# Sylvia Chang

Sylvia Chang (born 21 July 1953) is a Taiwanese actress, singer, director, screenwriter, and producer.

## Early life

Chang was born in Chiayi, Taiwan. She dropped out of school when she was 16 and started her career as a radio DJ. When she was 18 years old she acted in her first film.

## Career

Chang acted in her first film, The Tattooed Dragon (龍虎金剛) (1973), at the age of 18. Chang often attempted to do her own stunts in the four-part film series Aces Go Places.
She stated in an interview with film editor Clarence Tsui, "I still think Hong Kong's film industry is male-dominated". She also believes that "There aren't many male filmmakers who would write scripts for women". She helped write the script for Run Papa Run, based on the novel by Benny Li Shuan Yan, that follows a man who belongs to the Triad and the relationships he has with his mother, wife, and daughter. Chang said, "I thought why don't I explore the gentler side of men".
Chang first began performing in theatre productions more than 30 years ago. She returned to the stage in the production of Design For Living (華麗上班族之生活與生存) that premiered in November 2008 and went on into 2009. Chang stated in an interview, "The reason for me to take on a stage play again after 20 years is because I was lured by the director, he has invited handsome guys like Zheng Yuan Chang [sic] and David Huang into the play". Critics have remarked on the versatility in her roles along with her willingness to always try for something new.
Chang is also a singer and her music has become popular in karaoke, where her song "The Cost of Love" is commonly sung.
In the 1980s, the second film Chang directed, Passion, which she wrote and also starred in, won the Hong Kong Film Award for Best Actress. She has stated, "I never went to any school as a director or a filmmaker, so all my film education actually was from the set".
For a time, Chang was the head producer of New Cinema City in Taiwan, but she left a few years after joining. For 20 30 40, she not only played the 40-year-old woman protagonist but also wrote and directed it.
In 1992, she served as a jury member at the 42nd Berlin International Film Festival.
In August 2010, Chang joined the board of the Hong Kong International Film Festival Society as its vice-chair.
In June 2018, she was invited to become a member of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. In the same year, she served as a jury member at the 75th Venice International Film Festival.

### Critical reception

Chang once said of her films that "I've always felt that animation or special effects shouldn't just be limited to science-fiction films and their ilk. Dramas can also play around with them". One critic wrote of her: "In an industry that kisses young actresses with celebrity, then swallows them and spits them out, Chang has a sequoia's longevity. She is the only Hong Kong actress of her generation -— the early '70s —-to keep starring in movies".
Chang's films have been selected to screen at the BFI London Film Festival, Toronto International Film Festival, Busan International Film Festival, and Tokyo Filmex. She has served as a jury member at the Berlin International Film Festival, as well as the Venice Film Festival. She also holds the record for the most nominations for the Hong Kong Film Award for Best Actress, with ten nominations and two wins.
At the 49th Toronto International Film Festival, Chang received an honourable mention from the Platform Prize jury for her performance in the film Daughter's Daughter—the first time in the history of the award that the Platform jury has recognized an individual performer. The film also earned Chang a nomination for Best Leading Actress at the 61st Golden Horse Awards.

## Personal life

Chang married Hong Kong-based journalist Bob Liu in 1979. They divorced in 1984. Chang married Taiwanese businessman Billy Wang Jing-xiong in 1991, and they have one son, Oscar. She also has two stepsons.
In July 2000, Chang's nine-year-old son Oscar was kidnapped and held for a ransom of HK $15 million. The police found him after a few days, safe, and arrested the kidnappers. Chang stated, "With your life, you have to move on, there's no other choice; so, out of no choice, then, it's a matter of your attitude".

### Philanthropy

Chang is an advocate and a "life-long volunteer" for World Vision International, the humanitarian aid, development, and advocacy organization. She created an advertisement, sponsored by World Vision, to promote the company World Vision Advertisement on YouTube. She is a member of and advocate for the World Vision-sponsored "30 Hour Famine."

