Po-Ying Li


Po-Ying Li is a former Chinese actress and Cantonese opera singer from Hong Kong. Li is credited with over 45 films.

Early life

Li’s ancestral hometown is Daliang Subdistrict, Shunde District, Foshan, Guangdong province. Li started singing because her father took her to a training class of the South China Athletic Association. She has one sister and two brothers. Her father died during her months of overseas performance at intermission of her first film.

Career

Li started her career as a Cantonese opera singer on radio and her vocal style eventually became known as the Bo-style.
Li became an actress in Hong Kong films first in It's Fun Getting Together, a 1954 comedy directed by Chow Sze-Luk. Li appeared in White Gold Dragon, Third-master Sha, the Heart-Stealer, and How the Scholar Tong Pak-Fu Won the Maid Chau-Heung. Li appeared as a lead actress in The Scholar Whose Ambition Is to Marry a Princess, a 1955 Cantonese opera film directed by Wong Tin-Lam, and in The Opera Boat at Star Island, a 1955 Drama film directed by Ku Wen-Chung. Li also appeared as Princess Iron Fan in The Adventures of Nazha, a 1965 Historical Drama directed by Siu Sang and Miu Hong-Nee. Li's last film was Night of the Opera Stars, a 1966 Documentary film directed by Wong Hok-Sing. Li is credited with over 45 films.

Repertoire

Li earned her the nickname the Mini-Yim Fun Fong through vocal performances, live on radio as well as albums with Mee Shing Co. Hong Kong. On stage opposite different co-leads, her choices had been either new debuts or selected from Fong's Repertoire. The female lead had the title role in most of her picks since when a new Troupe was created for her stage performances right before Fong retired. She never played second to or even more junior roles with any female leads on stage.
  1. The Butterfly Lovers opposite Lam Kar Sing
  2. The Immortal Zhang Yuqiao, the Most Respectable Courtesan
  3. How Prince Xinling Stole the General's Seal to Save the State of Zhao, film version released 30 May 1957 in Hong Kong
  4. Zheng Cheng-Gong
  5. Willow Beauty by playwright So Yung
  6. San Kan Yu Mei Liu Jinding
  7. The Story of Li Wa
  8. Martial Heros
  9. Lovers Destiny opposite Tang Bik-wan
  10. Injustice Done to Tou Ngo
  11. Beauty Fades From Twelve Ladies' Tower
  12. Goddess of the Luo River
  13. The Dream Encounter Between Emperor Wu of Han and Lady Wa
  14. Story of Wang Bao Chuan
  15. A Buddhist Recluse for 14 Years
  16. An Order to Annihilate Dragon Mountain by playwright So Yung
  17. The Royal Decree of Exemption from Death by So Yung
  18. Forty Years of Cherished Love+
  19. Romance of Liu Yi +
+ Exceptions out of respect for the very senior male lead upon his return to perform in Hong Kong. Same occasion, they put Immortal Zhang Yuqiao, the Most Respectable Courtesan back on stage, first time ever since Fong.

Theater Performance

  • Veteran organizer created a new test troupe for her stage performances right before Fong retired opposite two young up-and-coming co-leads, similar to the style of Fong who hired different, albeit veteran, male co-leads as and when Fong saw fit.
  • Li never played second to any female leads or even more junior roles on stage.
  • Neither was Li the original cast of her Repertoire until, years since debut on stage in the very late 1950s, opposite Ho Fei-Fan and others who had decades of experience working with such brand new female co-leads.
  • 1977, with Da Qun Ying Yue Ju Tuan, Kreta Ayer People's Theatre, Singapore
  • 1978, 6th Hong Kong Arts Festival
  • 1979, The Love Story of the Carp
  • 1981, one title for 8 shows on 7 days, Hong Kong
  • 1983, Chinese Opera Fortnight
  • 1984, four titles/shows on three days in Paris, France
  • 1985, Chinese Opera Fortnight

Filmography

Films

This is a partial list of films.
  • 1954 It's Fun Getting Together
  • 1954 White Gold Dragon
  • 1954 Third-master Sha, the Heart-Stealer
  • 1954 How the Scholar Tong Pak-Fu Won the Maid Chau-Heung
  • 1955 The Scholar Whose Ambition Is to Marry a Princess
  • 1955 The Opera Boat at Star Island
  • 1960 The Revenge of a Forlorn Wife
  • 1960 Ten Schoolgirls - Lam Doi-Yuk Choi Ping-Kei.
  • 1962 The Jade Hairpin
  • 1962 The Royal Wedding in the Palace
  • 1965 The Adventures of Nazha – Princess Iron Fan
  • 1966 Night of the Opera Stars – Documentary

Discography

  • 1954, Lotus Fragrance, S-113,, one side
  • 1959, Two Fools in Hell
  • 1960, Lotus Fragrance, M4536
  • 1965, Gung Hei Faat Coi, S507
  • 1968, Family Affair
  • 1968, Of Love and Enmity
  • 1968, Wu Shuang Story
  • 1969, Why Not Return?
  • 1969, Lam Chung
  • 1970, Huan Chang San Guai
  • 1970, Drums Along the Battlefield
  • 1971, The Revenge Battle
  • Meeting at the Pavilion
  • Lady White Snake
  • Young's Female Warrior
  • Chai Tou Feng
  • Di Qing's Night of Three Hurdles
  • 1981, Qing Gong Yuan with Xiaofeng Chen and others

Solo

Awards