Fann Wong
Template:Short description Template:Use Singapore English Template:Use dmy dates Template:Family name hatnote
Fann Woon Fong (born 27 January 1971), known professionally as Fann Wong,<ref name="nameorigin">Template:Cite web</ref><ref name="thestar">Template:Cite web</ref> is a Singaporean actress, singer, businesswoman and model. She has been referred to as one of MediaCorp's Ah Jie<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> for being one of the most successful actresses from Singapore.
At the local Star Awards 1995, Fann became the first actress to snag three prominent awards in the same year: Best Actress, Best Newcomer and Top 5 Most Popular Female Artiste. After gaining regional exposure and popularity in Asia through film and television productions, she became the first Singaporean actress to break into Hollywood, playing Chon Lin in the 2003 film Shanghai Knights. <ref name="2005comingout">Template:Cite news</ref> She married actor Christopher Lee on 29 September 2009.<ref name="married">Template:Cite webTemplate:Dead link</ref><ref name="mediacontroversy4">Template:Cite news</ref>
Early life
Born in Singapore to Hakka tailor parents, Fann Chin Khew and Wong Siew Toy, Fann Wong would later derive her English stage name from her parents' surnames.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Fann has three siblings — an older sister, as well as a younger brother and a younger sister named Fan Wen Qing (former child actress). She was educated at Temasek Secondary School, where she took her GCE 'O' Level examinations in 1987.<ref name="Fann-ing up">"Fann-ing up: Actress Fann Wong wants to take on more challenging roles in the near future" Template:Webarchive, The Sun, 5 April 2007</ref><ref>"Fann Wong" Template:Webarchive, Movie Music News, 26 October 2008</ref>
Fann was a child actor while in primary school and featured in several SBC children's programmes.<ref>MediaCorp 45th anniversary special</ref> At the age of 16, she won a beauty contest organised by Her World, a Singapore fashion magazine.<ref name="thestar" /> She started a successful modelling career in Singapore, and spent the next two years modelling part-time while taking her GCE 'A' Level examinations at a private school. She subsequently earned a diploma in fashion merchandising from LaSalle International Fashion School in Singapore.
Career
Fann moved to Taiwan in 1993. One of her earliest successes was in an Oil of Ulan (now Oil of Olay) commercial aired in Taiwan and Singapore.<ref name= "thestar" /> The following year, a Singaporean television producer discovered her and cast her in Dreams Come True, a Singapore drama series.<ref name= "thestar" /> Fann soon starred in two more Singapore television series, The Challenger and Chronicle of Life.<ref name= "thestar" />
After a year in the Singapore television industry, her role in Chronicle of Life won her Best Actress and Best Newcomer awards at Singapore's 1995 Star Awards.<ref name="chronicleoflife">Template:Cite news</ref> In 1996, her role in The Unbroken Cycle won her first regional nomination at the Asian Television Awards.<ref name="unbrokencyclenom">Template:Cite web</ref> She continued to star in a large array of drama serials, including A Romance in Shanghai (produced in Shanghai), Wild Orchids (filmed in Sydney) and Brave New World (filmed in Amsterdam and Belgium).
