Brigitte Lin
Born November 3, 1954 (Age 53)
Brigitte Lin is a true example of a multi-talented actress: her enticing on screen persona, signature cross-gender roles (“3 Swordsmen” and “Swordsman III”), startling gazes to her fiery expressions are what make her truly unique in every way.
I first saw her in “Swordsman II” and her commanding presence hit out at you like needles. Can you ignored Brigitte if you wanted to? No. She easily outshine her other co-stars, Rosamund Kwan and Michelle Reis in here. I will go so far to even say that Jet Li’s presence was 2nd to hers.
She is this woman that gives off this powerful and confidence air whenever she appeared.
In that, there has been no actress like Brigitte Lin and there may never be. Most people may know her as the gender changing evil tyrant in “Swordsman II” or as the vengeful lover in “The Bride with White Hair” but before all that, she was in the early Taiwan weepy movies.
Her first starring role was with Chin Han in “Outside the Window”. In the 1970’s, Brigitte starred in many movies with the likes of Charlie Chin and Chin Han (two of her real life lovers) and was known as the “2 Lins and 2 Chins” along with Joan Lin (Jackie Chan’s wife).
She was rumored to have dated Chin Han while he was married. During his divorce, she went to America to quiet the speculations. Charlie Chin followed her and proposed. She accepted and by then rumors have died down back in Taiwan. She ended her engagement with Charlie after some years and went back to Taiwan. They renewed and admitted their relationship in 1978. After enduring so much hardships, only they would know why their relationship cooled off and went their separate ways in 1991.
Who knew that years later, this same female would be playing some of the most memorable characters in the whole of the Hong Kong history?
She would later work with Tsui Hark on many great movies like “Peking Opera Blues”, “Dragon Inn” and “Swordsman II”. It was said that Tsui was actually thinking of have a man played the evil Asia the Invincible. Everyone and Tsui can breath a huge sigh of relieve that he casted Brigitte instead. That was considered one of her most captivating performance and brought back interest in this genre.
Unlike some of her comrades who faded after the romance period died, Brigitte became one of the most commanding actress and at the height of her 20 years in film industry.
Her last two films were “Ashes of Time” (playing her signature crossed-gender roles) and “Chungking Express“. She retired after 2 decades and married Michael Ying Lee Yuen, the chairman of Esprit. She has 3 daughters (1 from his first marriage).
I simply adore and love Brigitte. I tried to find some of her early roles but what I was able to find, I am not so satisfy with the dvd quality. They are pretty poor at the least. However, it is definitely worth watching Brigitte in her younger days. I especially love her acting in the movie “Run Lover Run” with a young Alan Tam. She put on what would become her icy glares in many later films. To say the least, she is and will always be magnificent.
Others: WikiPedia, Brigitte Lin
