Xiang Yun
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.
Xiang Yun | |
|---|---|
 Xiang Yun in May 2017 | |
| Born | Chen Cuichang 27 October 1961[1] |
| Occupations |
|
| Years active | 1980–present |
| Spouse | |
| Children | |
| Parent |
|
| Relatives | Loretta Chen (sister-in-law) |
| Awards | Star Awards: |
| Stage name | |
| Traditional Chinese | 向雲 |
| Simplified Chinese | 向云 |
| Hanyu Pinyin | Xiàng Yún |
| Wade–Giles | Hsiang4 Yün2 |
| Jyutping | Hoeng3 Wan4 |
| Hokkien POJ | Hiòng-hûn |
| Tâi-lô | Hiòng-hûn |
| Birth name (Chen Cuichang) | |
| Traditional Chinese | 陳翠嫦 |
| Simplified Chinese | 陈翠嫦 |
| Hanyu Pinyin | Chén Cuìcháng |
| Wade–Giles | Ch'en1 Ts'ui4 Ch'ang2 |
| Jyutping | Can4 Ceoi3 Soeng4 |
| Hokkien POJ | Tân Chhùi-siông |
| Tâi-lô | Tân Tshuì-siông |
Career
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 4 times, in years 1998, 2000, 2001 and 2009.
In 2011, she received the All-Time Favourite Artiste award after winning the Top 10 Most Popular Female Artistes award from 2000-2010 respectively.
Personal life
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
Television series
| 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 空军 | Fang Zijun | |||
| 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 小孩不笨 | Wen Shiya | TV adaptation of the eponymous movie | [14] | |
| 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 | [15] | |
| 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 | [16] | |
| 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 | [17] | ||
| Healing Heroes 医生不是神 | Lei Cailuan | |||
| 2023 | My One and Only | Ma Huiling |
Film
| 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 | Homerun | Kun's mother | [18] | |
| 2006 | I Not Stupid Too | Karen Yeo | [19] | |
| 2012 | We Not Naughty | Mrs Chen | [18] | |
| 2019 | The Play Book (爱本) | Passerby | [20][21] | |
| 2020 | Precious Is the Night | Old Madam | ||
| 2024 | Money No Enough 3 | Ah Hui's wife | [18] |
Theatre
| Year | Title | Role | Notes | Ref |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1996 | December Rains | Li Qing | [6] |
Awards and nominations
| 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 | [24][25] |
References
- 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.
- "Xiang Yun 向云 - Celebrity Bios on xinmsn Entertainment". Archived from the original on 18 May 2012. Retrieved 26 July 2012.
- Lee, Jocelyn (12 April 2017). "And The Favourite-est All-Time Favourite Artiste Is..." 8 Days.
- "Liang Wern Fook | Infopedia". eresources.nlb.gov.sg.
- "Xiang Yun to sing on stage". The Straits Times. 25 May 1996. p. 11. Retrieved 22 March 2023 – via NewspaperSG.
- Wong, Chee Meng (6 July 1996). "First Chinese musical a creditable effort". The Straits Times. p. 14. Retrieved 22 March 2023 – via NewspaperSG.
- "向云离开新视". 14 March 2000. Archived from the original on 8 August 2002.
- "Actress Bio". Xin MS Entertainment. Archived from the original on 18 May 2012. Retrieved 26 July 2012.
- "Celebrity Couples Who Met on Set". xin.msn.com. 16 September 2012. Archived from the original on 24 September 2012. Retrieved 18 September 2012.
- "Children of Edmund Chen and Xiang Yun". Archived from the original on 20 August 2011. Retrieved 24 February 2012.
- "Celeb couple's son makes acting debut". AsiaOne. 27 February 2012.
- "透露母亲离世 向云：谢谢您这一生的付出". 8world. Retrieved 12 September 2023.
- Leong, Weng Kam (21 January 1983). "NewspaperSG - Terms and Conditions". The Straits Times. p. 23. Retrieved 31 October 2022 – via NewspaperSG.
- "I Not Stupid 小孩不笨". Content Distribution. Retrieved 18 April 2022.
- "I Not Stupid Too 小孩不笨 2". Content Distribution. Retrieved 18 April 2022.
- "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.
- "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.
- "《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.
- "I Not Stupid Too 小孩不笨 2". Content Distribution. Retrieved 18 April 2022.
- "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.
- The Playbook Official Trailer, retrieved 18 April 2022
- Tan, Celine (17 April 2019). "Hits & Misses Of Star Awards 2019". TODAYonline. Retrieved 19 May 2019.
- 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.
- "2023 Nominees – ContentAsia Awards". 22 July 2023. Archived from the original on 22 July 2023. Retrieved 22 July 2023.
- "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.
External links
- Xiang Yun profile on The Celebrity Agency