No one can say Faye Wong didn’t do it all her own way.
Born in Beijing in 1969, the singer and actress – who turns 54 today – went from not knowing a word of Cantonese to becoming a beloved Hong Kong music star to being honoured by Time magazine as one of the “ divas of pop“.
She’s known for avoiding the spotlight and keeping a limited public presence, yet Wong’s undeniable talent has cemented her as one of Asia’s most popular divas, one that will be remembered for decades to come.
Here are some of her career milestones and major achievements.
Wong in the video for her song “Postman”.
1. She claimed her place in the Guinness World Records
Wong was one of the first women to dominate Hong Kong’s music industry.
By 2000 she had sold about 9.7 million copies of her 20 studio albums, making her, according to Guinness World Records, the bestselling female Cantopop artist of all time.
Wong was the first Chinese singer to appear on the cover of Time magazine.
2. She was never one for spectacle – and it still paid off
Whereas other singers would put on elaborate concerts filled with dancing and extravagance, Wong focused on delivering one thing to audiences: her music.
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Fans flocked to her performances to be mesmerised by her nightingale voice, one that brought her accolades including 2004’s best female artist in Hong Kong and Taiwan, awarded by the Top Chinese Music Awards.
Her 2003 concert tour, “No Faye No Live”, sold 30,000 tickets within three days, setting a Hong Kong record at the time.
Fans admired Wong for being an independent, “modern” woman.
3. She remained unapologetically herself, even in the limelight
Wong drew praise – and controversy – for her uncurated and authentic public image.
Fans admired her for being a “modern” woman, independent and unbothered by what A-list celebrities or agents might have to say.
She married Beijing rock star Dou Wei in 1996 in what the public deemed an “unlikely” pairing. Today, many criticise her relationship with actor Nicholas Tse – which they rekindled in 2014 after dating from 2000 to 2003 – but Wong remains unapologetic in her pursuit of love.
Wong with Nicholas Tse. Photo: Weibo
4. She also left her mark on Hong Kong cinema
Wong starred in several movies, including Wong Kar-wai’s 1994 comedy-drama Chungking Express, 2002’s Chinese Odyssey, and 2004’s 2046.
Her portrayal of Faye in Chungking Express, a young woman with an unusual approach to romance, won her the best actress award at the 1994 Stockholm Film Festival.
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Although Wong maintains a low profile, the career she has built for herself over the span of almost three decades is rediscovered time and time again today. It is this legacy that one of her daughters, 26-year-old singer Leah Dou, looks to carry on.
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