Prudence Liew
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Prudence Liew Mei-Gwan (born 10 December 1964) is a Hong Kong pop singer and actress. A
Golden Horse Award The Taipei Golden Horse Film Festival and Awards () is a film festival and awards ceremony held annually in Taiwan. It was founded in 1962 by the Government Information Office of the Republic of China (ROC) in Taiwan. The awards ceremony is us ...
winner and platinum selling singer, she has released 16 studio albums and appeared in numerous films.


Career

From the age of eight, she began appearing in television commercials after high school. In 1986, while working as a film producer, Liew was approached to sing the theme song for a movie. The song, ''Midnight Love'' was on heavy rotation at major Hong Kong radio stations and she was quickly signed as the
flagship A flagship is a vessel used by the commanding officer of a group of naval ships, characteristically a flag officer entitled by custom to fly a distinguishing flag. Used more loosely, it is the lead ship in a fleet of vessels, typically the ...
artist to Current Records. In December 1986, she released her self-titled début album to rave reviews and high sales. The album sold over 500,000 copies and was certified 10x
platinum Platinum is a chemical element with the symbol Pt and atomic number 78. It is a dense, malleable, ductile, highly unreactive, precious, silverish-white transition metal. Its name originates from Spanish , a diminutive of "silver". Pla ...
Hong Kong IFPI sales certification – 1988 by the Hong Kong
IFPI The International Federation of the Phonographic Industry (IFPI) is the organisation that represents the interests of the recording industry worldwide. It is a non-profit members' organisation registered in Switzerland and founded in Italy in 1 ...
. Liew still holds the record in Hong Kong for the most albums sold by a débuting local artist for that album. It also won two awards as Album of the Year from
RTHK Top 10 Gold Songs Awards Top Ten Chinese Gold Songs Awards () is one of the main C-pop music award in Hong Kong. The award is sponsored by RTHK. Beginning in 1978, it is the oldest major award in Hong Kong, even earlier than the Jade Solid Gold Top 10 Awards. The cer ...
and Jade Solid Gold Top 10 Awards in 1987. The second single from the album, " The Last Night", is a cover of the
Bad Boys Blue Bad Boys Blue are the German pop group formed in Cologne in 1984. The group performed many international hits including " You're a Woman", " Pretty Young Girl", " I Wanna Hear Your Heartbeat", and "Come Back and Stay". The group became massiv ...
song "
You're a Woman "You're a Woman" is a song by the pop group Bad Boys Blue. It was released as a single in 1985 and was a hit across Europe, reaching number 8 in West Germany, number 1 in Austria and number 2 in Switzerland. Track listing 7" single (Coconut 1 ...
", and is considered Liew's
signature song A signature (; from la, signare, "to sign") is a handwritten (and often stylized) depiction of someone's name, nickname, or even a simple "X" or other mark that a person writes on documents as a proof of identity and intent. The writer of a ...
. In addition to music, Liew has also appeared in films and television dramas as an actress. In 1988, she was nominated for a
Hong Kong Film Awards The Hong Kong Film Awards (HKFA; ), founded in 1982, is an annual film awards ceremony in Hong Kong. The ceremonies are typically in April. The awards recognise achievement in various aspects of filmmaking, such as directing, screenwriting, ...
Best Supporting Actress award in the movie ''Law or Justice''. Between the period of 1986 and 1995, Liew has released 11 studio albums under Current Records, which was bought out by
BMG Music Bertelsmann Music Group (BMG) was a division of a German media company Bertelsmann before its completion of sale of the majority of its assets to Sony Corporation of America on 1 October 2008. Although it was established in 1987, the music co ...
in 1989 and later
Columbia Records Columbia Records is an American record label owned by Sony Music Entertainment, a subsidiary of Sony Corporation of America, the North American division of Japanese conglomerate Sony. It was founded on January 15, 1889, evolving from the A ...
from 1992 to 1995.


