李玉茹

简介

Li Yuru was born in July 1924 in Beijing and was a renowned Chinese Peking opera actress. She studied at the Beijing Chinese Opera School from 1932 to 1940, specializing in female roles (dan). She was a close disciple of major opera masters such as Wang Yaoqing, Mei Lanfang, and Cheng Yanqiu. She delivered outstanding performances in female roles throughout her artistic career. She collaborated with a host of prominent Peking opera artists including Yang Baosen, Ma Lianli, Li Shaochun, Tan Fuying, and Zhou Xinfang. She participated in filming Peking opera movies such as "Song Shijie" and "You Sanjie." After the public-private partnership transition of opera troupes, she joined a state-run troupe and was awarded the national first-class title in Chinese art. In March 1955, she joined the Shanghai Peking Opera Theatre, where she served as a leading actress and Peking opera art director for many years, and continued as an art consultant until her passing. She passed away on July 11, 2008, in Shanghai due to lung cancer.