Olivia Cheng Man Nga was born in Hong Kong on 14 February 1960, her family tracing its roots to Dongguan in Guangdong. A high-jump champion at school, she held the Hong Kong women's high-jump record, and in 1979 won both the Miss Hong Kong title and the Miss Photogenic award, representing the city at Miss Universe that year. She joined Rediffusion Television and began appearing in dramas. Her film debut came in 1982 with the lead in Cinema City's Till Death Do We Scare, after which she became a regular in the studio's titles, including Play Catch (1983), A Family Affair (1984), Why Me? (1985) and A Killer's Blues (1990). She also took leading roles for other studios across comedies and dramas, among them Dragon Force (1982), Mr. Virgin (1984), The Company (1984), Mr. Coconut (1989) and How to be a Millionaire (1989). She took a hiatus after Blue Lightning (1991). Acting for nearly a decade, she moved between genres, playing an athletics coach in a 1986 sports film and a social worker in a 1989 youth drama, and took several women-centred roles. From 1990 the Hong Kong Film Awards' goddess statuette was modelled on her figure. In 2007 she appeared in the stage adaptation of Closer. Beyond acting she has worked in ceramics, photography, calligraphy, dance and golf, and published An Affair with Clay, An Affair with Chinese Opera and Serenity of Antarctica.
From high-jump record-holder to Miss Hong Kong and a familiar lead in Cinema City comedies, Cheng later turned to ceramics, photography and writing; the Hong Kong Film Awards' goddess statuette was modelled on her, giving her a lasting mark beyond the screen.
Achievements
- 1979 · She won the Miss Hong Kong title and the Miss Photogenic award and represented Hong Kong at Miss Universe.
- 1982 · She took the lead in Cinema City's Till Death Do We Scare, making her film debut.
- 1990 · The Hong Kong Film Awards' goddess statuette, modelled on her figure, was introduced from the 10th awards.