Connie Chan Po-chu, born Ho Pui-kan in Guangzhou in 1947 to a Xinhui family, was adopted at four by the Cantonese-opera artists Chan Fei-nung and Kung Fan-hung and took their stage surname. She learned Peking-opera martial arts under the celebrated teacher Fan Kuk-fa, and in 1953 formed the Twin Treasures troupe with Leung Bo-chu. In 1960 she became a disciple of the Cantonese-opera star Yam Kim-fai. Her first film was the Cantonese opera The Story of Qin Xianglian (1958), followed by Mandarin pictures for MP & GI; from 1960, after appearing with Yam in a Cantonese opera film, she became active in Cantonese cinema, often playing male leads in swordplay films. In 1966 she began starring in contemporary youth films such as Movie-Fan Princess, Colourful Youth and A Girl, Eighteen, and between 1966 and 1970 appeared in nearly one hundred films, becoming one of the most popular Cantonese stars under the nickname 'Movie-Fan Princess'; songs she performed, including 'Woman Killer', became hits. She could act in both swordplay and opera films, appearing with Josephine Siao as a youthful couple. She left for the United States in 1970, returned for the Shaw Brothers film The Lizard (1972) and retired from the screen. In 1999 she returned to the stage in To Kwok-wai's play Floating Life of Sword and Snow.
Starring in nearly one hundred films in the late 1960s, Connie Chan became a sensation through cross-dressed male roles and contemporary youth pictures, and her 'Movie-Fan Princess' nickname reflected her box-office pull; songs she recorded, such as 'Woman Killer', also became hits. Alongside Josephine Siao she embodied the colour Cantonese-cinema era, and her 1999 stage comeback carried on the traditions of Cantonese opera and spoken drama.
Achievements
- 1958 · Made her film debut in the Cantonese opera film The Story of Qin Xianglian.
- 1960 · Became a disciple of the Cantonese-opera star Yam Kim-fai and appeared with her on screen the same year.
- 1966 · Rose to fame in youth films such as Movie-Fan Princess, earning that nickname.