In late 1996, Fann released in Singapore her first Mandarin pop album Fanntasy, which contained a duet (theme song of her TV drama 'Brave New World') with Taiwanese singer Jeff Chang.<ref name="jeffchangduet">Template:Cite news</ref> The album was retitled I Live Alone and repackaged with two additional songs for the Taiwanese market and won 4 IFPI platinum sales awards in Taiwan, marking the start of Fann's regional success.<ref name= "thestar" /><ref name="ilivealoneintaiwan">Template:Cite news</ref>
Late 1990s: rise of regional popularity
In 1996, Fann starred in the 40-episode blockbuster drama Brave New World alongside Christopher Lee and Hong Kong actor Alex Man.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> This was the first time ever that Fann would act together with Christopher Lee. Fann also performed the theme song, "Don't let love become hard for us", as a duet with Taiwanese singer Jeff Chang.<ref>Archived at GhostarchiveTemplate:Cbignore and the Wayback MachineTemplate:Cbignore: Template:Cite webTemplate:Cbignore</ref>
In 1998, Fann was named the female lead, Xiaolongnü, in TCS remake of the hit wuxia drama The Return of the Condor Heroes where she once again starred alongside Christopher Lee. The release of this drama, along with her second album, Shopping, further increased her exposure in Taiwan and China.<ref name="shoppingintaiwan">Template:Cite news (also see Susan Long)</ref> When Hong Kong director Derek Yee saw Fann's "Shopping" music video on Hong Kong's Channel V, he flew to Singapore to cast her as the lead actress in the Hong Kong art film The Truth About Jane and Sam.<ref name="shoppingintaiwan" /><ref name="derekyeeshopping">Template:Cite web</ref> The movie topped the Singapore box office for three weeks<ref name="jassgboxoffice">Template:Cite news</ref> and her role as a gritty wild-child won her a Best New Performer nomination at the 19th Hong Kong Film Awards in 2000.<ref name="hkfanomination">Template:Cite web</ref> In addition, her role as a self-centred stockbroker in Out to Win attracted a million viewers in Singapore during its finale.<ref name="outtowinfinale">Template:Cite web</ref> It was during this period when Fann acquired many of her die-hard fans, led by the Fann-atic Fan Club (FFC).
In 1999, Fann released her third album, Missing You, recorded "Private Number" with British boyband 911<ref name="911privatenumber">Template:Cite news</ref> and performed Moments of Magic, Singapore's official millennium song.<ref name= "thestar" /><ref name="momentsofmagic">Archived at GhostarchiveTemplate:Cbignore and the Wayback MachineTemplate:Cbignore: Template:Cite webTemplate:Cbignore</ref> These musical successes resulted in her being the first Singapore artiste to stage a solo paying concert ("My Story"—Fann Wong in Concert) at the Singapore Indoor Stadium in 2000.<ref name="mystoryconcert">Template:Cite web</ref> That same year, she released her fourth Mandarin album, No Problem.<ref name="noproblemalbumintaiwan">Template:Cite web</ref>
During the next few years, Fann focused on her acting career. She played a two-timing television reporter in the omnibus Hong Kong film When I Fall in Love... With Both,<ref name="fallinlove">Template:Cite web</ref> acted as a lovelorn insurance agent in the Singaporean romantic drama Looking For Stars,<ref name="lookingforstars">Template:Cite web</ref> as well as played the title character in the Taiwanese period drama Madam White Snake.<ref name="whitesnake">Template:Cite web</ref> She also began hosting travelogue shows, including Travel Hunt: Japan and Fann Adventure, which was filmed in South Africa and Malaysia.<ref name="fannadventure">Template:Cite web</ref>
2003: Hollywood
In 2002, Fann became the first Singaporean actress to play a major role in a Hollywood production, as Chon Lin in Shanghai Knights. When the film was released in early 2003, Stephen Hunter of The Washington Post stated:
Fann is an enchanting new film presence. Clearly modelled after Zhang Ziyi of Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon, she combines a dancer's grace with a fighter's speed, and looks great standing still or whirling.<ref name="skaccolades">Template:Cite news</ref>
The Hollywood Reporter's David Hunter noted that Fann was "more than equal to playing the strong woman fighter who's also pretty darn cute", while John Keenan of the Omaha World-Herald stated that "Fann's stunt work is actually more memorable than Jackie Chan's here".<ref name="skaccolades" /> In Hong Kong, the South China Morning Post stated that she "seems set to displace Lucy Liu as Hollywood's Asian babe du jour".<ref name="skaccolades" /> She was subsequently nominated under the Best Fight category in MTV Movie Awards 2003,<ref name="bestfight">Template:Cite web</ref> and in 2004, won the Singapore Street Festival's Best International Artiste Award.<ref name="bestintlartiste">Template:Cite web</ref>