## Filmography
### As actress

* Kong zhong wu shi (1973)
* The Tattooed Dragon (1973) as Ai-Chia
* Xiao ying xiong da nao Tang Ren jie (1974) as Lin Hsiu-yin
* Slaughter in San Francisco (1974)
* Shi qi shi qi shi ba (1974)
* Bruce: Hong Kong Master (1975)
* The Story of Four Girls (1975)
* A Mao zheng chuan (1976)
* Bi yun tian (1976)
* Victory (1976)
* Wen nuan zai qiu tian (1976) as Hsu Hsiao-hui
* Eight Hundred Heroes (1976)
* Warmth in Autumn (1976)
* Qiu chan (1976)
* Lang hua (1976)
* Xing yu (1976)
* Luo ye piao piao (1976)
* The Lady Killer (1976)
* Mitra (1977) as Mitra
* The Longest Bridge (1977)
* The Golden Age (1977)
* A Pirate of Love (1977)
* Zuo ri chong chong (1977)
* Qing se shan mai (1977)
* Shan liang de ri zi (1977)
* Tai bei qi qi (1977)
* Taibei liu shi liu (1977)
* Jin yu liang yuan hong lou meng (1977) as Lin Daiyu
* Feng yu zhao yang (1977)
* Dan dan san yue qing meng long (1977)
* Ai qing wo zhao dao le (1977)
* Shuo huang shi jie (1978)
* M*A*S*H (1979, TV Series) as Sooni
* The Secret (1979) - Lin Jeng-ming.
* Legend of the Mountain (1979) as Cloud
* Crazy Disaster (1979) as Lin Jeng-ming
* Ma feng nu (1979)
* Tian xia yi da xiao (1980)
* The Imperious Princess (1980) as Princess Sheng Ping
* White Jasmine (1980)
* Da xiao jiang jun (1980)
* Xue jian leng ying bao (1980)
* Yuan (1980)
* Attack Force Z (1981) as Chien Hua
* The Juvenizer (1981) as Chu Wei
* The Funniest Movie (1981)
* My Grandfather (1982)
* Aces Go Places (1982) as Supt. Nancy Ho
* Nan xiong nan di (1982)
* Xue jian gui xiang lu (1982)
* He Lives by Night (1982) as Sissy
* In Our Time (1982)
* Aces Go Places 2 (1983) as Supt. Nancy Ho
* 1938 Da jing qi (1983) as Su San
* Cabaret of the Streets (1983)
* That Day, on the Beach (1983) as Jiali
* Cabaret Tears (1983)
* Aces Go Places 3 (1984) as Supt. Nancy Ho
* Funny Face (1984)
* Shanghai Blues (1984) as Shu-Shu
* Double Trouble (1984)
* The Story in Sorghum Field (1984)
* My Favorite Season (1985) as Liu Xiang‑mei
* Crazy Romance (1985) as Cheung Ka-ka
* Ba Fan keng kou de xin niang (1985)
* Aces Go Places IV (1986) as Supt. Nancy Ho
* Lucky Stars Go Places (1986) as Quito
* Passion (1986) as Wendy Pai
* Immortal Story (1986) as Chang Mei Ling
* Sister Cupid (1987)
* Kidnapped (1987)
* Seven Years Itch (1987) as Sylvia
* Soursweet (1988) as Lily
* Yellow Story (1988) as Mrs. Hui
* Chicken and Duck Talk (1988) as Mrs. Hui
* All About Ah-Long (1989) as Sylvia Poon / 'Por-Por'
* Full Moon in New York (1989) as Wang Hsiung-Ping
* Eight Taels of Gold (1989) as Odds and Ends
* Two Painters (1989)
* The Fun, the Luck & the Tycoon (1990) as Hung Leung-yuk
* Queen of Temple Street (1990) as Big Sis Wah
* My Mother's Tea House (1990)
* A Rascal's Tale (1991)
* Sisters of the World Unite (1991) as Sylvia Lau
* The Banquet (1991) as Herself
* The Twin Dragons (1992) as Mrs. Ma (Twins' Mother)
* Lucky Encounter (1992) as Pregnant Woman
* C'est la vie, mon chéri (1993) as Deputy Director of Hospital
* Huan ying (1993)
* In Between (1994) as Anna Lau (segment "Yuan fu julebu")
* Eat Drink Man Woman (1994) as Jin-Rong
* Killer Lady (1995) as Show Show
* I Want to Go on Living (1995) as Pui Yan
* The Fragile Heart (1996, TV Series) as Dr. Zhao Quing
* A Chinese Ghost Story: The Tsui Hark Animation (1997) as Shine (Mandarin version, voice)
* The Red Violin (1998) as Xiang Pei (Shanghai)
* King of Stanley Market (1998)
* Tempting Heart (1999) as Cheryl
* Forever and Ever (2001) as Mrs. Tam Li Min-Chun
* 20 30 40 (2004) as Lily
* Rice Rhapsody (2004) as Jen
* American Fusion (2005) as Yvonne
* The Go Master (2006) as Shu Wen - Wu's mother
* Buddha Mountain (2010) as Chang Yueqin
* Mountains May Depart (2015) as Mia
* Office (2015) as Winnie Chang
* Shuttle Life (2017) as Li Jun
* Love Education (2017) as Qiu Huiying
* Long Day's Journey into Night (2018)
* Jìyuántái qihào (2019) as Mrs. Mei
* The Garden of Evening Mists (2019) as Older Teoh Yun Ling
* Are You Lonesome Tonight? (2021) as Liang's mother
* A Light Never Goes Out (2021) as Mei-heung
* Daughter's Daughter (2024)
* Ai's Kitchen (2024)

