杜近芳

简介

Du Jinfang (1932-2021) was a renowned Chinese Peking opera artist, specializing in dan (female) roles, and a disciple of the legendary Mei Lanfang. Born in Beijing, she was raised as an adoptive daughter in the theatrical Chen Xikuang family. In her childhood, she studied qingyi (gentle female role) under Lü Peifang and began performing on stage at age ten. In 1945, she was transferred to Du Juchu, her name changed to Du Jinfang, and she became a disciple of Wang Yaoqing. In 1949, upon Wang Yaoqing's recommendation, she became Mei Lanfang's disciple in Shanghai. In 1951, she began working at the experimental Peking opera troupe of the Chinese Academy of Arts, collaborating regularly with Li Shaochun, Ye Shenglan, and Yuan Hailong. She toured multiple countries and was known as the "Queen of the East." Among her notable works are the Peking opera "Wild Boar Forest," filmed in 1962, and "Red Detachment of Women," in which she played the female lead and was filmed in 1972. She was married to Wu Baozhen.