| Born as Chang Xiao-Yen, Alison Chang Yen was born in 1946 and a native of Chaoshan in Guangdong Province. She was still schooling at an English college when she joined Shaw Brothers at age 15, along with Chin Ping, Margaret Hsing Hui, Angela Yu Chien, Cheng Pei-Pei, Fang Ying and Li Ching. Chang graduated high school in 1963, and was sent to further her study in drama and dancing at the Toho Academy of Performing Arts in Japan, along with Chin Ping and Margaret Hsing Hui. With her pretty and outgoing appearance, Chang was typecasted as the spoiled little sister in her earlier films, such as "Teenage Beat", "Imposters" and "The Four Sister", which earned her the monikers 'Little Wildcat' and 'Little Mermaid' for her excellent swimming and waterskiing.
From the Celestial DVD release of "That Man in Chang-An". |