2004–2007
In 2004, Fann continued acting in China period dramas such as Moon Fairy and My Fair Lady.<ref name="gallenlo">Template:Cite news</ref> She also starred in a Singapore serial on the SARS epidemic titled Always on My Mind, which won her a Best Actress nomination at the 2004 Star Awards.<ref name="sa2004bestactress">Template:Cite web</ref> In mid-2004, Fann was cast in the lead role in the German-Singapore telemovie, House of Harmony.<ref name="houseofharmony">Template:Cite news</ref> In late 2004, Fann released her first publication, a semi-autobiographical comic book Girl Illustrated.<ref name="girlillustrated">Template:Cite news</ref> After a musical hiatus of five years, she released her first compilation, In Love With You.<ref name="inlovewithyou">Template:Cite web</ref>
In April 2005, Fann was invited to the Cannes MIPTV Media Market where she promoted House of Harmony and discussed possible collaborations with European industry professionals. She obtained the All-Time Favourite Artiste for obtaining the Top 10 Most Popular Female Artistes . <ref name="houseofharmonycannes">Template:Cite web</ref> House of Harmony has since been telecast in Germany, Austria, France and Belgium to a combined prime-time viewership of over 80 million.<ref name="houseofharmonyviewership">Template:Cite news</ref> That same year, Fann took on a lead role in a Taiwanese art-house romance film, Dragon Eye Congee, which was nominated for five categories at the inaugural Asian Festival of First Films.<ref name="dragoneyecongeeafff">Template:Cite web</ref>
In August 2005, she made her voiceover debut in Singapore's first 3D animation film, Zodiac, The Race Begins, which was released in early 2006.<ref name="zodiacmovie">Template:Cite news</ref> Furthermore, she also contributed her songs for the soundtracks of the movie.
In November 2006, Fann made her first promotional visit to Phnom Penh, Cambodia. She performed at the Tonle Sap Water Festival Mega Concert and visited the Krousar Thmey blind school,<ref name="cambodia1">Template:Cite news</ref> where she donated cassette recorders and biscuits.<ref name="cambodia2">Template:Cite news</ref>
2007–2012: Focus on the Chinese market
In early 2007, Fann signed a management contract with China's Huayi Brothers. Fann also became the first Singaporean artist to release a self-illustrated 3D animation, titled Fanntasy World.<ref name="fanntasyworldcomic">Template:Cite news</ref> The release of her Singapore film Just Follow Law, in which she had to play an uncouth and scruffy man in a woman's body, was a major attraction at the Chinese New Year box office and won her critical acclaim in the Singapore and Malaysian media.<ref name="justfollowlaw1">Template:Cite news</ref><ref name="justfollowlaw2">Template:Cite news</ref>
In 2008, she was invited to be a judge at the sixth "spirit of fire" international film festival which was held in Russia. Ah Long Pte Ltd reached No. 1 in both Singapore's and Malaysia's box office during the Chinese new year. Later, the film Dance of Dragon that she paired with Korean hunk Jang Hyuk led her to win her first International Best Actress at West Hollywood International Film Festival.
In 2009, Fann starred with future husband Christopher Lee in The Wedding Game. The movie won the best feature film at the first international comedy film festival held in Thailand. In June, she finished her new Chinese movie In a tangle . In September, she filmed the romantic movie Cornflower blue, starring with Alex Fong and Chang Chen in Hainan. Both of them were on the screen in late 2010. She filmed another comedy film Happy Go Lucky, which was shown during the Chinese New Year.
In 2010, she slowed down her pace and only two dramas were filmed. But she gained her critic praises from many Chinese media for her character "Ren DaiDai" in the drama Jin DaBan De Zuihou Yiye starring with Chinese actress Fan Bingbing. Two more Singaporean dramas followed in 2011.
But 2012 seemed to be a busy year for Fann. At the begin of the year, she played a syren in the series The Legend of Master Ji 3, then she was invited to be a judge for TBS's fashion competition show Asian Ace. Later she flew to ShanDong and played a spicy wife in the movie Ai Shui Shui together with Jaycee Chan, and also a telemovie Han di hu lue zhu gui based on novel Water Margin. Another movie Runaway Woman was filmed in Xinjiang in May. She was awarded the "2012 Huading Most Popular Asian Actress Award" in Beijing Olympic Sports Centre on 4 July. Though she didn't release new album for years, she was still invited to perform at 9th Asia Song Festival which was held in Yeosul, Korea, on 4 August. In October, she flew to Xinjiang again to film the period drama Tun Shu Xi Jiang about revolution occurring in Xinjiang. She worked with Hong Kong actor Bowie Lam (her husband in the drama) and Chinese director Zhang Jizhong.
