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Statistics :
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Josephine Siao Fung Fung

 
 
 
 
Other names : 萧芳芳
Siao Fung Fung
Josephine Siao
Siu Fong Fong
Siu Fung Fung
Josephine Siu Fung Fung
Xiao Liang
Xiao1 Fang1 Fang1
 
Birthdate : 13/3/1947
Nationality : China
Workplace : Hong Kong
Activities : Director (1), Producer (2), Writer (2), Singer (1), Actress (189), Cameo (1), Planning (1)

Biography

In the 1950s-60s, Hong Kong cinema was clearly divided into to entities, the films in Mandarin language and those in Cantonese. These were two distinct cinematic worlds, with their own characteristics, styles and stars. The great Patrick Tse or Wu Fung were the beloved stars of the Cantonese cinema. But the biggest star of all was without a doubt Josephine Siao Fong Fong.

Born in Suzhou near Shanghai in 1947, Siao didn't have a usual childhood. Aged two, she became deaf of the right hear --a problem that followed her all her life. A year later, Siao relocated to HK with her mother. Her mum received a job proposition for the young child and desperately needing money, she accepted that Fong Fong shot her first film. Siao's debuts were in the Mandarin cinema though, but she worked in the Cantonese cinema industry the most, an industry that needed a lot of child actors for the very popular family dramas it churned out. In this specific context, Siao quickly became a very sought after, almost exploited, actress. Her acting chops were very quickly acclaimed as in 1956 she received kudos as best child actor for her role in The Orphan Girl.

Her popularity kept rising in the 1950s-1960s. From child star, Siao became just a star, a change that was sometimes tricky. Siao also joined the 'Seven Cantonese Princesses' and even become the most acclaimed of this already very famous group of actresses. She found herself playing in a large variety of films, from dramas to wuxia pian, passing by comedies or spy flicks, and she reaches very soon the 100 films mark. Siao also appeared on occasion in some Mandarin films. often musicals produced by the Shaw Brothers.

Despite the fame, Siao grew tired of the movies and at 21 she retired to go and study in the USA. She spent four years studying in the university and graduated in Mass Communications and Asian Studies. She then came back to Hong Kong to convince her mother to move to the USA and settle down there definitively. Alas, her mother had no intention to move and Siao finally gave up the idea. In HK, she took her acting career where she'd left it and played in local films as well as in productions for the Taiwanese market. Siao also got more involved in production and founded her own production company and she also got involved in scriptwriting. This is how Jumping Ash came to be. It is a film noir that was a precursor of the HK New Wave movement. Siao also worked in TV where she gave English lectures and created Lam Ah-shun, the very popular comic character of Plain Jane. Three films where dedicated to this character, with the latest one being the most famous --Plain Jane To The Rescue directed by John Woo.

From 1975 on, Siao's private life eclipsed her career. Her first marriage was a disaster. Only three month after marrying Charlie Chin, they divorced as they couldn’t reconcile. Eventually, the actress remarried in the early 80s, and this time for good. Siao left HK for Australia where her husband was transferred to. There she managed to stay clear from movies for a few years, and give birth to two children.

But Siao received many acting propositions and she eventually agreed to come back to work in HK. She even took home the Best Actress Hong Kong Film Award for her role in The Wrong Couples. But it is mostly with Fist of Fury 1991 II and Fong Sai Yuk that she won over the young generation of HK moviegoers. In 1995, she offered a superb performance in Ann Hui's Summer Snow. She was awarded for this role the Best Actress award at the Berlin film festival in 1995. She eventually retired for good in 1997, her deaf hear weighting tremendously in her decision to leave the film industry.

To be completist, let's note that Siao became a member of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire in 1996, she graduated in child psychology in 1990 and founded the End Child Sexual Abuse Foundation. In 2009 she was awarded the Life Achievement Hong Kong Film Award.

Arnaud Lanuque (August 2004)
 
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Filmography
 [ 1990 - 1980 - 1970 - 1960 - 1950 ] 
 Alternate lists by alpha / genre / year
 
