Gong Qiuxia | |
---|---|
Background information | |
Chinese name | 龔秋霞 (traditional) |
Chinese name | 龚秋霞 (simplified) |
Pinyin | gong1 qiu1 xia2 (Mandarin) |
Jyutping | gung1 cau1 haa4 (Cantonese) |
Born |
Chongming, Jiangsu (now Shanghai), China |
December 4, 1916
Died | September 7, 2004 | (aged 87)
Occupation | Actress, Singer |
Genre(s) | Shidaiqu, Mandopop |
Voice type(s) | Soprano |
Gong Qiuxia, also romanized as Kung Chiu-hsia, was born in 1916 under the name (龚莎莎 Gong Shasha and 龚秋香 Gong Qiuxiang) in Chongming County, Jiangsu province (now part of Shanghai), China. She was a famous movie star and singer. By the 1940s, she became one of the seven great singing stars.
In 1933, she traveled across Southeast Asia as a member of the Shanghai Plum Flower Troupe (梅花歌舞团). One of the theatrical plays she took part in was the Five Tiger Generals (五虎将). As a result of her training, she was an accomplished tap dancer. Her early films would capitalize on this talent as one of the few Chinese female stars who was a triple-threat (acting, singing, dancing). People would affectionately refer to her as an older Shirley Temple.
In 1936, she made her first film (父母子女, Father Mother Son Daughter). In 1937, she starred in the movie 压岁钱 and began taking a relatively serious attitude toward filmmaking. She is most recognized for playing the mature, housewife image.
From 1938 to 1980, she took part in a number of movies. The movie 四千金 (Four Daughters) would earn her the nickname "Big Sister."
In the 1930s, she was recognized as one of the three great mandopop singers with Zhou Xuan and Bai Hong.
She died on 7 September 2004 in Hong Kong.