Xiang Yun

Xiang Yun
Xiang Yun in May 2017
Born
Chen Cuichang

(1961-10-27) 27 October 1961 (age 63)[1]
Occupations
  • Actress
  • television host
Years active1980–present
Spouse
(m. 1989)
Children
MotherChew Koi
RelativesLoretta Chen (sister-in-law)
AwardsFull list
Stage name
Traditional Chinese
Simplified Chinese向云
Hanyu PinyinXiàng Yún
Wade–GilesHsiang4 Yün2
JyutpingHoeng3 Wan4
Hokkien POJHiòng-hûn
Tâi-lôHiòng-hûn
Birth name (Chen Cuichang)
Traditional Chinese
Simplified Chinese陈翠嫦
Hanyu PinyinChén Cuìcháng
Wade–GilesCh'en1 Ts'ui4 Ch'ang2
JyutpingCan4 Ceoi3 Soeng4
Hokkien POJTân Chhùi-siông
Tâi-lôTân Tshuì-siông

Xiang Yun (born Chen Cuichang on 27 October 1961) is a Singaporean actress and television host. [2] She is commonly referred to as MediaCorp's first "Ah Jie" (senior actress)[3] for being among the first locally trained artistes and has been in the entertainment industry for more than 29 years.

Career

[edit]

Chen is one of the first batch of graduates from SBC's drama training class. She began her career in children's drama in 1980 and proceeded to act in the drama series Double Blessings and All That Glitters Is Not Gold in 1983. It was her role as "Ah Mei", love interest of Huang Wenyong's character "Ah Shui", in the 1984 blockbuster drama series The Awakening that propelled her to fame, evidenced by the fact that she and Huang were named among the "Top 5 Favourite On-Screen Partners" and "Top 5 Most Memorable Drama Characters" of the last 25 years at the Star Awards 2007 anniversary special.

Chen made her theatrical debut as the female lead Li Qing in December Rains, written by veteran songwriter Liang Wern Fook and Jimmy Ye.[4][5][6]

In 1997, Chen played Singaporean war heroine Elizabeth Choy in the war drama The Price of Peace. After the birth of her second child, she took a brief hiatus from acting.[7] She returned to television in 2000 and has since been cast in major roles in many of MediaCorp's large-scale productions, such as Double Happiness, Portrait of Home, The Little Nyonya and Kinship.

Despite competition from younger actresses, Chen's popularity remained high as she was voted the "Top 10 Most Popular Artistes" in the annual Star Awards from 2000 to 2010 and was awarded the coveted "All-Time Favourite Artiste Award".[8] She has also won the "Best Supporting Actress" award for a record 5 times, in years 1998, 2000, 2001, 2009 and 2023.

Personal life

[edit]

Chen is married to former MediaCorp actor Edmund Chen. They first met on the set of Patrol and married after a whirlwind romance, which drew much media attention as unpublicised celebrity marriages were uncommon in the local entertainment industry at that time.[7][9] They have a son, Chen Xi, and a daughter, Yixin, both who are also actors.[10][11]

On 12 September 2023, Chen revealed that her mother died of kidney failure, aged 84.[12]

Filmography

[edit]

