Wu Yin

Biography

Wu Yin (1909–1991), born in Tianjin as Lu Lina, was from Wu County, Jiangsu. She is regarded as one of the most prominent Chinese film and theatre actresses, famously dubbed the "First Old Lady of Chinese Cinema" for her mastery in portraying elderly women. She began her artistic career in 1929 with a stage debut in the play "Suzhou Night Talk" directed by Ying Yunwei. In 1936 she joined Mingxing Film Company and appeared in notable films such as "New Women" alongside the celebrated actress Ruan Lingyu. During the Sino-Japanese War, she relocated to Chongqing and participated in filming patriotic works like "Baptism of Fire" and "Storm Over the Border." After the war, she returned to Shanghai and joined Kunlun Film Company, delivering unforgettable performances in classics such as "The Spring River Flows East," "Lights of Ten Thousand Homes," and "Crows and Sparrows." She received the Ministry of Culture First Prize in 1957 for her role in "Crows and Sparrows." During the Cultural Revolution she was persecuted and left disabled, and her husband, filmmaker Meng Junmou, was persecuted to death. She was rehabilitated in December 1978 and joined the Communist Party in 1985. She continued acting in her later years in films like "Man's Dilemma" and "The Wind Down the Mountain." In 2005 she was named one of the Hundred Outstanding Actors of Chinese Cinema in its centennial history. She passed away on April 10, 1991.