2013-2014: New beginnings
2013 marked a new career beginning for Fann. She set up her own studio at the end of 2012, ended her contract with Huayi Brothers, and signed a new contract with Taiwan management agency Catwalk.
In 2014, after working with Fann on a children's charity in Thailand, illustrator Patrick Yee designed and illustrated a nearly wordless picturebook, published by Epigram Books, about the adventures of a girl with the same name.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
2014–present: Focus on motherhood
After giving birth to her son Zed in 2014, Fann took a step back in her career to focus on motherhood, only taking on acting projects occasionally.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
In 2018, Fann made her acting comeback in Doppelganger, which marked her first on-screen collaboration with husband Christopher Lee in almost 14 years.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> The role scored her a nomination for Star Awards for Best Actress at Star Awards 2019.
In 2020, Fann made her Mediacorp English drama debut in the Hokkien opera themed series, Titoudao: Inspired by a True Wayang Star.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> That same year, Fann turned down an invitation from Zhang Ziyi to appear in the popular Chinese variety show, I Am the Actor.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
In 2023, Fann was in negotiations to appear in the fourth season of the popular Chinese reality TV show Sisters Who Make Waves.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Fann ultimately did not appear in the show.
In 2024, Fann was featured in a women-focused exhibition, Goddess: Brave. Bold. Beautiful, at the ArtScience Museum alongside Michelle Yeoh, Zhang Ziyi and Marilyn Monroe. <ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
Personal life
Fann has been romantically involved with Malaysian actor Christopher Lee since late 2002.<ref name="romance1">Template:Cite web</ref> They went public with their relationship in mid-2005.<ref name="2005comingout"/> She had only one prior romance known to the public: an 11-year relationship with businessman Anthony Chan.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref name="romance2">Template:Cite news</ref>
Fann and Lee have collaborated eight times in television productions and have played lovers in six of these.<ref name="2005comingout"/><ref name="romance2" /><ref name="zoesa05">Template:Cite web</ref> After publicly acknowledging their relationship in mid-2005, they were seldom seen together. However, in December 2006, they walked together hand-in-hand down the blue carpet of the 2006 Star Awards ceremony. The gesture was noted by the Singapore media as a rare public acknowledgement of their relationship.<ref name="sa2006fannchris">Template:Cite news</ref>
In September 2008, it was rumoured she would be marrying Lee.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> They were married on 16 May 2009. Costing at Template:SGD,<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> their wedding was featured in an infotainment show called The Wedding (范心有李),<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> which was hosted by Michelle Chong, Mark Lee, and Dennis Chew. On 9 August 2014, Fann gave birth to a son named Zed.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
In July 2020, Fann alerted her fans to a scammer using her identity to get her fans' personal information. The scam asked fans to register their names on a website in order to receive a giveaway prize.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
On 5 July 2021, Fann's father died at the age of 81.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
On 13 October 2021, Fann opened her online pastry shop called Fanntasy.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
Fann's hobbies include illustrating comics, shopping, and eating.<ref name="fannhobbies">Template:Cite news</ref>
