5 of Hong Kong actress Kathy Chow’s most beloved screen roles, after the TV and film star dies aged 57
- Chow joined Hong Kong broadcaster TVB as a trainee actress in 1985, going on to appear in dozens of TV series produced in Hong Kong, Taiwan and mainland China
- She relocated to Beijing in 2003, becoming a household name on the mainland after appearing in the costume drama The Empress of China alongside Fan Bingbing
Actress Kathy Chow Hoi-mei, who died in a Beijing hospital aged 57 from an unknown illness on December 11, was best known for her many roles in TV drama series produced not only in Hong Kong but also Taiwan and mainland China.
A descendant of the Guwalgiya, a prominent Manchu clan, Chow was born and raised in Hong Kong. She was an unsuccessful contestant in the 1985 Miss Hong Kong beauty pageant before joining local broadcaster TVB as a trainee actress the same year and appearing in her first series, The Yang Saga.
She relocated from Hong Kong to Beijing in 2003 but it was not until 2014, when she appeared in the costume drama The Empress of China alongside mainland Chinese star Fan Bingbing, that she became a household name on the mainland.
Here are five of Chow’s most beloved screen roles.
1. The Heaven Sword and Dragon Saber (1994)
The Heaven Sword and Dragon Saber is a Taiwanese TV series adapted from Louis Cha’s novel of the same title.
It follows Zhang Wuji, who is caught in a complex web of martial-arts clans and power struggles during the Ming dynasty. In his quest to uncover his true identity and seek justice, he embarks on an epic journey filled with love, loyalty and betrayal.
Chow plays Zhou Zhiruo, a woman who is betrayed by Zhang Wuji on her wedding day and sets out to take revenge.
Chow initially had doubts about the antagonist role but, subsequently, her excellent performance made her known as “the most beautiful and memorable version” of Zhou Zhiruo.
