Liza Wang

Template:Short description Template:About-distinguish-text Template:Family name hatnote Template:Use dmy dates Template:Infobox person Elizabeth "Liza" Wang Ming-chun GBS SBS<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref>Template:Cite book</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> (born 28 August 1947), is a Hong Kong diva, actress and MC. She is a personality in Chinese-speaking communities. She has been nicknamed "The Big Sister" in the Hong Kong entertainment circle.<ref name="xinhua1">Xinhuanet. "Xinhuanet Template:Webarchive". Fans jam-pack Liza Wang's free concert. Retrieved on 10 March 2008.</ref> Wang was a delegate in the National People's Congress from 1988 to 1997, and she is a member of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference.<ref name="cityu">Cityu.edu.hk "Cityu.edu.hk Template:Webarchive". 城大將頒授榮譽博士學位予四位領袖. Retrieved on 10 March 2008.</ref>

Entertainment career

Wang was born on 28 August 1947 in Shanghai. She moved to Hong Kong in 1956 and signed up for Rediffusion Hong Kong's first Artist Academy class in 1967. From thousands of applicants, the 20-year-old Liza was one of the nine that were picked to attend acting classes. She was also the first to graduate from the academy.

Television

Her career has spanned four decades, since 1967. She began working for Rediffusion Television Limited (later renamed Asia Television and now defunct) until she joined TVB in 1971. She was one of the members of the all-girl music group Four Golden Flowers.<ref>Television Broadcasts Limited TVB – Lydia Shum exclusive – 東張西望之永恆的開心果 – 肥姐 – 21 Feb 2008.</ref> Wang initially made her mark in the entertainment industry in drama series. Her work in front of the camera was followed by that behind the scenes on television productions.

In 2005, she received the Best Actress award during TVB's 38th Anniversary. She received this award the second time for her role in Wars of In-laws. Wang received her first Best Actress award for her drama series The Awakening Story in 2001. She celebrated her 40th anniversary in the entertainment industry in 2007.

Singing career

In parallel with her acting career Wang had a successful singing career, based on albums for her television series, consisting of TV theme songs. She has sung cantopop as well as mandopop. She performed duets with singer Adam Cheng. She continues to perform TV theme songs such as "Pearl of the Orient" ({{#invoke:Lang|lang}}) for musical series like the 2006 Glittering Days.<ref>First for Music News. "NME". Liza Wang videos. Retrieved 10 March 2008.</ref>

Cantonese opera

File:LizaWangOperapic.jpg

Wang performing Cantonese opera in November 2006.

Wang experimented with stage musicals before becoming a Cantonese opera actress. It was within the Cantonese opera community that she met her longtime partner, Law Kar-ying. In 2005 the Sunbeam Theatre in North Point, Hong Kong's only regular venue for Cantonese Opera performances, was planned to close following a change of ownership.<ref name="cityu" /> Wang decided to negotiate with the new owner, who then promised to extend the contract with the Cantonese Opera groups. Wang then criticized the Government for its lack of support for Cantonese Opera, and the Government promised to adopt Wang's request.

Wang was Chairman of the Chinese Artist Association of Hong Kong from 1992 to 1997, then again from 2005 to 2009.<ref name="cityu" /> In 2007 Wang was awarded the Montblanc de la Culture Arts Patronage Award.<ref name="cityu" /> She was later awarded an Honorary Doctorate of Letters by the City University of Hong Kong.

