Chin Tsi-Ang

Chin Tsi-Ang , also Chin Tsi-Ang and Chi Chi-Ang, was one among the earliest martial-arts actors of the Chinese film industry, and its first female star. She debuted in ''Dream of South China'' in 1925 at the age of 16, and played a leading role in ''The Lady Swordfighter of Jiang-Nan in 1930.

Biography

Chin was born in Shanghai in 1909. When she was an infant, her parents were told by a fortune-teller that in order to avoid an early death, she would have to be brought up like a boy. She was therefore permitted to engage in activities usually reserved for males, although her gender sometimes had to be disguised. She began martial arts training at the age of 8, later going on to perform all of her own stunts as well as choreograph scenes.

She married director Hung Chung-Ho, with whom she had seven children , and having become a star in Shanghai, they moved to Hong Kong, where they formed the Sanxing Film Company, which specialized in wuxia and produced the first Fong Sai-Yuk film in 1938. It existed until 1963, when the Chinese government requisitioned its properties. Her husband died not long afterwards. She largely retired from filmmaking at this time, although she has since appeared in cameo roles, one of the most recent being in Kar Wai Wong's ''In the Mood for Love'' at age 90.

Chin died in Hong Kong on October 15, 2007.