preface
In the 80s of the 20th century, the Hong Kong entertainment industry entered a golden age.
TV dramas are booming, movies are constantly innovating, and new groups of filmmakers and actors are rising to compete for the position of darling of the screen.
However, in that era of judging people by their appearance, not everyone was loved by the audience at the beginning.
There are some actresses, even if they are highly praised by entertainment companies, but they are questioned because they are not amazing.
It wasn't until the years of refinement that their charm was slowly discovered, and they were recognized and loved by the audience.
Now, time has passed, and the old Hong Kong films of the past have been rediscovered by a new generation of audiences, and many actresses have returned to the big screen, still exuding the charm of the past.
We can't help but ask, what is it that makes them so attractive? Why does the audience's aesthetic change with age? These 5 Hong Kong stars who have been diluted by the years, but have not lost their demeanor at all, may be able to give us the answer.
Guan Xiumei: The eldest brother's woman, maturity is the most touching charm
In the 80s of the 20th century, Hong Kong police and gangster films were popular, and Kwan Xiumei became famous with "Dragon on the Edge", and performed classic screen rivalry with Chow Yun-fat and Miao Qiaowei.
At that time, Guan Xiumei was not as shocking as Lin Qingxia and Xuan Xuan, with delicate facial features, but was known for her calm and atmospheric mature charm.
"That's right, Sister Xiumei is not as gorgeous as the most vivid flowers, but she is like a perfume, refreshing.
Director Wang Jing once described her unique charm like this.
Under the support of a group of new Hong Kong directors such as Wang Jing, Kwan Xiumei became one of the representative artists of the 80s.
However, her charm was not immediately understood and recognized by everyone.
"I always feel that the heroine played by Sister Xiumei is not so beautiful and not worthy of being with the male lead." Many viewers commented.
Indeed, in an era that pays attention to external packaging, the vicissitudes of beauty can bring more maternal warmth than the coquettishness of girls.
It wasn't until time was tempered that the audience's vision also changed, and Guan Xiumei's mature charm was slowly appreciated.
In movies such as "The King of a Thousand Kings 2000" and "The Legend of a Bad Gambling", she wears light makeup and plain clothes, but she has her own style in her gestures.
Even if you don't rely on your stunning appearance, you can seduce people's souls.
"It turns out that there is more than one appearance of beauty, and a mature woman like Sister Xiumei is the most moving." The audience finally understood.
In fact, Guan Xiumei graduated from an aristocratic girls' school and has a good upbringing and temperament.
If Lin Qingxia is a domineering strong woman and Xuan Xuan is a sweet girl, then Guan Xiumei is a calm and calm lady.
This kind of temperament cannot be created with external dressing, but needs to be accumulated over the years.
Today, the years have not diluted the charm of Guan Xiumei.
When some old films are re-screened, the audience is still fascinated by her.
Guan Xiumei has become synonymous with classics, proving that charm comes from within, and external packaging is just icing on the cake.
Xiang Hailan: Isn't it beautiful? In fact, you can't read her classical beauty
In the 80s of the 20th century, Xiang Hailan, who was highly praised by TVB, can be said to be a generation of "TV diva".
In that era when there were only a few TV stations, Xiang Hailan's popularity can be imagined.
Her representative works include "The Return of the Soul", which is adapted from "Dream of Red Mansions", in which she played the role of Lin Daiyu.
But problems also followed, many viewers felt that Xiang Hailan's facial features were not as delicate as Lin Qingxia, and she was not worthy of playing Sister Lin, who was so touching in people's minds.
"Why does the TV station always let such an ugly actor play the role of a beautiful woman" became the consensus of the audience at that time.
In fact, Xiang Hailan's natural facial features are indeed a little dignified and old-fashioned, unlike the era when he pursued style.
But this fits exactly the classical role she plays.
For example, Xiang Hailan later played the role of Yang Guifei in the new version of "Yang Guifei", although she was criticized for not being as beautiful as the traditional version, her dignified and atmospheric temperament gave the character a three-dimensional feeling.
With the passage of time, the audience also slowly appreciated the classical beauty of Xiang Hailan.
When revisiting those classic repertoire, Xiang Hailan's intellectuality, indifference, and dignified have become the focus of the audience's re-examination.
"It turns out that beauty is not only on the kitsch side, but also on such a noble and dignified side." The audience was amazed.
In fact, Xiang Hailan is not an ordinary artist, but has a Juris Doctor degree from the University of Edinburgh.
Therefore, this kind of well-informed experience has also made her extraordinary temperament.
This kind of temperament cannot be created with makeup, but needs to be refined over the years.
Now, Xiang Hailan has faded out of the entertainment industry for many years.
But her iconic intellectual image is still fresh in her mind.
The years seem to have frozen her heyday forever and become a memory of an era.
Chan Wai Shan: The charm of intellectuality is above all else
Speaking of TVB's four major flowers, I can't fail to mention Chen Huishan.
But unlike the other three Hua Dan, Chen Huishan gives people a more delicate and dignified feeling, rather than stunning and moving.