Hiatus

In 1995, Liew decided to leave the Hong Kong music industry after the divorce from her director husband, Tai-Loi Wong (with whom she had a son and a daughter) and due to having problems with her vocal cords. She then relocated to the US city of
San Francisco San Francisco (; Spanish for " Saint Francis"), officially the City and County of San Francisco, is the commercial, financial, and cultural center of Northern California. The city proper is the fourth most populous in California and 17t ...
with her children to find peace. During her time in the US, Liew found a love for
yoga Yoga (; sa, योग, lit=yoke' or 'union ) is a group of physical, mental, and spiritual practices or disciplines which originated in ancient India and aim to control (yoke) and still the mind, recognizing a detached witness-consciou ...
, which she practices regularly. She also met her second husband, whose name she will only disclose to the media as "Mr. Yan" for privacy reasons, while in San Francisco. Together they have a daughter. In an interview in September 2008, Liew announced that she has separated from Mr. Yan.


''Love Yourself''

In 2000, with help from her longtime friend and fellow singer, Sandy Lam, Liew landed a record deal with
Taiwan Taiwan, officially the Republic of China (ROC), is a country in East Asia, at the junction of the East and South China Seas in the northwestern Pacific Ocean, with the People's Republic of China (PRC) to the northwest, Japan to the no ...
-based record company,
Rock Records The Rock Records Co., Ltd. () commonly known as Rock Records (), is a record label based in Taipei, Taiwan. Founded in the 1980s as the Rock Music Publishing (滾石有聲出版社; ) by Tuan Chung-tan and Tuan Chung-i, It is the largest record ...
and released her first
mandopop Mandopop or Mandapop refers to Mandarin popular music. The genre has its origin in the jazz-influenced popular music of 1930s Shanghai known as Shidaiqu; with later influences coming from Japanese enka, Hong Kong's Cantopop, Taiwan's Hokkie ...
studio album entitled ''
Love Yourself "Love Yourself" is a song recorded by Canadian singer Justin Bieber for his fourth studio album ''Purpose'' (2015). The song was released as a promotional single on November 9, 2015, and as the album's third official single on December 7, 2015. ...
''. However, she returned to the US quickly after the first single, ''Everytime, I Take it Very Seriously'' was released, thus no other singles, nor follow-up albums were released afterwards in Taiwan. In the same year, Liew also appeared in the ATV series ''Anything But Him'', co-starring
Amy Chan Amy Chan Sau-man (陳秀雯) is a Hong Kong actress and Cantopop singer, notable for starring in the ''File of Justice The File of Justice (壹號皇庭) is a series of Hong Kong legal drama produced by TVB. There were 5 seasons produced, th ...
and
Tien Niu Tien Niu (; born 23 January 1958) is a Taiwanese actresses. Tien's birth name is Chu Kai-li. She won the Golden Horse Award for Best Leading Actress at the 15th Golden Horse Awards in 1978, and was shortlisted for the same prize during the 19th G ...
.


