Widely known as Ah Jie (“big sister”), Liza Wang Ming-chun has been a household name in Hong Kong for over five decades. Born in Shanghai in 1947, Wang moved to Hong Kong at the age of nine. After finishing school with modest academic results, she joined the first artiste training class at Rediffusion in 1966, marking the start of her illustrious entertainment career.
Initially working as a flight attendant, Wang left the job to pursue television, an emerging industry at the time. She joined TVB in 1971, quickly becoming a star through acting and singing. In 1973, she formed the girl group Four Golden Flowers and achieved musical success with TV theme songs and performances inspired by Chinese culture.
By the 1980s, Wang had transitioned into Cantonese opera, a field she passionately supports. Over the years, she has played a pivotal role in promoting this art form, which she describes as a fusion of singing, elegant scripts, costumes, and Chinese history. Despite her dedication to Cantonese opera, Wang continued to excel in television, winning multiple TVB Anniversary Awards and holding solo concerts at the Hong Kong Coliseum.
In her personal life, Wang’s partnership with actor and Cantonese opera star Law Kar-ying began in 1989. After years of companionship and Law’s recovery from liver cancer, the couple married in 2009 in Las Vegas. Wang describes their bond as a lasting partnership built on mutual support.
Beyond entertainment, Wang ventured into politics, serving as a delegate to the National People’s Congress from 1988 to 1997 and later joining the National Committee of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference. She received both the Silver Bauhinia Star and Gold Bauhinia Star for her contributions to Hong Kong’s cultural and social development.
Today, Wang remains a beloved figure, known for her unique way of naming individuals in group photos and her enduring influence on younger generations. In September 2024, she released a new single, “Make My Day,” and announced concerts at the Hong Kong Coliseum, reaffirming her legacy as a cultural icon.
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