### As filmmaker

| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
| 1981 | Once Upon a Time | Co-director, co-writer | |
| 1986 | Passion | Director, writer | |
| 1987 | Yellow Story | Director | |
| 1989 | All About Ah-Long | Co-writer (story) | |
| 1991 | Sisters of the World Unite | Director, co-writer, producer | |
| 1992 | Mary from Beijing | Director, writer | |
| 1992 | Three Summers | Co-writer, producer | |
| 1994 | In Between | Director, writer, producer | also known as Conjugal Affairs or The New Age of Living Together segment "Unwed Mother" |
| 1995 | Siao Yu | Director, co-writer | |
| 1995 | I Want to Go on Living | Co-writer | |
| 1996 | Tonight Nobody Goes Home | Director, co-writer | |
| 1998 | Bishonen | Executive producer | |
| 1999 | Tempting Heart | Director, co-writer | |
| 2002 | Princess D | Director, co-writer, producer | |
| 2004 | 20 30 40 | Director, co-writer | |
| 2008 | Run Papa Run | Director, co-writer | |
| 2007 | Happy Birthday | Co-writer | |
| 2011 | 10+10 | Writer | segment "The Dusk of the Gods" |
| 2012 | My Way | Executive producer | Documentary |
| 2015 | Murmur of the Hearts | Director, co-writer | |
| 2015 | Office | Writer | |
| 2017 | Love Education | Director, co-writer | |
| 2021 | Hero | Director | segment "Hong Kong" |

## Discography
### Kolin Records (歌林)

* 1973 Never Say Goodbye 別說再見
* 1974 Tearfully Say to You 含淚向你說
* 1977 Farewell (惜別)
* 1980 Maybe / We Were Young (也许 / 我們曾經年輕)

### Rock Records

* 1981 Childhood (童年)
* 1985 Busy and Blind (忙與盲)
* 1986 Do You Love Me? (你愛我嗎)
* 1987 Xi shuo (細說), lit. "clarify" or "elaborate"
* 1992 The Price of Love (愛的代價)