Return to Hong Kong

In April 2008, Liew held a 2-night performance called ''Opening the Sexual Boundaries Concert'' at the
Hong Kong Coliseum Hong Kong Coliseum, commonly known as the Hung Hom Coliseum, is a multi-purpose indoor arena, in Hung Hom Bay, Kowloon, Hong Kong near Hung Hom station. It is in Yau Tsim Mong District. It was built by the Urban Council and inaugurated on 27 ...
. Also, a compilation greatest hits album was released to accompany the concert. And after a 20-year hiatus from motion pictures, she took the lead part to the movie, '' True Women For Sale'', directed by
Herman Yau Herman Yau Lai-to (; born 13 July 1961) is a Hong Kong film director, screenwriter and cinematographer. Filmography * 1987: '' Tragic Hero'' – Co-Cinematographer * 1987: '' No Regret'' – Director * 1988: '' The Truth'' – Cinematographe ...
. The film was the opener for the 2008
Hong Kong Asian Film Festival Hong may refer to: Places *Høng, a town in Denmark *Hong Kong, a city and a special administrative region in China *Hong, Nigeria *Hong River in China and Vietnam *Lake Hong in China Surnames *Hong (Chinese name) *Hong (Korean name) Organiz ...
and her role as a drug-addicted prostitute won Liew the award for Best Leading Actress at the 2008
Golden Horse Awards The Taipei Golden Horse Film Festival and Awards () is a film festival and awards ceremony held annually in Taiwan. It was founded in 1962 by the Government Information Office of the Republic of China (ROC) in Taiwan. The awards ceremony is u ...
, as well as a
Best Actress Best Actress is the name of an award which is presented by various film, television and theatre organisations, festivals, and people's awards to leading actresses in a film, television series, television film or play. The first Best Actress aw ...
nomination at the
28th Hong Kong Film Awards Ceremony for the 28th Hong Kong Film Awards was held on 19 April 2009 in the Hong Kong Cultural Centre and hosted by Eric Tsang, Teresa Mo, Sandra Ng, Vincent Kok, Kay Tse, Denise Ho, Lam Chi Chung, Chin Kar-lok, Louis Fan, Tin Kai Man, Michell ...
. Liew was a student of Eleonor England, a San Francisco-based
vocal coach A vocal coach, also known as a voice coach (though this term often applies to those working with speech and communication rather than singing), is a music teacher, usually a piano accompanist, who helps singers prepare for a performance, often a ...
. In 2009, Liew was announced as the host for season 1 of the
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 ...
program, ''
The Voice The Voice may refer to: Fictional entities * The Voice or Presence, a fictional representation of God in DC Comics * The Voice (''Dune''), a fictional ability in the ''Dune'' universe * The Voice, a character in the American TV series ''Cleo ...
'', a reality-show type singing competition. On October 22, 2009, Liew released her first Cantonese studio album in 15 years, titled '' The Queen of Hardships''. On December 30, 2009, it was announced that TVB was relieving Liew of her hosting duties from ''The Voice'', three episodes shy of the season finale due to the controversy between TVB and the
HKRIA Hong Kong Recording Industry Alliance Limited (HKRIA, ) is a not-for-profit copyright management organization, formed to handle copyright issues for recording companies regarding the broadcast, public performance and relevant usage of sound record ...
over song royalties. Liew, who is currently signed to
Cinepoly Records Cinepoly Records (新藝寶) is a Hong Kong-based record label founded in 1985. It was a subsidiary of PolyGram Records and the film company Cinema City. Ownership of Cinepoly Records switched to Universal Music Group after Universal acquired Pol ...
under the
Universal Music Universal Music Group N.V. (often abbreviated as UMG and referred to as just Universal Music) is a Dutch–American multinational music corporation under Dutch law. UMG's corporate headquarters are located in Hilversum, Netherlands and it ...
label governed by the HKRIA, was part of the group of Hong Kong singers all signed to HKRIA record labels that were banned from appearing on all TVB programming until the issue was resolved late 2011. In 2010, Liew spent most of the year in the United States. In 2011, Liew returned to Hong Kong and released her second mandopop album, the cover album '' Love Addict'' in June. The album topped the charts for two weeks straight on Hong Kong HMV's Asian Album Chart upon its release. In November, she was invited to be a regular judge on season 4 of the
Asia Television Asia Television Limited (, also known as ATV) is a digital media and broadcasting company in Hong Kong. Established as the first television service in Hong Kong as Rediffusion Television () on 29 May 1957, it shifted to terrestrial television ...
talent program, ''Asian Millionstar''. In 2012, Liew released another cover album, albeit in Cantonese this time, entitled '' Stolen Moments'' in July. She announced that a third cover album, in English, would be recorded and released in the future. The album, '' Reincarnated Love'' was eventually released in July 2017. In 2013, Liew signed with
Hong Kong Television Network Hong Kong Technology Venture Company Limited (HKTV, ) is a Hong Kong-based technology company primarily known for its e-commerce platform and once had plans to become a television station. HKTV currently provides an over-the-top shopping and ...
, a new television station in Hong Kong, and filmed the drama series, ''
To Be or Not to Be To Be or Not to Be may refer to: * ''To be, or not to be'', the soliloquy from ''Hamlet''. Films and TV, theatre and books * ''To Be or Not to Be'' (1942 film), directed by Ernst Lubitsch * ''To Be or Not to Be'' (1983 film), a remake produced ...
'', formerly titled ''Hakka Women'', in which she spoke her native Hakka dialect. She also recorded the theme song for the drama, " Two Cups of Tea". The 25-episode series was aired from December 2014 to January 2015.


