Connie Chan Po-chu

Biography

Connie Chan Po-chu, known as Chen Baozhu, is a Hong Kong Cantonese opera and film actress and singer, born on January 1, 1947. Her ancestral roots trace to Waihai in Guangdong province. She is the adopted daughter of renowned Cantonese opera performers Chen Feinan and Gong Fenhong. Chan began her artistic journey at a very young age, first appearing on stage at five with her adoptive parents, and at seven she studied under the famed opera teacher Fen Juhua to learn northern martial arts. At ten, she formed the "Mao Bao Troupe" with Liang Xingbo's daughter Liang Baozhu and her adoptive father to perform Cantonese opera. In 1960, she was formally accepted as the indoor disciple of celebrated opera singer Yam Kim Fai in a ceremony attended by the media. She joined Dian Mao Film Company at age eleven in 1958, beginning her film career with leading roles in opera films and historical martial arts films, initially cross-playing male roles. She performed with several prominent opera troupes including "Sin Fung Ming," "Qing Hong Jia," and "Chu Fung Ming." In 1966, she returned to female roles in modern dance and singing films, with the film "Colorful Youth" cementing her image as a youthful icon. Chan was a member of the "Seven Princesses," a group of prominent actresses from the 1960s. Her fame peaked during this era, drawing thousands of fans at every public appearance, and her name became a common phrase in Hong Kong signifying the arrival of an important figure.