Tang Bik-wan () (27 September 1924 – 25 March 1991) was a former Chinese actress and a

Cantonese opera Cantonese opera is one of the major categories in Chinese opera, originating in southern China's Guangdong Province. It is popular in Guangdong, Guangxi, Hong Kong, Macau and among Chinese communities in Southeast Asia. Like all versions of Ch ...

singer from Hong Kong. Tang is credited with over 280 films.

Early life

On 27 September 1924, Tang was born as Tang Cheuk Fu. Tang Bik Wan was a Cantonese opera actress since she was 13 when she joined a Cantonese opera. She was a disciple of a few Cantonese opera masters and soon became the head actress for her troupe when she was 15. She was very talented and could almost play any role in the opera; hence, earning her the nickname the "multi-role actress". During the civil war, she went to Guangzhou, and then later to Hong Kong.

Career

In 1950, Tang crossed over as an actress in Hong Kong films. Tang and seven great opera actresses later became sworn sisters who went by the nickname "Eight Peonies". Tang was the Blue Peony and until 1967. Tang is credited with over 280 films. By 1968, Tang became a TV actress, performing in

Rediffusion Rediffusion was a business that distributed radio and TV signals through wired relay networks. The business gave rise to a number of other companies, including Associated-Rediffusion, later known as Rediffusion London, the first ITV (commercia ...

, ATV and

TVB Television Broadcasts Limited (TVB) is a television broadcasting company based in Hong Kong SAR. The Company operates five free-to-air terrestrial television channels in Hong Kong, with TVB Jade as its main Cantonese language service, and TVB ...

. As age caught up with her, she became the typical actress for the role as the mother of the drama's main characters, some of her most notable roles on television including the 1977 family soap opera A House Is Not a Home, 1978 classic drama "Chameleon", and popular 1979 drama serial "The Good, The Bad and The Ugly". Tang's television career reached its peak when she played the caring and intelligent family matriarch in the late 1980s long-running hit The Seasons (hence, gaining her the nickname "Ma-Da" antonese pronunciation of "mother". "Ma-Da" propelled her to fame, and when she continued to take movies and advertisements, she would portray the "Ma-Da" role.

Filmography

Films

This is a partial list of films. * 1950 Ciyun's Farewell in Storm and Fire (Part 1) * 1950 Ciyun's Farewell in Storm and Fire (Part 2) * 1950 The Gardener's Daughter - To Sheung-Yuet * 1956 Lady with a Silver and Bitter Tongue * 1960 Fortune. * 1960 Lady Racketeer. * 1960 The Love Quadrangle * 1964 Pigeon Cage (aka The Apartment of 14 Families)

Awards

* Star. Avenue of Stars. Tsim Sha Tsui waterfront in Hong Kong.

Personal life

Tang's health began to deteriorate during her tenure in The Seasons as a result of throat cancer. Her voice on screen had been noticeably deeper and softer between two seasons of the television series after she had undergone treatment for it during the off-season hiatus. However, Tang Pik Wan, the multi-talented actress died of a liver malfunction on March 25, 1991. Her family in her name has donated to various charity organizations in Hong Kong. There is a nursery and an old folks centre named after her.

Gallery

File:Avenue of Stars - Tang Bik Wan.JPG , Tan Bik-wan at the

Avenue of Stars, Hong Kong The Avenue of Stars (), modelled on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, is an avenue located along the Victoria Harbour waterfront in Tsim Sha Tsui, Hong Kong. It honours celebrities of the Hong Kong film industry. History Establishment In 198 ...

File:HK YCHTangBikWanMemorialNeighbourhoodElderlyCentre.JPG , Renji Hospital Deng Biyun Memorial for the Elderly Neighbourhood Centre

References

External links

Film
Archive's "Morning Matinee" series to revisit allure of "Versatile Opera Queen" Tang Bik-wan (with photos). Some of the films will be accompanied by post-screening talks hosted by Tang's

daughter A daughter is a female offspring; a girl or a woman in relation to her parents. Daughterhood is the state of being someone's daughter. The male counterpart is a son. Analogously the name is used in several areas to show relations between groups ...

Helen Lui Oi-yin,... * *
HK Cinemagic entry
{{DEFAULTSORT:Tang, Bik-wan Hong Kong Cantonese opera actresses 1924 births 1991 deaths Hong Kong film actresses People from Sanshui District Hong Kong television actresses Actresses from Guangdong 20th-century Hong Kong actresses 20th-century Hong Kong women singers Chinese film actresses Chinese television actresses 20th-century Chinese actresses Singers from Guangdong