Discography


Filmography


Motion pictures


Television (as actress)

*1989 ''奪命情人 The Killing Lover'' (
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 ...
TV movie co-starring
Leon Lai Leon Lai Ming SBS BBS MH (born 11 December 1966), is a Hong Kong actor, film director, businessman and Cantopop singer. He is one of the "Four Heavenly Kings" of Hong Kong pop music. He uses his Chinese name "Li Ming" or "Lai Ming", whi ...
) *1992 ''我為錢狂 Source of Evil'' ( TVB series co-starring
Anita Yuen Anita Yuen Wing Yee (born 4 September 1971) is a Hong Kong film and television actress. Pageant career At the age of 18, Yuen entered the Miss Hong Kong 1990 pageant. She was a heavy favorite to win the crown from the semifinal to final. During t ...
) *2000 ''妳想的愛 Anything But Him'' ( ATV series co-starring
Amy Chan Amy Chan Sau-man (陳秀雯) is a Hong Kong actress and Cantopop singer, notable for starring in the ''File of Justice The File of Justice (壹號皇庭) is a series of Hong Kong legal drama produced by TVB. There were 5 seasons produced, th ...
) *2014–2015 ''來生不做香港人
To Be or Not to Be To Be or Not to Be may refer to: * ''To be, or not to be'', the soliloquy from ''Hamlet''. Films and TV, theatre and books * ''To Be or Not to Be'' (1942 film), directed by Ernst Lubitsch * ''To Be or Not to Be'' (1983 film), a remake produced ...
'' (
HKTV Hong Kong Technology Venture Company Limited (HKTV, ) is a Hong Kong-based technology company primarily known for its e-commerce platform and once had plans to become a television station. HKTV currently provides an over-the-top shopping and ...
series co-starring
Maggie Cheung Ho-Yee Maggie Cheung Ho-yee (; born 20 March 1969) is a Hong Kong actress. Career Maggie Cheung Ho-yee competed in TVB's 1994 Miss Hong Kong beauty pageant, reaching the final five but not placing. However she did gain a special award for best "po ...
) *2019 ''Sorina Fok''


Television (as presenter)

*2009–2010 ''超級巨聲
The Voice The Voice may refer to: Fictional entities * The Voice or Presence, a fictional representation of God in DC Comics * The Voice (''Dune''), a fictional ability in the ''Dune'' universe * The Voice, a character in the American TV series ''Cleo ...
'' – Season 1 (
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 ...
) *2011 ''亞洲星光大道 Asian Millionstar'' – Season 4 Regular Judge ( ATV) Prudence Liew at chinesemov.com
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Awards and nominations


References


External links

*
Prudence Liew
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Golden Horse Award The Taipei Golden Horse Film Festival and Awards () is a film festival and awards ceremony held annually in Taiwan. It was founded in 1962 by the Government Information Office of the Republic of China (ROC) in Taiwan. The awards ceremony is us ...
, - {{DEFAULTSORT:Liew, Prudence 1964 births Living people Cantopop singer-songwriters 20th-century Hong Kong women singers Hong Kong film actresses Hong Kong Mandopop singers Hong Kong people of Hakka descent People from Dongguan Hong Kong television actresses Universal Music Group artists Hakka musicians 21st-century Hong Kong women singers