## Awards and nominations

| Year | Award | Category | Nominated work | Result |
| 1976 | 13th Golden Horse Awards | Best Supporting Actress | Posterity and Perplexity | Won |
| 1980 | 17th Golden Horse Awards | Best Actress | White Jasmine | Nominated |
| 1981 | 18th Golden Horse Awards | Best Actress | My Grandfather | Won |
| 1983 | 2nd Hong Kong Film Awards | Best Actress | Aces Go Places | Nominated |
| 1985 | 4th Hong Kong Film Awards | Best Actress | Shanghai Blues | Nominated |
| 1986 | 23rd Golden Horse Awards | Best Feature Film | Passion | Nominated |
| 1986 | 23rd Golden Horse Awards | Best Director | Passion | Nominated |
| 1986 | 23rd Golden Horse Awards | Best Actress | Passion | Won |
| 1986 | 23rd Golden Horse Awards | Best Original Screenplay | Passion | Nominated |
| 1987 | 6th Hong Kong Film Awards | Best Actress | Passion | Won |
| 1989 | 26th Golden Horse Awards | Best Actress | Full Moon in New York | Nominated |
| 1990 | 9th Hong Kong Film Awards | Best Actress | Eight Taels of Gold | Nominated |
| 1990 | 9th Hong Kong Film Awards | Best Actress | All About Ah-Long | Nominated |
| 1991 | 10th Hong Kong Film Awards | Best Actress | Queen of Temple Street | Nominated |
| 1995 | 32nd Golden Horse Awards | Best Feature Film | Siao Yu | Nominated |
| 1995 | 32nd Golden Horse Awards | Best Adapted Screenplay | Siao Yu | Nominated |
| 1995 | Asia-Pacific Film Festival | Best Film | Siao Yu | Won |
| 1995 | Asia-Pacific Film Festival | Best Screenplay | Siao Yu | Won |
| 1996 | 33rd Golden Horse Awards | Best Feature Film | Tonight Nobody Goes Home | Nominated |
| 1996 | 33rd Golden Horse Awards | Best Original Screenplay | Tonight Nobody Goes Home | Nominated |
| 1996 | Asia-Pacific Film Festival | Best Screenplay | Tonight Nobody Goes Home | Won |
| 1999 | 1st Jutra Awards | Best Actress | The Red Violin | Nominated |
| 1999 | 36th Golden Horse Awards | Best Feature Film | Tempting Heart | Nominated |
| 2000 | 19th Hong Kong Film Awards | Best Director | Tempting Heart | Nominated |
| 2000 | 19th Hong Kong Film Awards | Best Screenplay | Tempting Heart | Won |
| 2001 | 38th Golden Horse Awards | Best Actress | Forever and Ever | Nominated |
| 2002 | 7th Golden Bauhinia Awards | Best Actress | Forever and Ever | Won |
| 2002 | 21st Hong Kong Film Awards | Best Actress | Forever and Ever | Won |
| 2002 | 2nd Chinese Film Media Awards | Best Actress | Forever and Ever | Nominated |
| 2002 | Asian Film Critics Association Awards | Best Actress | Forever and Ever | Won |
| 2004 | 41st Golden Horse Awards | Best Actress | Rice Rhapsody | Nominated |
| 2004 | 54th Berlin International Film Festival | Golden Bear | 20 30 40 | Nominated |
| 2005 | 24th Hong Kong Film Awards | Best Actress | 20 30 40 | Nominated |
| 2005 | 5th Chinese Film Media Awards | Best Film | 20 30 40 | Nominated |
| 2005 | 5th Chinese Film Media Awards | Best Director | 20 30 40 | Nominated |
| 2005 | 5th Chinese Film Media Awards | Best Actress | 20 30 40 | Nominated |
| 2005 | Asian Film Critics Association Awards | Best Actress | 20 30 40 | Won |
| 2005 | Newport Beach Film Festival | Best Actress | Rice Rhapsody | Won |
| 2006 | 25th Hong Kong Film Awards | Best Actress | Rice Rhapsody | Nominated |
| 2007 | 26th Hong Kong Film Awards | Best Screenplay | Happy Birthday | Nominated |
| 2008 | 45th Golden Horse Awards | Best Director | Run Papa Run | Nominated |