Television series

[edit]
Year Title Role Notes Ref.
1983 All that Glitters is Not Gold 捷径
Army Series 新兵小传 Cousin
Double Blessings 春风得意 He Cuifang [13]
1984 The Awakening 1 Ah Mei
Blossoms in the Sun 阳光蜜糖 Lin Liting
The Awakening 2 Ah Mei
1985 The Unyielding Butterflies 铁蝴蝶 Fu Xuejun
Takeover 人在旅途 Ye Qianyun
The Coffee Shop 咖啡乌 Hong Jinhua
1986 Men of Valour 盗日英雄传 Princess Jian Guo
The Bond 天涯同命鸟 Hong Jinfeng
1987 Painted Faces 戏班 Bai Mudan
Bai Lanxiang
1988 Heiress 世纪情 Zhao Wan'er
Airforce Fang Zijun [14]
The Last Applause 舞榭歌台 Lan Xinyi
Mystery 迷离夜 之《琴》 Zhao Yongqin
Strange Encounters 2 奇缘2 之《客途秋恨》 Piaohong
1989 Patrol 铁警雄风 Zhou Huijuan
Return of the Prince 丝路谜城 Jin Lvyi
1990 Enchanted Eyes 天眼 Na Lan Rong Yu
Liu Muchan
Wishing Well 幻海奇遇 之《错体夫妻》 Li Liming
1992 The Male Syndrome 妙男正传 Chuan Qi Xing Zi
Woman of Substance 悲欢岁月 Chen Qiuyan
1993 The Wilful Siblings 斗气姐妹 Betty
Endless Love 未了缘 Liu Huilian
Liu Xiaohan
Angel of Vengeance 暴雨狂花 Cai Yihua
1994 Scorned Angel 冷太阳 Ma Miaoqing
Against All Odds 共闯荆途 Zhang Yongmei
1995 The Golden Pillow 金枕头 Sai Guixiang
King of Hades 阎罗传奇 Nian Nu
The Last Rhythm 曲终魂断 Liang Ya Song (Ya Zi)
1996 Mirror of Life 实况剧场 之《三水红头巾》 Pan Yueyin
Give Me a Break 老板放轻松 Wang Wenfang
Tales of the Third Kind II 第三类剧场2 之《杀夫之谜》 Wang Cuiyun
Diary of a Teacher 老师日记 Kong Ai Si
1997 The Price of Peace Elizabeth Choy
Immortal Love 不老传说 Chen Shulan
1998 Living in Geylang 芽笼芽笼 Zhu Xiuli
Myths and Legends of Singapore 石叻坡传说 之《求子树》 Li Yuzhen
Singapore Short Stories 小说剧场 之《天算》 Lu Shanshan
Around People's Park 珍珠街坊 A-hua
The Royal Monk 2 真命小和尚之十二铜人 Leng Xiaofeng
1999 Hero of the Times 新方世玉 Wu Huaniang
My Teacher, My Friend 小岛醒了 Aunt Pig Liver
Wok of Life 福满人间 Margaret Ma Dai Xiang
2000 My Home Affairs 家事 A-yan
Looking for Stars 星锁 Yuan Shuwei
2001 The Hotel 大酒店 Diana Special appearance
The Challenge 谁与争锋 Wang Liguang
2002 Fantasy 星梦情真 Yao Huiru
Kopi-O II 浓浓咖啡乌 Hong Jinhua
Bukit Ho Swee 河水山 Liao Meijiao
Health Matters 一切由慎开始 Cai Jinzhen
I Not Stupid [zh] 小孩不笨 Wen Shiya TV adaptation of the eponymous movie [15]
2003 Always on My Mind 无炎的爱 Wang Wei
Holland V 荷兰村 Su Yueping
2004 The Crime Hunters 心网追凶 Le Qi
Double Happiness 喜临门 Luo Jiaxi
Double Happiness II 喜临门 II
2005 Portrait of Home 同心圆 Zhang Xiuhua
Portrait of Home II 同心圆 II
2006 Yours Always 让爱自邮 Li Huifen
Love at 0°C Liao Qunfang
I Not Stupid Too Xu Xiumei TV adaptation of the eponymous movie [16]
2007 Let It Shine Guo Yaoyao's mother
Kinship 手足 Lin Meiqi
Kinship 2 手足 II
2008 The Defining Moment 沸腾冰点 Tang Lilian
The Little Nyonya Wang Tianlan
Yamamoto Yueniang (older version)
2009 Housewives' Holiday Zhong Aiqin
Baby Bonus Huang Meiling
2010 Priceless Wonder Su Bizhu
Unriddle Yang Qiujun
The Score Xu Anna
2011 A Tale of 2 Cities Wang Cuilan
2012 Unriddle 2 Yang Qiujun
Pillow Talk Mao Yunling
Yours Fatefully Liu Xiuying
Beyond Zhang Cuiyan
2013 Start-Up! 创! Fang Wenxin
Love at Risk Shi Sanmei
2014 Served H.O.T 烧。卖 Li Yueniang Cameo
The Caregivers Molly
2015 You Can Be an Angel Too Wang Ruo'en
Super Senior Yu Fang
Sealed with a Kiss Cheng Xinshan
2016 House of Fortune Chen Xiulian
Peace & Prosperity Shen Ping'an
My First School 快乐第一班 Lin Yixin
You Can Be an Angel 2 Wang Ruo'en
Hero 大英雄 Quan Min'er
2017 Life Less Ordinary Wu Xiaoqiao
The Lead Chen Xiangrong
Eat Already? 2 Meiling
2018 Love at Cavenagh Bridge 加文纳桥的约定 Li Huiyi
Divided 分裂 Li-Zhu Huimin
Dream Walkers 梦行者 Fang Hua
Heart To Heart 心点心 Yang Fengzhu
2019 How Are You? Zhang Jingyu
Voyage of Love 爱起航 Hong Yuxia
Dear Neighbours 我的左邻右里 Bella Tan Meizhen
My One in a Million 我的万里挑一 Xu Cuifeng
The Little Nyonya 小娘惹 Chen Laotai China's adaptation of the 2008 original series [17]
A World of Difference 都市狂想 Xu Xiangqun
2020 Happy Prince 快乐王子 Bai Biqiu
A Jungle Survivor 森林生存记 Ada
2021 Mind Jumper 触心罪探 Esther Fang
Soul Old Yet So Young 心里住着老灵魂 Tang Meiyao
Watch Out! Alexius 小心啊!谢宇航 Liz
Key Witness 关键证人 Mary
The Heartland Hero A-hua
2022 You Can Be an Angel 4 你也可以是天使4 Wang Ruo'en
Your World in Mine Wang Jinhui [18]
Healing Heroes 医生不是神 Lei Cailuan
2023 My One and Only Ma Huiling