In February 2009 Wang fought for the development rights to restore the North Kowloon Magistracy building ({{#invoke:Lang|lang}}) in Sham Shui Po.<ref name="stan1">The Standard HK. "The Standard.comTemplate:Dead link". [1] Retrieved on 13 March 2009.</ref> The building was originally proposed to be a new Cantonese opera training and performance center. Hong Kong's government granted the bid to the US Savannah College of Art and Design.<ref name="stan1" /> Wang was upset over the loss, and said the government was only paying lip service to causes such as Cantonese opera. The magistracy building is to be turned into a school specializing in creative and digital media.<ref name="stan1" /><ref>"Yahoo Template:Webarchive". 八和落選 汪明荃轟黑箱作業 Retrieved on 13 March 2009</ref>

Political career

Pan-democrat home return permits request

Since the 1997 handover of Hong Kong, the Chinese Communist Party have banned 8 of the 25 Hong Kong pan-democrat legislative councilors. They are barred from the mainland except for tours organized by the government.<ref>Scmp. "Scmp Template:Webarchive". End democrats' travel ban, delegate urges. Retrieved on 10 March 2008.</ref> On 6 March 2008 Wang began publicizing the need to grant 24 Home Return Permit to the pro-democracy lawmakers.<ref>The standard HK. "The standard HK Template:Webarchive". Wang in Big step on home permits. Retrieved 10 March 2008.</ref><ref name="shk2">The standard HK. "The standard HK Template:Webarchive". TV star hopes home visits can turn democrats into patriots Retrieved on 10 March 2008</ref>

Government Committee

On Apr 29, 2020, The Hong Kong SAR announced the appointments to the Cantonese Opera Advisory Committee which aims to promote the development of Cantonese opera, facilitating the transmission of this world intangible cultural heritage item, for the period from May 1, 2020, to April 30, 2022.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }} HKSAR. 2020-04-29</ref> Wang is one of the members.

2008 Beijing Olympics

Wang mentioned that it was good timing to invite the democrats to enter mainland China in time for the 2008 Beijing Olympics.<ref name="shk2" />

The Pro-Beijing party Democratic Alliance for the Betterment of Hong Kong member Tam Yiu Chung responded that the Olympics was not a good reason for changing what the central government used to do. Template:Citation needed Her concerns baffled her colleagues in the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference.<ref name="shk1" /> Democrat member Albert Ho said the issue of a home visit permit was such a rightful thing. It has never been mentioned by any politician but a performer. He appreciates Wang's efforts.<ref name="shk2" /> Wang is a member, but not a standing committee member of the CPPCC.

Community work

As a mainstay at the TVB television network, Wang has gained almost legendary statusTemplate:According to whom for her efforts not merely as an entertainer but also as a philanthropist with a heart for social works and for improving lives in rural China and other areas. Within Hong Kong, she has also been an MC hosting TVB telethons for Tung Wah Group of Hospitals and many other charities.

Wang, being a two-time cancer survivor (first thyroid then breast cancer), decided to be an executive committee member of the Hong Kong Anti-Cancer Society.<ref name="cityu" /> A series of informative radio talk shows on RTHK was also hosted where medical specialists were invited to discuss the many types of cancer. She has helped raise charities, awareness and funding for cancer patients. RecentlyTemplate:When a free concert was given at Tin Shui Wai for 4,500 residents; the concert was filled to capacity and hundreds were turned away. The crowd prevented guest performers like Miriam Yeung and Denise Ho from arriving on time. Denise Ho ascribed the audience overflow to Wang's popularity.<ref name="xinhua1" />

Personal life

Liza Wang was married to businessman Lau Cheong Wah from 1971 to 1983 and they remain good friends. In the late 1980s, she met Law Kar-ying, openly acknowledged as her partner for over twenty years, and whom she married on 2 May 2009 in Las Vegas.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> Being a native Shanghainese, Wang speaks fluent Shanghainese and has always identified as a Shanghainese.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

The nickname of "Wang Ah-Tag" owing to social media usage

In recent years, Liza Wang has increased her usage in social media. However, upon uploading the photos with others, she has been handwriting the names of others on the photos. These handwritings have been occasionally described as "Wang Ah-Tag".<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