Title    ( HK -  All )  Year Activity
 
 Mahjong Dragon 1997 Actress
 Hu Du Men 1996 Actress
 Summer Snow 1995 Actress
 Always On My Mind 1993 Actress
 Fong Sai Yuk 1993 Actress
 Fong Sai Yuk II 1993 Actress
 Fist Of Fury 1991 II 1992 Actress
 Too Happy For Words 1992 Actress
 Fist Of Fury 1991 1991 Cameo
 Wrong Couples, The 1987 Actress
 Friend From Inner Space, A 1984 Actress
 Perfect Match, The 1982 Actress
 Plain Jane To The Rescue 1982 Producer, Actress, Planning
 Captain And I, The 1981 Actress
 Marine And I, The 1981 Actress
 Spooky Bunch, The 1980 Producer, Actress
 Lam Ah Chun Blunders Again 1979 Actress
 Lam Ah Chun 1978 Writer, Actress
 Eternal Obsession, The 1976 Actress
 Jumping Ash 1976 Director, Writer, Actress
 Rhythm Of The Wave 1976 Actress
 Saigon, Taipei, Kaohsiung 1975 Actress
 Crazy TV Fans, The 1974 Actress
 Girl Friend 1974 Actress
 Hiroshima 28 1974 Actress
 Happy Angel, The 1970 Actress
 To Crack The Dragon Gate 1970 Actress
 Dragon Flies While Phoenix Dances 1969 Actress
 Four Darling Daughters 1969 Actress
 Let's Sing And Dance To Celebrate A Peaceful Year 1969 Actress
 Miss Fragrance 1969 Actress
 Moments Of Glorious Beauty 1969 Actress
 Mother Wants Me To Get Married 1969 Actress
 My Sweet Lady 1969 Actress
 Romantic Girl Who Plays Hard-To-Get, The 1969 Actress
 Singing Darlings 1969 Actress
 Strange Couple Who Steal, The 1969 Actress
 Sword Of Emei 1969 Actress
 Teddy Girls 1969 Actress
 Be My Love (Winter Love) 1968 Actress
 Blossoming Season, The 1968 Actress
 Blue eagle 1968 Actress
 Bride In Chains 1968 Actress
 Daughter Who Steals, The 1968 Actress
 Decree Of The Fire Dragon 1968 Actress
 Great Lover, A 1968 Actress
 Happy Years 1968 Actress
 Joy To The World 1968 Actress
 Love With A Prodigal 1968 Actress
 Lucky Girl With A Thousand Faces 1968 Actress
 Mad Rush Into Love, A 1968 Actress
 Patch Of Love, A 1968 Actress
 Purple Stormy Night, A 1968 Actress
 Red Lips Of May 1968 Actress
 Rhapsody 1968 Actress
 Vengeful Spirit, The 1968 Actress
 Window, The 1968 Actress
 Winter Love 1968 Actress
 Wonderful Youth 1968 Actress
 Beauty's Trap 1967 Actress
 Blood Stains The Iron Fist 1967 Actress
 Blue Bees, The 1967 Actress
 Diamond Robbery 1967 Actress
 Flying Red Rose 1967 Actress
 Golden Cat, The 1967 Actress
 Golden Skeleton 1967 Actress
 Happy Years 1967 Actress
 Horrifying Adventure Of A Girl, The 1967 Actress
 How The Sacred Fire Heroic Winds Defeat The Fire Lotus Array 1967 Actress
 I Love A-Go-Go 1967 Actress
 Lady In Pink 1967 Actress
 Lady Killer, The 1967 Singer, Actress
 Lau Kam Ding - The Female General 1967 Actress
 Legend Of Gods And Goddesses, The 1967 Actress
 Lightning Killer 1967 Actress
 Maiden Thief 1967 Actress
 My Fair Lady 1967 Actress
 Professionals, The 1967 Actress
 Rocambole 1967 Actress
 Romance Of A Teenage Girl 1967 Actress
 Seven Princesses (Part 1) 1967 Actress
 Seven Princesses (Part 2) 1967 Actress
 Shaky Steps 1967 Actress
 Song Of Happiness 1967 Actress
 Sweet Girl, A 1967 Actress
 Tender Love 1967 Actress
 You Are The One I Love 1967 Actress
 Young Ones, The 1967 Actress
 Youth's Love 1967 Actress
 Aftermath Of A Fire (Part 1) 1966 Actress
 Aftermath Of A Fire (Part 2) 1966 Actress
 Avenger's Tale (Part 1), An 1966 Actress
 Avenger's Tale (Part 2), An 1966 Actress
 Banner Of The Twin Phoenixes (Part 1) 1966 Actress
 Banner Of The Twin Phoenixes (Part 2) 1966 Actress
 Colourful Youth 1966 Actress
 Eternal Love 1966 Actress
 Fire Dragon And The Mythical Pearl 1966 Actress
 Golden Bat, The 1966 Actress
 Heroic Tribe (Part 1), The 1966 Actress
 Heroic Tribe (Part 2), The 1966 Actress
 Infactuating Palm (Part 1), The 1966 Actress
 Infactuating Palm (Part 2), The 1966 Actress
 Infernal Gate (Part 1), The 1966 Actress
 Infernal Gate (Part 2), The 1966 Actress
 Jade In The Red Dust (Grand Finale) 1966 Actress
 Jade In The Red Dust (Part 1) 1966 Actress
 Jade In The Red Dust (Part 2) 1966 Actress