Film

[edit]
Year Title Role Notes Ref.
1995 When A Child is Born (有儿万事足) Wang Lichang Telemovie
2002 I Not Stupid Wen Shiya
2003 Sweet Dreams and Turtle Soup Mei Choo Telemovie [19]
2003 Homerun Kun's mother [20]
2006 I Not Stupid Too Karen Yeo [21]
2012 We Not Naughty Mrs Chen [20]
2019 The Play Book (爱本) Passerby [22][23]
2020 Precious Is the Night Old Madam
2024 Money No Enough 3 Ah Hui's wife [20]

Theatre

[edit]
Year Title Role Notes Ref
1996 December Rains Li Qing [6]

Awards and nominations

[edit]
Year Ceremony Category Nominated work Result Ref
1995 Star Awards Special Achievement Award Won
Top 10 Most Popular Female Artistes Top 20
1998 Star Awards Best Supporting Actress Around People's Park (as Hua) Won
Top 10 Most Popular Female Artistes Top 20
1999 Star Awards Top 10 Most Popular Female Artistes Top 20
2000 Star Awards Best Supporting Actress My Home Affairs (as Yan) Won
Top 10 Most Popular Female Artistes Top 10
2001 Star Awards Best Supporting Actress The Challenge (as Wang Liguang) Won
Top 10 Most Popular Female Artistes Top 10
2002 Star Awards Top 10 Most Popular Female Artistes Top 10
2003 Star Awards Best Supporting Actress Holland V (as Su Yueping) Nominated
Top 10 Most Popular Female Artistes Top 10
2004 Star Awards Top 10 Most Popular Female Artistes Top 10
2005 Star Awards Top 10 Most Popular Female Artistes Top 10
2006 Star Awards Best Supporting Actress Love at 0°C (as Liang Qunfang) Nominated
Top 10 Most Popular Female Artistes Top 10
2007 Star Awards Best Evergreen Veteran Won
Top 10 Most Popular Female Artistes Top 10
2009 Star Awards Best Supporting Actress The Little Nyonya (as Tianlan) Won
Top 10 Most Popular Female Artistes Top 10
2010 Star Awards Best Supporting Actress Baby Bonus (Huang Meiling) Nominated
Top 10 Most Popular Female Artistes Top 10
2011 Star Awards Best Supporting Actress Unriddle (as Yang Qiujin) Nominated
All-Time Favourite Artiste Won
2013 Star Awards Best Supporting Actress Pillow Talk (as Mao Yunling) Nominated
2014 Star Awards Best Supporting Actress Beyond (as Zhang Cuiyan) Nominated
Star Awards for Most Popular Regional Artiste (China) Nominated
2015 Star Awards Best Supporting Actress The Caregivers (as Molly) Nominated
Star Awards for Most Popular Regional Artiste (China) Nominated
2016 Star Awards Best Evergreen Artiste Super Senior (as Yu Fang) Nominated
Favourite Female Character Super Senior (as Yu Fang) Nominated
2017 Star Awards Best Evergreen Artiste Peace & Prosperity (as Shen Ping'an) Won
2018 Star Awards Best Evergreen Artiste Nominated
Best Theme Song 小人物向前冲 (Life Less Ordinary) Nominated
2019 Star Awards Best Evergreen Artiste Won [24]
2021 Star Awards Best Evergreen Artiste Nominated
2022 Star Awards Best Evergreen Artiste Won [25]
2023 Star Awards Best Supporting Actress Your World in Mine (as Wang Jinhui) Won [18]
Best Evergreen Artiste Won [18]
Favourite Female Show Stealer Your World in Mine (as Wang Jinhui) Nominated
Asian Television Awards
Year Award Nominated work Result Ref
2014 Best Actress in a Supporting Role The Caregivers (as Molly) Nominated
2015 You Can Be an Angel Too (as Wang Ruo'en) Nominated
ContentAsia Awards
Year Award Nominated work Result Ref
