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Yam Kim Fai

Yam Kim Fai
HK YamKimFai n PakSuetSin 60326.jpg
Yam Kim Fai (left)
Background information
Chinese name 任劍輝 (traditional)
Chinese name 任剑辉 (simplified)
Pinyin Rén Jiànhuī (Mandarin)
Jyutping Jam4 Gim3 Fai1 (Cantonese)
Birth name Yam Lee Chor (任麗初)
Origin Hong Kong
Born (1913-02-04)4 February 1913
Nanhai, Foshan, China
Died 29 November 1989(1989-11-29) (aged 76)
Hong Kong
Occupation Actress, Performer ()
Genre(s) Cantonese opera
Influenced by Wong Lui Hap (Sifu )
Influenced Loong Kim Sang (protégée)
Yam Kim-fai
Traditional Chinese 任劍輝

Cantonese Opera Film Century Award

Yam Kim Fai (Chinese: 任劍輝, 4 February 1913 (Lunar 29 December 1912) – 29 November 1989), also known as Ren Jianhui was a renowned Cantonese opera actress in China and Hong Kong.

She was most notable for her unique ability to sing in the lower register. That her opera voice was indistinguishable from a male one allowed her to play either male or female roles, though she usually performed male ones.

On 24 June 1972, Yam performed the last time in public and TV viewers looked for the "man" they knew from movies/stage performances. They did not expect to see her in a 2-piece set of jacket and qipao (cheongsam) with floral print. Since 1972, Yam enjoyed singing in private with a live band and was often accompanied by her protégée Loong who would read the lyrics out for her until her eyesight improved with surgery.

On 11 July 1976, Miss Universe 1976, the 25th Miss Universe pageant, was held at the Lee Theatre in Hong Kong. From five portraits, contestants were asked to pick one that she/they could identify, as the only actress instead of an actor, in Cantonese opera costume. Yam was not the one she/they picked.

In 1989, she died at home in Hong Kong due to pleural effusion. There was no JTWROS. Yam had a will drawn up and left her estate to families, including Yam Bing Yee.

Born Yam Lee Chor (Chinese: 任麗初), Yam performed as a past-time with a Cantonese opera troupe since when still in grade school. When Yam was 14, her aunt (Chinese: 小叫天), another Cantonese opera actress, taught Yam the foundation courses. Very soon, Yam quit school and began her formal opera performance studies with Wong Lui Hap (Chinese: 黃侶俠), who was known for being the female version of Ma Sze Tsang but became known more often as Sifu of Yam (Chinese: 高 出名 ). Although they never co-operated again once the formal contract expired, Yam provided for Wong who was not well-off late in life (Chinese: 生 ).


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