 Monkey King And The Imps 1966 Actress
 Nyasa Lad Against 7 Devils 1966 Actress
 Return Of the Golden Bat 1966 Actress
 Romance Of A Teenage Girl 1966 Actress
 Romance Of The Sword 1966 Actress
 Sacred Fire, Heroic Wind (Part 1) 1966 Actress
 Sacred Fire, Heroic Wind (Part 2) 1966 Actress
 Three Swordsmen, The 1966 Actress
 Young And Furious (Part 1) 1966 Actress
 Young And Furious (Part 2) 1966 Actress
 Adventures Of Nazha, The 1965 Actress
 Beautiful Queen of Hell (part 1) 1965 Actress
 Beautiful Queen of Hell (Part 2) 1965 Actress
 Burning Of Pingyang City 1965 Actress
 Decree Of Death, The 1965 Actress
 Furious Buddha's Palm, The 1965 Actress
 Hero And The Beauty (Part 1), The 1965 Actress
 Hero And The Beauty (Part 2), The 1965 Actress
 Ji Gong is After The Demon 1965 Actress
 Ji Gong Raids The Courtoom 1965 Actress
 Monkey Saint Teases the Fairy of Flowers 1965 Actress
 Monkey Saint Versus Eight Fairies 1965 Actress
 Sword Of Swords 1965 Actress
 Club Of Magic Flame, The 1964 Actress
 Dragon And The Bat, The 1964 Actress
 Golden Scissors (Part 2) 1964 Actress
 Magic Crane And The Golden Eagle, The 1964 Actress
 Seven Fights With Nine Tail Fox 1964 Actress
 Sword Of The Buddha's Warrior 1964 Actress
 Burning Of The Red Lotus Monastery (Part 1) 1963 Actress
 Burning Of The Red Lotus Monastery (Part 2) 1963 Actress
 Conquering Sword, The 1963 Actress
 Golden Coat (Part 1), The 1963 Actress
 Golden Coat (Part 2), The 1963 Actress
 Golden Scissors (Part 1) 1963 Actress
 Half A Sword (Part 1) 1963 Actress
 Half A Sword (Part 2) 1963 Actress
 Invincible Sword, The 1963 Actress
 Killing Flag (Part 1), The 1963 Actress
 Killing Flag (Part 2), The 1963 Actress
 Magic Sword (Part 1) 1963 Actress
 Magic Sword (Part 2) 1963 Actress
 Magic Whip, The 1963 Actress
 Magnificent Ones (Part 1), The 1963 Actress
 Marching Down The South (Part 1) 1963 Actress
 Murderous White-Boned Blade, The 1963 Actress
 Poisonous Cicade, The 1963 Actress
 Red Thread Steals A Precious Box 1963 Actress
 Tiger In Hunting, The 1963 Actress
 Duel On Mount Dragon 1962 Actress
 Filial Son's Treasure-hunt 1962 Actress
 Hero Of The Twin Swords And The Magic Whip 1962 Actress
 Little Prime Minister (Part 2), The 1962 Actress
 Magic Mirror, Mythical Pearl (Part 1) 1962 Actress
 Magic Mirror, Mythical Pearl (Part 2) 1962 Actress
 Story Of The Sword 1962 Actress
 Young Sparrow In Fright 1962 Actress
 Attack Of The 5 Fairies Monastery, The 1961 Actress
 Heroic Lovers From The Tomb, The 1961 Actress
 Ingenious Fluter (Part 1) 1961 Actress
 Ingenious Fluter (Part 2) 1961 Actress
 Mother Love 1961 Actress
 Pity Orphan 1961 Actress
 Search Of Loved One, The 1961 Actress
 Sword Of Vengeance (Part 1) 1961 Actress
 Sword Of Vengeance (Part 2) 1961 Actress
 Swords Of Tien Shan, The 1961 Actress
 Tian Shan Gibbon Girl 1961 Actress
 Bloodbath In Emerald Valley 1960 Actress
 Daring Gang Of Nineteen From Verdun City, The 1960 Actress
 Filial Piety 1960 Actress
 Filial Piety That Moves Heaven (Part 1) 1960 Actress
 Filial Piety That Moves Heaven (Part 2) 1960 Actress
 Night Of The Long Knives 1960 Actress
 Nobody's Child 1960 Actress
 Snow Peak Nymph, The 1960 Actress
 19 Heroes Of The Green Mountain 1959 Actress
 Orphan Girl, The 1956 Actress
 Rose Cliff 1956 Actress
 She Swallowed Her Sorrows 1956 Actress
 Orphan's Tragedy, An 1955 Actress
 Tears Of A Young Concubine 1954 Actress
 

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Gallery
 
 Josephine Siao Fung Fung pictures :  (Hide)
Fong Sai Yuk
Fong Sai Yuk II
Fist Of Fury 1991 II
A Friend From Inner Space
Plain Jane To The Rescue
 
 Other Josephine Siao Fung Fung pictures :  (Hide)
Always On My Mind (6)
Fong Sai Yuk (1)
Fong Sai Yuk II (4)
Fist Of Fury 1991 II (3)
The Wrong Couples (3)
A Friend From Inner Space (2)
Plain Jane To The Rescue (15)
Other pictures (1)
 
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