Profile | When Hong Kong singer-actress Sally Yeh dominated the city’s music and cinema scenes
After learning Cantonese from George Lam, Canada-raised Yeh became a Cantopop queen and shared the big screen with the likes of Chow Yun-fat
In the dazzling, neon-drenched heyday of 1980s and ’90s Hong Kong, when Cantopop music reigned supreme across the region and the city’s cinema captivated the world, a voice of unparalleled grace emerged: Sally Yeh Chian-wen.
With her silky smooth vibrato, effortless charm and unusual bilingual appeal, Yeh transcended pop stardom to become a cultural icon.
From her early days as a fresh-faced ingenue to her reign as Cantopop’s queen, Yeh’s journey is one of contentment, honesty and quality. Now, at 64, she remains a beloved figure, proving that true artistry never fades.
Born in Taipei in 1961, Yeh grew up in Canada, where she cultivated a deep love for Western pop music. Unlike many of her peers, she was fluent in English, Mandarin and, later, Cantonese, giving her a unique edge in Hong Kong’s competitive entertainment scene.
Yeh’s path to stardom began as a model at age 16, and she was second runner-up at the Miss Vancouver Chinatown beauty pageant the following year.