is not as famous as Hu Die and Ruan Lingyu in a long list of dazzling female movie stars of the Republic of China, but she is also among the best in terms of fame and strength. She is Chen Yanyan .
Chen Yanyan, formerly known as Chen Qianqian , originally from Beijing, was born in Ningbo, Zhejiang in January 1916 and died on May 7, 1999. After being a nobleman of the Manchu Zhenghuang Banner, she moved to Beiping with her parents when she was young.
In 1930, 14-year-old Chen Yanyan was studying at the Sacred Heart Girls' High School in Peiping. At that time, she was already a little movie fan. At that time, it happened that Lianhua Company's "Spring Dreams of the Old City" crew was filming on location in Peiping. Chen Yanyan, who was watching the filming, was discovered by the director. Her smart and cute appearance caught the director's attention and encouraged her to play a small role.
Chen Yanyan made her wish to be an actress to her family after returning home after her first trial filming. Her old-fashioned family did not agree at first, but Chen Yanyan was very persistent and insisted on her own opinion. Later, after repeated persuasion from Lianhua Company, the family finally agreed. .
After Chen Yanyan signed a contract with Lianhua Company, she was accompanied by her mother to the south to Shanghai, and she embarked on the road of acting that she longed for.
Lianhua company manager Mr. Li Minwei changed her name to Chen Yanyan.
After Chen Yanyan joined " Lianhua ", she started as a trainee in the darkroom. After some supporting role training, in 1932, in " Southern Spring " directed by Cai Chusheng, Chen Yanyan first served as the female lead. A tragic love movie in which the heroine dies of depression. Chen Yanyan's lovable image and tragic performance became famous in one fell swoop, and won the reputation of "beautiful bird" and "southern milk swallow".
With "Spring in the South", Chen Yanyan became a popular movie star, and it was at that time that Ruan Lingyu, a famous movie star in the Republic of China, joked: "Chen Yanyan can hold up half of my country." In 2009, she founded Haiyan Film Company with her lover Wang Hao and . Since then, she has started her acting career of filming in Hong Kong and Taiwan. In 1961, she won the Best Supporting Actress Award at the Asian Film Festival for her film "Yin Rong Jie" in Taiwan.
In 1988, the Taiwanese TV series "Last Night Stars" was a hit in the mainland. The mother of the hero Zhou Jianbang in the play was played by Chen Yanyan.
In the movie "Ruan Lingyu" released in Hong Kong on February 20, 1992, the audience saw Chen Yanyan again, this time she played herself.
Many years after Ruan Lingyu's death, she is played by a well-known younger peer who is also called "Jade" like her. She is Maggie Cheung .
lamented that Maggie Cheung won the 42nd Berlin International Film Festival, the 12th Golden Horse Award, and the 28th Golden Horse Award for "Ruan Lingyu". Chen Yanyan, her close friend, makes people feel even more emotional about the short life of Ruan Lingyu, who has been dead for more than half a century.
And many years later, being able to play herself in a biopic about her friend Ruan Lingyu is also a great blessing for Chen Yanyan's acting career.
