Rosamund Kwan

Rosamund Kwan Chi-lam (born 24 September 1962) is a Hong Kong actress, best known for starring as the female lead "Thirteenth Aunt" in the 1990s Once Upon a Time in China film series.

Although her last film role was in 2005, she officially announced her retirement from acting in 2007.^[1]

Acting career

Kwan was born in British Hong Kong. Her father, Shaw Brothers star Kwan Shan, was from Shenyang, Liaoning, China and was of Manchu ethnicity. Her mother, Cheung Bing Sai (張冰茜), was from Shanghai and was also an actress.^[2] Growing up, Kwan attended Maryknoll Convent School in Kowloon Tong.

Kwans' first acting role was in the ATV soap opera Agency 24 (甜甜廿四味). Her film debut was alongside Chow Yun-fat in the 1982 film, The Head Hunter. She appeared with Jackie Chan, Sammo Hung and Yuen Biao in Twinkle, Twinkle Lucky Stars and again with Chan in Project A Part II and Armour of God. She also appeared with Jet Li in the films Swordsman II, Dr. Wai and the Scripture Without Words and as Shao Yun aka "Sup Sum Yee" ("Shi San Yi" in Mandarin, "13th Aunt" in English) throughout the Once Upon a Time in China film series.^[3]

Although the majority of her acting roles were in dramatic films, she is best known internationally for her roles in Hong Kong action films, alongside a variety of major stars of the genre.

Amongst her more dramatic roles, she notably appeared with Andy Lau in several films including Casino Raiders and The Wesley's Mysterious File. Kwan also released a record in 1994, a duet with Andy Lau called "Love Forever".

In 2001 she appeared in Feng Xiaogang's Chinese comedy, Big Shot's Funeral, which starred Donald Sutherland as a film director and Kwan as his assistant.

Filmography

• Hands in the Hair (做頭) (2004)
• Mighty Baby (絕世好B) (2002)
• The Wesley's Mysterious File (衛斯理藍血人) aka The Wesley's Mysterious Story (2001)
• Big Shot's Funeral (大腕) (2001)
• Once Upon a Time in China and America (黃飛鴻之西域雄獅) aka Once Upon a Time in China and America (1997)
• Thanks For Your Love (1/2 次同床) (1996)
• Dr. Wai in "The Scripture with No Words" (冒險王) (1996)
• The Adventurers (大冒險家) (1995)
• A Touch of Evil (狂野生死戀) (1995)
• Once Upon a Time in China V (黃飛鴻之五龍城殲霸) (1995)
• All's Well, Ends Well Too (花田喜事) (1994)
• Long and Winding Road (錦繡前程) (1994)
• The Great Conqueror's Concubine Pt. B (1994)
• The Great Conqueror's Concubine (西楚霸王) (1994)
• Blade of Fury (一刀傾城) (1993)
• Once Upon a Time in China III (黃飛鴻之三獅王爭霸) (1993)
• End of the Road (異域2末路英雄) (1993)
• Love Among the Triad (愛在黑社會的日子) (1993)
• Love is a Fairy Tale (夏日情未了) (1993)
• Assassin (刺客新傳之殺人者唐斬) (1993)
• The Eight Hilarious Gods (笑八仙) (1993)
• The Magic Crane (新仙鶴神針) (1993)
• No More Love, No More Death (太子傳說) (1993)
• Game Kids (機Boy小子真假威龍) (1992)
• Once Upon a Time in China II (黃飛鴻之二男兒當自強) (1992)
• Savior of the Soul II (九二神鵰之痴心情長劍) (1992)
• Swordsman II (笑傲江湖之東方不敗) aka The Legend of the Swordsman (1992)
• The Sting (俠聖) (1992)
• Gigolo and Whore II (舞男情未了) (1991)
• Inspector Pink Dragon (神探馬如龍) (1991)
• Once Upon a Time in China (黃飛鴻) (1991)
• The Banquet (豪門夜宴) (1991)
• Tricky Brains (整蠱專家) (1991)
• Tiger Cage 2 (洗黑錢) (1990)
• Return to Action (喋血風雲) (1990)
• Undeclared War (聖戰風雲) (1990)
• A Bite of Love (一咬OK) (1990)
• Casino Raiders (至尊無上) (1989)
• Ghost Fever (鬼媾人) (1989)
• Mr. Smart (瀟洒先生) (1989)
• Proud and Confident (傲氣雄鷹) (1989)
• The Last Duel (再起風雲) (1989)
• The Crazy Companies II (最佳損友闖情關) (1988)
• Vengeance Is Mine (1988)
• Heart to Hearts (1988)
• Profiles of Pleasure (1988)
• Three Against The World (群龍奪寶) (1988)
• Project A Part II (A計劃續集) (1987)
• Armour of God (龍兄虎弟) (1986)
• Millionaire's Express (富貴列車) (1986)
• Twinkle, Twinkle Lucky Stars (夏日福星) (1985)
• Prince Charming (1984)
• Long Road to Gallantry (1984)
• The Lost Generation (1983)
• The Head Hunter (再見江湖) aka Long Goodbye (1982)^[4][5]

References

External links

• IMDB entry
• 女神關之琳
• HK cinemagic entry