Elizabeth "Liza" Wang Ming-chun <small>GBS SBS</small> (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. 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.
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. 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" () for musical series like the 2006 Glittering Days.
Cantonese opera
thumb|Wang performing [[Cantonese opera in November 2006.|250px]]
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. 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.
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. On 6 March 2008 Wang began publicizing the need to grant 24 Home Return Permit to the pro-democracy lawmakers.
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. 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. Being a native Shanghainese, Wang speaks fluent Shanghainese and has always identified as a Shanghainese.
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".
Filmography
Television series
{| class="wikitable" style="font-size: 95%;"
|-
! Year !! Title !! Role
|-
| 1974 || Eternal Spring<br>永恆的春天||Mao Yuin Yuin<br>
|-
| rowspan="3" | 1975 || The Golden Chrysanthemum<br>金葉菊||Chow Yuk Sin<br>
|-
| Lady with the Lute<br>趙五娘||Zhiu Ng Niong<br>
|-
| Legend of the Purple Hairpin<br>紫釵記||Fok Siu Yuk<br>
|-
| 1976 || The Legend of the Book and the Sword<br>書劍恩仇錄 || Fok-ching-tung<br>
|-
| 1977 || A House Is Not a Home<br>家變||Lok Lam<br>
|-
| 1978 || The Heaven Sword and Dragon Saber<br>倚天屠龙记|| Chiu Man<br>
|-
| rowspan="2" | 1979 || Over the Rainbow<br>天虹|| Leung Pui-yee<br>
|-
| Chor Lau-heung<br>楚留香 || Shum Wai-san<br>
|-
| rowspan="2" | 1980 || Yesterday's Glitter<br>京華春夢||Ho Yin-chau<br>
|-
| The Shell Game<br>千王之王 || Tam Siu-tong<br>
|-
| rowspan="2" | 1981 || Young's Female Warrior<br>楊門女將||Muk Gui-yin<br>穆桂英
|-
| The Shell Game II<br>千王群英會 || Tam Siu-tong<br>
|-
| 1982 || Love and Passion<br>萬水千山總是情||Chong Mung-deep<br>
|-
| 1984 || Qiu Jin: A Woman To Remember<br>秋瑾||Qiu Jin<br>秋瑾
|-
| 1999 || At the Threshold of an Era<br> 創世紀|| Fong Kin-ping<br>
|-
| 2000 || At the Threshold of an Era II<br> 創世紀 II|| Fong Kin-ping<br>
|-
| 2001 || The Awakening Story<br>婚前昏後 || Lam Ho Suet<br>
|-
| 2004 || Blade Heart<br>血薦軒轅 || Tong Bik<br>
|-
|rowspan="2" | 2005 || Wars of In-Laws<br>我的野蠻奶奶||Hei Tap-Lap Shek Lan<br>
|-
| The Unforgettables<br> 名曲滿天星||
|-
|rowspan="2" | 2006 || When Rules Turn Loose<br>識法代言人||Suen Man-Yee<br>
|-
| Glittering Days<br>東方之珠||Gam Yin<br>
|-
|rowspan="2" | 2008 || Wars of In-Laws II<br>野蠻奶奶大戰戈師奶|| Gwo Bik<br>
|-
| When Easterly Showers Fall on the Sunny West <br> 東山飄雨西關晴 || Chong Fung-yi<br>
|-
| 2010 || OL Supreme <br> || Lui Siu-fung<br>
|-
| 2010–2011|| Home Troopers<br>居家兵團||Lai Ka-ka<br>
|-
| 2011 || Super Snoops<br>荃加福祿壽探案 || Sun Chiu-tung<br>
|-
| 2012 || Divas in Distress<br>巴不得媽媽||Sheung Ying-hung<br>
|-
| 2014 || Come On, Cousin <br> || Herself
|-
|rowspan=2| 2015 || Limelight Years <br> || Wah Fong-ying <br>
|-
| Master of Destiny<br> ||Kwan Yeuk-nam<br>
|-
|rowspan=2| 2018 || Heart and Greed <br> || Heung Ching Yi <br>
|-
| My Ages Apart <br> || Sheung Hing Chong <br>
|-
|rowspan=1| 2019 || Flying Tiger II <br> ||
|-
|}
Films
- 1969 Singing Darlings
- 1980 Miss Not Home
- 197i The Sausage Chase
- 1979 Full Moon Scimitar
- 2015 ATM
Awards
{| class="wikitable" style="font-size: 90%;"
|-
!Year
!Award
!Category
!Series
!Result
|-
|1999||TVB Anniversary Awards||All-Time Most Memorable Female Leading Roles||A House is not a Home||
|-
|2000||TVB Anniversary Awards||My Favourite Television Character||At the Threshold of an Era II||
|-
|rowspan="2"|2001||rowspan="2"|TVB Anniversary Awards||Best Actress||rowspan="2"|The Awakening Story||
|-
|My Favourite Television Character||
|-
|2005||TVB Anniversary Awards||Best Actress||Wars of In-Laws||
|-
|2010||TVB Anniversary Awards||Best Host||Fun With Liza and Gods||
|-
|rowspan="2"|2015||rowspan="2"|Starhub TVB Awards||Best Actress||Limelight Years||
|-
|Best Host||Sunday Songbird||
|-
|}
Honors
- Silver Bauhinia Star (2004)
- TVB Best Actress (2001, 2005)
- RTHK Gold Needle Award (2005)
- Mont Blanc de la Culture International Award (2007)
References
External links
- Official Liza Wang web-site
- Official Liza Wang Forum
|-
! colspan="3" style="background:#DAA520;" | TVB Anniversary Awards
|-
|-
! colspan="3" style="background:#DAA520;" | RTHK Top 10 Chinese Golden Songs Award