"Even Xuan Xuan and Cai Shaofen are much more beautiful than her, why do TV stations have to praise her." So said the audience at the time.
In fact, Chen Huishan's natural facial features are not outstanding, which is incompatible with the era of pursuing elegance.
But she conquered the audience with her excellent acting skills and intellectual temperament.
In classics such as "Forensic Records", Chen Huishan dressed up the independent charm of modern women with her capable profession, which brought a lot of inspiration to the audience at that time.
"When I watched that drama, I was still young, and I just thought the heroine was mediocre.
But now that I look back, I find that Chen Huishan has an aura that shakes people's hearts. Many post-80s generations recall Chen Huishan's charming moments.
It turns out that the acting skills and temperament are more moving than the appearance, which takes time to precipitate.
In fact, Chen Huishan was born into a scholarly family and holds a bachelor's degree from Boston University in the United States.
Therefore, the knowledge and experience accumulated since childhood have achieved her unique intellectual temperament.
This is something that ordinary actors cannot emulate.
Master-level acting skills also need this temperament to support, and both are indispensable.
Today, Chen Huishan has faded out of the entertainment industry, but the spiritual core of professional women has become a benchmark for a generation of women.
Many women also hope that they can have the calmness and charm of Chen Huishan.
At the heart of this charisma is temperament, not exteriority.
Wu Qianlian: Coldness is the peerless elegance
Speaking of Wu Qianlian, many people's first reaction is to be cold.
Indeed, since her debut, Wu Qianlian has shown a high and cold temperament.
But in fact, when she first debuted, this temperament was not recognized by everyone, and was even directly criticized by some people as unattractive.
"I remember when I was a child, I thought her acting skills were blunt, she looked cold, and she played anyone in a tone." One viewer recalls his first impression.
Indeed, in that era of enthusiasm and unrestrainedness, Wu Qianlian's bleakness and coldness were incompatible with mainstream aesthetics.
But time is the most just proof.
With the growth of experience, the audience gradually appreciated the connotation of Wu Qianlian's unique charm.
In "Heavenly Love" with Andy Lau, Wu Qianlian vividly interpreted the coldness of the flower of kaolin, which made the audience fall in love with it.
It turns out that beauty can also be so noble and calm, and there is no need to deliberately pursue it, but it will lose the essence of charm.
Wu Qianlian interprets this with her own temperament.
Many actors, such as Andy Lau, have high regard for her and call her a peerless beauty.
In fact, Wu Qianlian's personality already has an elegant and arrogant side.
This kind of temperament can only be cultivated by the accumulation of the day after tomorrow, and it comes from her bones.
The baptism of the years has only refined this essence more and more.
She has proved with her career that her temperament is stronger than everything.
Now, Wu Qianlian has long faded out of the entertainment industry.
But that kind of elegant and glamorous beauty is still a hard-to-replicate benchmark in the movie, proving that the essence of glamour is not in appearance.
Sydney: Being gloomy by life, Fang shows its elegance
As Michelle's own sister, Sydney was originally optimistic in the entertainment industry and had high hopes.
As early as the 80s of the 20th century, Sydney had an entanglement with the popular student Leslie Cheung.
At that time, Sydney was only in her early 20s, and it was the time when the girl's body and the charm of a mature woman converged.
But the good times didn't last long, and a doomed tragic love made Sydney hit a wall in love.
Boyfriend Xu Shaoqiang was reluctant to divorce, and Sydney also paid a heavy price.
Although he later raised two daughters by his own efforts, the shadow of his life also fell on Sydney.
Subsequently, Sydney's role as Mrs. Ma in "Dragon Babu" was questioned and considered not beautiful enough.
"How could she play a woman like an Oiran at her age" became the mainstream voice.
But the years have given Sydney the most just verdict.
It is only when the audience grows to a certain stage and revisits these old movies that the charm of Sydney is truly seen.
The kind of charm that remains after the vicissitudes of life is something that girls can't reach.
"It turns out that the wind and bones also need to be experienced, and Sydney's interpretation of Mrs. Ma is very good." The audience couldn't help but sigh.
In fact, the formation of this charm of Sydney has its own unique reasons.
She is not an ordinary gardener's daughter, but grew up in Shanghai, is well-educated, and has developed an elegant temperament since childhood.
But the ups and downs of life also make wisps of sorrow under this glamorous appearance, but more charming.
epilogue
Today, Sydney has long since faded into obscurity.
But her demeanor on the screen is still faintly visible.
Perhaps, time and life are the best colorists, diluting the beauty of the surface, but achieving the beauty of the charm.
This is also something that cannot be achieved externally.
There is no doubt that times are moving forward and aesthetics are changing.
But the core of real charm has never changed, and that is temperament.
These Hong Kong actresses have all proved this with their lives and jobs.
They don't start out with everyone's appreciation, but they will eventually impress everyone who has ever questioned them.
It's also the magic of time, allowing us to see the truth beneath the surface.