In Remembrance: Lydia Shum

     Lydia Shum, the Hong Kong actress who had remained a popular public figure for nearly five decades has passed away on February 19, 2008 in Hong Kong. She was 60.

     Born on July 21, 1945, Shum was affectionately known as “Fei Fei” or “Fatty” by both friends and fans. Famous for her zaftig figure and black-rimmed glasses, she launched her career while still a teenager, working as a contract player for Hong Kong’s famed Shaw Brothers Studios, where her command of both the Cantonese and Mandarin dialects helped to insure constant employment.

     Although predominantly a comedienne, Shum also played a handful of dramatic roles, most notably in director Wayne Wang’s Eat A Bowl Of Tea (1989). She also appeared in several martial arts pictures such as Drunken Tai Chi (1984). Her final film was 2004’s In-Laws, Out-Laws.