Filmography

Television series

Year	Title	Role
1974	Eternal Spring 永恆的春天	lang}}
1975	The Golden Chrysanthemum 金葉菊	lang}}
	Lady with the Lute 趙五娘	lang}}
	Legend of the Purple Hairpin 紫釵記	lang}}
1976	The Legend of the Book and the Sword 書劍恩仇錄	lang}}
1977	A House Is Not a Home 家變	lang}}
1978	The Heaven Sword and Dragon Saber 倚天屠龙记	lang}}
1979	Over the Rainbow 天虹	lang}}
	Chor Lau-heung 楚留香	lang}}
1980	Yesterday's Glitter 京華春夢	lang}}
	The Shell Game 千王之王	lang}}
1981	Young's Female Warrior 楊門女將	Muk Gui-yin 穆桂英
	The Shell Game II 千王群英會	lang}}
1982	Love and Passion 萬水千山總是情	lang}}
1984	Qiu Jin: A Woman To Remember 秋瑾	Qiu Jin 秋瑾
1999	At the Threshold of an Era 創世紀	lang}}
2000	At the Threshold of an Era II 創世紀 II	lang}}
2001	The Awakening Story 婚前昏後	lang}}
2004	Blade Heart 血薦軒轅	lang}}
2005	Wars of In-Laws 我的野蠻奶奶	lang}}
	The Unforgettables 名曲滿天星
2006	When Rules Turn Loose 識法代言人	lang}}
	Glittering Days 東方之珠	lang}}
2008	Wars of In-Laws II 野蠻奶奶大戰戈師奶	lang}}
	When Easterly Showers Fall on the Sunny West 東山飄雨西關晴	lang}}
2010	OL Supreme {{#invoke:Lang|lang}}	lang}}
2010–2011	Home Troopers 居家兵團	lang}}
2011	Super Snoops 荃加福祿壽探案	lang}}
2012	Divas in Distress 巴不得媽媽	lang}}
2014	Come On, Cousin {{#invoke:Lang|lang}}	Herself
2015	Limelight Years {{#invoke:Lang|lang}}	lang}}
	Master of Destiny {{#invoke:Lang|lang}}	lang}}
2018	Heart and Greed {{#invoke:Lang|lang}}	lang}}
	My Ages Apart {{#invoke:Lang|lang}}	lang}}
2019	Flying Tiger II {{#invoke:Lang|lang}}	lang}}

Films

• 1969 Singing Darlings
• 1980 Miss Not Home
• 197i The Sausage Chase
• 1979 Full Moon Scimitar
• 2015 ATM

<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref>Liza Wang at chinesemov.com</ref>

Awards

Year	Award	Category	Series	Result
1999	TVB Anniversary Awards	All-Time Most Memorable Female Leading Roles	A House is not a Home	Template:Won
2000	TVB Anniversary Awards	My Favourite Television Character	At the Threshold of an Era II	Template:Won
2001	TVB Anniversary Awards	Best Actress	The Awakening Story	Template:Won
		My Favourite Television Character		Template:Won
2005	TVB Anniversary Awards	Best Actress	Wars of In-Laws	Template:Won
2010	TVB Anniversary Awards	Best Host	Fun With Liza and Gods	Template:Won
2015	Starhub TVB Awards	Best Actress	Limelight Years	Template:Won
		Best Host	Sunday Songbird	Template:Won

Honors

• Silver Bauhinia Star (2004)<ref name=SBS>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation

|CitationClass=web }}</ref>

• TVB Best Actress (2001, 2005)
• RTHK Gold Needle Award (2005)
• Mont Blanc de la Culture International Award (2007)

External links

• Official Liza Wang web-site
• Official Liza Wang Forum

Template:S-start Template:S-ach |- ! colspan="3" style="background:#DAA520;" | TVB Anniversary Awards Template:Succession box |- Template:Succession box |- ! colspan="3" style="background:#DAA520;" | RTHK Top 10 Chinese Golden Songs Award Template:Succession box Template:S-end {{#invoke:Navbox|navbox}} Template:Best Actress TVB Awards Template:Lifetime Achievement TVB Awards Template:Television in Hong Kong