| 2009 | 28th Hong Kong Film Awards | Best Screenplay | Run Papa Run | Nominated |
| 2009 | Hong Kong Film Critics Society Awards | Best Screenplay | Run Papa Run | Nominated |
| 2010 | 47th Golden Horse Awards | Best Actress | Buddha Mountain | Nominated |
| 2012 | 12th Chinese Film Media Awards | Best Supporting Actress | Buddha Mountain | Nominated |
| 2015 | 52nd Golden Horse Awards | Best Actress | Office | Nominated |
| 2015 | 52nd Golden Horse Awards | Best Adapted Screenplay | Office | Nominated |
| 2016 | 35th Hong Kong Film Awards | Best Actress | Office | Nominated |
| 2016 | Hong Kong Film Critics Society Awards | Best Director | Murmur of the Hearts | Nominated |
| 2016 | Hong Kong Film Critics Society Awards | Best Screenplay | Murmur of the Hearts | Won |
| 2016 | Hong Kong Film Critics Society Awards | Best Actress | Office | Nominated |
| 2016 | 16th Chinese Film Media Awards | Best Supporting Actress | Mountains May Depart | Nominated |
| 2017 | 54th Golden Horse Awards | Best Feature Film | Love Education | Nominated |
| 2017 | 54th Golden Horse Awards | Best Director | Love Education | Nominated |
| 2017 | 54th Golden Horse Awards | Best Leading Actress | Love Education | Nominated |
| 2017 | 54th Golden Horse Awards | Best Original Screenplay | Love Education | Nominated |
| 2018 | 12th Asian Film Awards | Best Director | Love Education | Nominated |
| 2018 | 12th Asian Film Awards | Best Actress | Love Education | Won |
| 2018 | 12th Asian Film Awards | Best Screenplay | Love Education | Nominated |
| 2018 | 12th Asian Film Awards | Lifetime Achievement Award | — | Honored |
| 2018 | 37th Hong Kong Film Awards | Best Director | Love Education | Nominated |
| 2018 | 37th Hong Kong Film Awards | Best Actress | Love Education | Nominated |
| 2018 | 37th Hong Kong Film Awards | Best Screenplay | Love Education | Won |
| 2018 | 9th China Film Director's Guild Awards | Best Actress | Love Education | Nominated |
| 2018 | 9th China Film Director's Guild Awards | Best Screenwriter | Love Education | Won |
| 2018 | 9th China Film Director's Guild Awards | Best Hong Kong / Taiwan Director | Love Education | Won |
| 2018 | 23rd Huading Awards | Best Director | Love Education | Nominated |
| 2018 | 23rd Huading Awards | Best Actress | Love Education | Nominated |
| 2018 | 29th Hong Kong Film Directors' Guild Awards | Best Director | Love Education | Won |
| 2018 | 18th Chinese Film Media Awards | Best Actress | Love Education | Nominated |
| 2018 | 18th Chinese Film Media Awards | Best Screenplay | Love Education | Nominated |
| 2018 | 18th Chinese Film Media Awards | Best Director | Love Education | Nominated |
| 2018 | 25th Beijing College Student Film Festival | Best Screenplay | Love Education | Won |
| 2018 | 25th Hong Kong Film Critics Society Awards | Best Screenplay | Love Education | Nominated |
| 2018 | 25th Hong Kong Film Critics Society Awards | Best Director | Love Education | Won |
| 2022 | 59th Golden Horse Awards | Best Leading Actress | A Light Never Goes Out | Won |
| 2023 | 29th Hong Kong Film Critics Society Awards | Best Actress | A Light Never Goes Out | Nominated |
| 2023 | 41st Hong Kong Film Awards | Best Actress | A Light Never Goes Out | Nominated |
| 2024 | Toronto International Film Festival | Platform Award – Honourable Mention | Daughter's Daughter | Won |
| 2024 | Golden Horse Awards | Best Leading Actress | Daughter's Daughter | Pending |