Filmography
Discography
Studio albums
| Date of release | Title (Chinese) | Title (English) |
|---|---|---|
| 1996 October 6 | – | Fanntasy |
| 1997 September 12 | 一個人生活 | I Live Alone |
| 1998 July 8 | 逛街 | Shopping |
| 1999 June 2 | 想你 | Missing You |
| 2000 October 3 | 沒有問題 | No Problem |
| 2005 June 17 | 愛上了你 | In Love With You |
Singles
| Date of release | Title (Chinese) | Title (English) |
|---|---|---|
| 1999 | – | "Private Number" |
| "1999 December" | – | "Moments Of Magic" |
| "2000 May" | 文芳的故事 Commemorative CD | My Story In Concert Commemorative CD |
Soundtracks
| Date of release | Title (Chinese) | Title (English) | Songs |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1995 April | 金枕头电视原声带 | The Golden Pillow OST | "别以为我不懂"、"Just For Fun" |
| 1998 May | 神雕侠侣电视原声带 | Return of the Condor Heroes OST | "缘聚缘散(预言)"、"玉女心经(示情)"、"缘聚缘散(预言)电视版" |
| 1999 June | 真心话电影原声带 | The Truth About Jane and Sam OST | "爱就爱there is no why"、"逛街(粤语版")、"跟随"、"逛街(粤语版)Remix"、"爱就爱there is no why (Remix Version)" |
| 2000 May | 笑傲江湖电视原声带 | The Legendary Swordsman OST | "豪情笑江湖"、"没有江湖哪有情"、"写梦(老唱机版)"、"独思"、"写梦" |
| 2006 January | 生肖传奇电影原声带 | Zodiac: The Race Begins... OST | "寻梦"、I"n My Dreams" |
Compilations
| Date of release | Title (Chinese) | Title (English) | Songs Including |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1995 April | 新视红星歌影集 | TCS ALL STAR Compilation | 如何对你说 |
| 1996 June | 晶粹 | GEMS | 真爱宣言 |
| 2000 November | 阳光系列 IV | Morning Express IV | 月亮的秘密 |
| 2001 April | 阳光系列 V | Morning Express V | 我相信、我来也匆匆去也匆匆 |
| 2002 July | 阳光系列 VI | Morning Express VI | 分享 |
| 2002 | 爱无国界 | Love No Boundaries | 看电视 |
| 2007 November | 戏剧情牵25电视金典纪念珍藏版 | Celebrating 25 Years Of Chinese Drama Collector's Edition | 我相信、豪情笑江湖、stay、分享、如何对你说、我来也匆匆去也匆匆、LUV LUV LUV、真爱宣言 |
| 2013 January | 爱上主题曲 | In Love With Drama Songs | 向爱奔跑 (duet with 陈汉玮)、忙 |
Other songs
| Date of release | Title | Info |
|---|---|---|
| 1996 | 牵动 | Episode song of Drama "再见荧光兰" |
| 1998 | 看电视 | Theme song of TCS Channel 8 |
| 1999 | Private Number<ref>T C. (2023) 911 - Private Number (Ft. Fann Wong). YouTube. [online] Available at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qvnli0rZJMQ Template:Webarchive (Accessed: December 16th 2024).</ref> | Duet with 911 |
| 2001 | 情 | Theme song of Drama "Madam White Snake" |
| 2003 | 找到 | Charity song for sars |
| 2003 | 明天还有更远的路程 | Theme song of Drama "Always on My Mind" |
| 2003 | 忘不了你的眼睛 | Episode song of Drama "Always on My Mind" |
| 2003 | 相聚 | Theme song of Drama "Moon Fairy" |
| 2005 | 路 | Theme song of Drama "Beautiful Illusions" |
| 2007 | 我有一个梦想 | Charity song |
Video compilations
| Date of release | Title (Chinese) | Title (English) |
|---|---|---|
| 1997 | 一个人生活 Karaoke VCD | I Live Alone Karaoke VCD |
| 1999 November | 想你 Karaoke VCD | Missing You Karaoke VCD |
| 2006 | 百代星光传集13范文芳没有问题精选 DVD | No Problem Compilation DVD |
Concerts
- 2000: My Story – Fann Wong in Concert (Singapore Indoor Stadium)
- 2004: Friendship Melody Music Concert (Ho Chi Minh Indoor Stadium, Vietnam)
- 2006: Tonle Sap Water Festival Mega Concert (Phnom Penh, Cambodia)
- 2012: 9th Asia Song Festival (Korea)
Publications
- 2000: In +he Mood (Hong Kong pictorial by William Cheung Suk Ping and Wing Shya) Template:ISBN
- 2004: Girl, Illustrated (personally-illustrated comic book) Template:OCLC
Awards and nominations
Notes
References
External links
Template:Fann Wong Template:Navboxes Template:Authority control
- 1971 births
- Living people
- Singaporean Buddhists
- Singaporean female models
- 20th-century Singaporean women singers
- Singaporean film actresses
- Singaporean Mandopop singers
- Singaporean people of Hakka descent
- People from Huizhou
- Singaporean television actresses
- Singaporean voice actresses
- 20th-century Singaporean actresses
- 21st-century Singaporean actresses
- Hakka musicians
- 21st-century Singaporean women singers