang (蕭亮)
Origin Hong Kong
Born (1947-03-13) 13 March 1947 (age 77)
Suzhou, Jiangsu, China
Other name(s) Sister Fong Fong (芳芳姐)
Occupation Actress, singer
Genre(s) Cantopop
Instrument(s) Voice
Years active 1960s – 1990s
Spouse(s) Clarence Chang
Awards

Josephine Siao Fong-Fong MBE is a Hong Kong film star who became popular as a child actress and continued her success as a mature actress, winning numerous awards including Best Actress at the 45th Berlin International Film Festival (for Summer Snow).[1] Since retiring from show business (partly due to her increasing deafness), she has become a writer and a psychologist, known for her work against child abuse.

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 widow trying to cope with her father-in-law 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
  • 2009: Life Achievement Award of the 28th Hong Kong Film Awards

Selective filmography

[2] [3]

Book by Siao Fong Fong

  • 洋相 : 英美社交禮儀

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.

References

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External links

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 Silver Bear for Best Actress
1995
for Summer Snow		 Succeeded by
Anouk Grinberg
for Mon Homme
Preceded by 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 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 Hong Kong Film Awards Life Achievement Award
2009		 Succeeded by
Lau Kar-leung
  1. REDIRECT Template:Golden Horse Award for Best Actress


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