Vivian Chow

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Vivian Chow
VivianChow2007.jpg
Chinese name 周慧敏 (Traditional)
Chinese name 周慧敏 (Simplified)
Pinyin Zhōu Huìmǐn (Mandarin)
Jyutping Zau1 Wai3-man5 (Cantonese)
Ancestry Zhongshan, Guangdong
Origin Hong Kong
Born (1967-11-10) November 10, 1967 (age 45)
Hong Kong
Occupation Singer, actor, songwriter, Master of Ceremonies, radio host
Genre(s) Cantopop, Mandopop, Japanese pop
Instrument(s) pianoforte
Label(s) PolyGram(1991-1997)
Years active 1987-1997, 2006-present
Spouse(s) Joe Nieh(2009-present)

Vivian Chow (Chinese: 周慧敏; traditional Chinese: 周慧敏; pinyin: Zhōu Huìmǐn) is a Hong Kong based Cantopop singer and actress. She is well known for her ladylike stage image as well as her charity works for animal rights and breast cancer awareness.

Contents

Early life [edit]

Chow was born in Hong Kong and brought up by her mother. Her father died the same year she was born due to heart problems. As a child, Chow studied at St. Stephen's Church College, passing A-levels (thirteenth grade) in high school.

Career [edit]

Radio years: 1987-1991 [edit]

After high school, Chow entered the Fourth Annual New Talent Singing Awards in 1985 with Yoshie Kashiwabara's song Saiai (最愛). The same contest also saw the rise of William So (蘇永康) and Hacken Lee. Although Chow did not receive any prizes in the contest, this failure did not diminish her hopes of becoming a singer, instead, Chow entered the entertainment business by becoming a DJ in Radio Television Hong Kong in 1987.

As a DJ for RTHK, Chow was the main character in three of the radio dramas, they are "Love in the Summer" (夏之戀) as 'Tung Tung' "The Teenage Period" (青蔥歲月) as 'Fong Ka Yiu', and "Life in Paris" (在巴黎的日子) as 'Joyce'.

Acting [edit]

In 1988, Chow made her movie debut in the smash-hit comedy "Heart to Hearts" (三人世界). She played the role of the daughter of Carol Cheng, a single mother who is quite protective of her. They then meet a man played by George Lam. For her role in the series, Chow won the 'Best New Performer' award of 1989.

Music [edit]

In the same year that Chow won the 'Best New Performer' award, she also released her first album, titled by her Chinese name, 周慧敏. This album contained only 4 songs, and its main purpose was to test the response of the people of Hong Kong for the rising star. Sales did not disappoint, and Chow started to develop her own fan-base by releasing two new albums, Vivian and Qing Mi (情迷), in 1990; 5 new albums (see Discography) in 1991, and 6 new albums in 1992-1993. Chow had to take Mandarin lessons in order to perfect her pronunciation prior to the release of the Mandarin album, Liu Yan (流言). In view of her elegance the media[who?] dubbed her "玉女掌門人", a colloquial term that can be loosely translated as the "eternal maiden queen".[citation needed]

Retired life [edit]

Chow retired from the Chinese entertainment scene in 1997 when Chow and her longtime partner, Joe Nieh, emigrated to Vancouver, Canada between 1997 and 2003. However, she still makes frequent trips to Hong Kong to visit her family and to support animal-rights charities.

Back to Hong Kong [edit]

Chow and Nieh went back to Hong Kong in 2003 and they got married in 2009. Chow then started in August 2008 and appeared in a non-nude.

Discography [edit]

  • Zhou Hui Min 周慧敏 (1989)
  • Vivian (1990)
  • Qing Mi 情迷 (1990)
  • A Long & Lasting Love (1991)
  • Endless Dream (1992)
  • Zhou Hui Min Zhen Qin Jing Xuan 周慧敏真情經選 (1992)
  • Dong Ri Lang Man 冬日浪漫 (1992)
  • Liu Yan 流言 (1992)
  • Jin Zai Bu Yan Zhong 盡在不言中 (1993)
  • Zui Ai 最愛 (1993)
  • Xinshi Chong Chong 心事重重 (1993)
  • Xin Qu + Jing Xuan 新曲+經選 (1993)
  • Likai You lv De Xi Guan 離開憂鬱的習慣 (1994)
  • Zhiji Zhi Bi 知己知彼對唱精選輯 (1994)
  • Gan Qing De Fen Li 感情的分禮 (1994)
  • Cheng Zheng 成長 (1994)
  • Hongye Luo Sou De Shi Hou 紅葉落索的時候 (1994)
  • Zhou Hui Min 1994 Mei De Hua Shen Concert 周慧敏'94美的化身演唱會 (1995)
  • Duo Yi Dian Ai Lian 多一點愛戀 (1995)
  • Chu Chu Liu Qing 處處留情 (1995)
  • Qing Mi Xin Qiao 情迷心竅 (1995)
  • Shi Jian 時間 (1996)
  • Re Min 熱敏 (1996)
  • Zhou Hui Min De Min Gan Di Dai 周慧敏的敏感地帶 (1997)
  • Hui Yi Cong Jin Tian Kai Shi 回憶從今天開始 (1997)
  • Wan Qian Chong Ai San Shi Shou 萬千寵愛30首 (1998)
  • Pun Jai 盆栽 (2011)

Filmography [edit]

Written works [edit]

  • Bengal Cat- 我的貓兒子周慧豹 (2004)

References [edit]

External links [edit]

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