Born December 29, 1912 (Chinese calendar)
Frequently played male scholars.
From Hong Kong Tourism Board
Yam Kim Fai started to learn the art of Cantonese opera at the age of 14. She became an
outstanding female actor of the civil and also martial roles. Yam's grace on stage won her
the title of "Audience's Lover". She started her co-operation with Pak Suet Sin in the forties
of the last century. They performed seamlessly and the duo were considered to be perfect on-stage and
on-screen partners. In the mid fifties the pair founded the Sin Fung Ming Cantonese Opera Troupe and
produced masterpieces like "Peony Pavilion", "The Tragedy of the Emperor's Daughter",
"The Purple Hairpin", and "Reincarnation of Lady Plum Blossom". In 1951 she made her
first movie, "The Valiant Poon On Perplexed by Love", which embarked her on a sixteen
year career in film acting that embraced such memorable works like "The Tragedy of the
Emperor's Daughter", "The Purple Hairpin", and "Snow in June". In most of the films Yam
made she was often the male lead. After making "Tragedy of the Poet King",
Yam retired from the film industry and focused on the training of young talents in Cantonese
opera, so that Yam and Pak's artistry could be passed on to the new generation. She
was presented with the 100 Years Opera Movie Hall Award of the Hong Kong Film Awards
in 1995.
