Chinese star Vivian Chow back to stage
By admin on 2014-12-26

    Long retired from the Hong Kong entertainment scene, actress Vivian Chow is making a surprising comeback, playing a lesbian in director Ann Hui's latest romantic comedy. A thirteen-year absence from the big screen may have resulted in a nervous start, but Chow was quick to fit into the role. On today's the List, we focus on Vivian Chow and her return to the public spotlight.

    Vivian Chow is a Hong Kong based Cantopop singer and actress. She is well known for her ladylike stage image and sweet looks. Her nymph-like appearance and elegance is very memorable, even twenty years after she first shot to stardom.

    Vivian Chow was born in Hong Kong in 1967. After graduating from high school, she entered the entertainment business, first working as a DJ at Radio Television, then becoming a singer in 1991.

    One of her songs, "A Long and Lasting Love" was listed as a chart-topper for the fourth season in 1991. And her "Unrequited Love" won third place in a song competition two years later.

    In 1994, "Rumor," another single from Vivian Chow, climbed to the top ten chart. Her musical achievements have made Vivian Chow one of the most popular foreign singers in Japan.

    While her musical career was booming, Chow also maintained an active presence on the big screen, starring in over thirty films from 1988 to 1996.

    In particular, her collaboration with Hong Kong actors Adam Cheng, and Ching-Wan Lau in the TV series "The Greed of Man" was one important production. The forty-episode dramatic series revolved around some controversial topics, ranging from triad families with its depiction of violence to the control of the Hong Kong stock exchange via corruption. In the series, Vivian Chow played Yuen Mui, the girlfriend of Fong Chin-bok.

    She started as a neighbor of the Fongs, and witnessed the joys and tribulations of the Fong family. She was sweet, down-to-earth, pure, and faithful, but she was extremely frugal with money. Chow gave a very accurate performance of the character.

    Vivian Chow retired from the Hong Kong entertainment scene in the late 1997 when she and her boyfriend, Joe Nieh, emigrated to Vancouver, Canada. Though she still made frequent trips to Hong Kong to visit her family and to support animal-rights charities.

    Apart from being known as an actress and singer, Vivian Chow has also been awarded several times for her paintings and masterful renditions on the piano.

    Chow's also well-known for her involvement with charities. In 2004, Chow published a book, telling the various pleasures she had raising her cats. The proceeds from the book were donated to charities.

    Her more than ten-year relationship with boyfriend Joe Nieh finally came to a satisfying end when Nieh popped 'the question' at Vivian Chow's comeback concert in 2006. The two tied the knot on January 6th this year.

    At the invitation of Director Ann Hui, Vivian Chow is now playing against Hong Kong's Sandra Ng in a lesbian love story. Though she hadn't played a role for thirteen years, Chow is confident that an intriguing script and the talent of Director Ann Hui will bring out the best in her.