Born on Christmas Day 1947, she began her singing career in the late 1960's and after 1977 became a familiar face on Hong Kong television. In the early 1980's she firmly established herself on the big screen, often playing tragic down-on-their-luck matrons or riotously funny ladies. In 1982, she won the 19th Golden Horse Awards for Best Supporting Actress for her performance as a prostitute in one of her first movies, ''Cream Soda and Milk''. Her first film for Shaw Brothers, ''My Name Ain't Suzie'', won her 5th Hong Kong Film Award for Best Supporting Actress. She was still going strong a decade later, picking up another Best Supporting Actress Hong Kong Film Award in 1991 for the comedy ''Dance With Dragon'' and a Best Supporting Actress Golden Horse Award in 1999 for her portrayal of the tragic mother in ''Crying Heart''.