2023 Best Supporting Actress in a TV Programme/Series Your World in Mine (as Wang Jinhui) Won [26][27]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ 向云58岁生日 与家人从早庆祝到晚 [Xiang Yun celebrates 58th birthday with family the entire day]. 27 October 2019.
  2. ^ "Xiang Yun 向云 - Celebrity Bios on xinmsn Entertainment". Archived from the original on 18 May 2012. Retrieved 26 July 2012.
  3. ^ Lee, Jocelyn (12 April 2017). "And The Favourite-est All-Time Favourite Artiste Is..." 8 Days.
  4. ^ "Liang Wern Fook | Infopedia". eresources.nlb.gov.sg.
  5. ^ "Xiang Yun to sing on stage". The Straits Times. 25 May 1996. p. 11. Retrieved 22 March 2023 – via NewspaperSG.
  6. ^ a b Wong, Chee Meng (6 July 1996). "First Chinese musical a creditable effort". The Straits Times. p. 14. Retrieved 22 March 2023 – via NewspaperSG.
  7. ^ a b "向云离开新视". 14 March 2000. Archived from the original on 8 August 2002.
  8. ^ "Actress Bio". Xin MS Entertainment. Archived from the original on 18 May 2012. Retrieved 26 July 2012.
  9. ^ "Celebrity Couples Who Met on Set". xin.msn.com. 16 September 2012. Archived from the original on 24 September 2012. Retrieved 18 September 2012.
  10. ^ "Children of Edmund Chen and Xiang Yun". Archived from the original on 20 August 2011. Retrieved 24 February 2012.
  11. ^ "Celeb couple's son makes acting debut". AsiaOne. 27 February 2012.
  12. ^ "透露母亲离世 向云:谢谢您这一生的付出". 8world. Retrieved 12 September 2023.
  13. ^ Leong, Weng Kam (21 January 1983). "NewspaperSG - Terms and Conditions". The Straits Times. p. 23. Retrieved 31 October 2022 – via NewspaperSG.
  14. ^ "每集长75分钟 《空军》六片集 是六部迷你电影". Lianhe Wanbao (in Chinese (Singapore)). 25 February 1988. p. 13. Retrieved 8 November 2023 – via NewspaperSG.
  15. ^ "I Not Stupid 小孩不笨". Content Distribution. Retrieved 18 April 2022.
  16. ^ "I Not Stupid Too 小孩不笨 2". Content Distribution. Retrieved 18 April 2022.
  17. ^ "新版《小娘惹》结局有惊喜 新面孔演绎观众不买单 | 早报". www.zaobao.com.sg (in Simplified Chinese). Retrieved 18 April 2022.
  18. ^ a b c "Star Awards 2023: Xiang Yun on a roll as she extends records for Best Supporting Actress and Best Evergreen Artiste". AsiaOne. 9 April 2023. Retrieved 14 April 2023.
  19. ^ "Talkback: Sweet Dreams & Turtle Soup". www.sinema.sg. 28 January 2009. Retrieved 8 January 2024.
  20. ^ a b c "《钱不够用3》三位女主角曝光 | 联合早报". www.zaobao.com.sg (in Simplified Chinese). 16 October 2023. Retrieved 16 October 2023.
  21. ^ "I Not Stupid Too 小孩不笨 2". Content Distribution. Retrieved 18 April 2022.
  22. ^ "王禄江执导影片《爱本》 9月19日为慈善特别上映". 8world Entertainment Lifestyle (in Chinese (Singapore)). Retrieved 18 April 2022.
  23. ^ The Playbook Official Trailer, 5 September 2019, retrieved 18 April 2022
  24. ^ Tan, Celine (17 April 2019). "Hits & Misses Of Star Awards 2019". TODAYonline. Retrieved 19 May 2019.
  25. ^ Auto, Hermes (24 April 2022). "Star Awards 2022 host Chen Hanwei clinches Best Actor award | The Straits Times". www.straitstimes.com. Retrieved 21 April 2023.
  26. ^ "2023 Nominees – ContentAsia Awards". 22 July 2023. Archived from the original on 22 July 2023. Retrieved 22 July 2023.
  27. ^ "向云首夺海外奖激动发抖 徐鸣杰买小酒庆功 | 早报". www.zaobao.com.sg (in Simplified Chinese). Retrieved 26 August 2023.
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