Yam Kim Fai
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
- This is a Chinese name; the family name is Yam.
| Yam Kim Fai | |
|---|---|
 She is the one on the left. |
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| Chinese name | 任劍輝 (Traditional) |
| Chinese name | 任剑辉 (Simplified) |
| Origin | Hong Kong |
| Born | 29 December 1912 Nanhai, China |
| Died | 29 November 1989 (aged 76) Hong Kong |
| Occupation | Actress, performer |
| Genre(s) | Cantonese opera |
Yam Kim Fai (Chinese: 任劍輝) (29 December 1912 – 29 November 1989) was a famous Cantonese opera actress in China and Hong Kong.
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[edit] Early life
Yam learnt Cantonese Opera from her aunt who was another cantonese opera actress, when she was 14, she furthered her cantonese opera studies Wong Hap Lui known as the female version of Ma Sze Tsang Yam in 1939, joined an all-female opera troupe, but after the world war, she fled to Macau and formed an opera troupe with Bak Sheut Sin and others.
[edit] Career
She was in a number of films between 1951 and 1968, as well as a number of on stage Cantonese opera performances in Hong Kong. She is most notable for her unique ability to impersonate and sing with a deep male voice. Her indistinguishable male opera voice allow her to play either male or female roles. Most of the time, she takes on male roles. Her last performance in public was to gather funds for the 618 rain disaster in Hong Kong in 1972, before she retired, she died in 1989.
Some of her major work include The Peony Pavilion and Princess Chang Ping. One of her best students was Connie Chan Po-chu, the other being Loong Kin Sang (龍劍笙).
