Mary Wong Man-lei

Biography

Mary Wong Man-lei, originally named Wong Man-so (Huang Wensu), was born in Hong Kong in 1913. She studied at Belilios Public School and in 1930 entered the Shanghai Jiannan Film Company acting school. In 1932, she joined the Hong Kong branch of the Lianhua studio and after more than a decade became a leading actress in the Nanyang film industry. She was known early in her career for playing virtuous wives, modest young ladies and aristocratic women, while later she often portrayed wicked mothers-in-law and disreputable women. Her superb acting and profound cultural depth earned her the title "Tragedy Virtuoso." She married director Xie Yizhi in 1937 and together they appeared in more than 300 films. In 1971 she joined TVB as an actress, appearing in series such as *The Choice*, *The Storm* and *The Family*. She also played many kind-hearted mother roles in works like *Spring Sunshine* and *Little Women*. She moved to RTV in 1976, returned to TVB in 1979 and formally retired in 1987. In the 1990s she developed dementia and moved with her husband to a nursing home. In 1995 she received the Lifetime Achievement Award at the 14th Hong Kong Film Awards, presented to her personally by Chow Yun-fat at the nursing home. She passed away on 8 April 1998 at the age of 85. Her husband Xie Yizhi died in 1999 at the age of 91.