Former actress Brigitte Lin on the pain of Anita Mui’s death, shocking William Chang with nude Polaroids, and seeing a penniless Li Ching in her last days
- ‘Li [Ching] told me the happiest thing for her was to eat hotpot in Café De Coral at night,’ writes Lin of seeing her fellow actress fallen on hard times
- The anecdote appears in the final book in a trilogy that charts Lin’s illustrious film career and life, one that friends say qualifies her as an author at last
In the preface to former screen goddess Brigitte Lin Ching-hsia’s new book, the 66-year-old recalls a biting remark addressed to her by Chinese writer Dong Qiao.
“We were having lunch at Luk Yu [Tea House in Hong Kong] and I mentioned the launch of my first book. He told me sternly I couldn’t call myself an author … I know strong criticism comes from love. I didn’t dare to say a word [in response].”
The reception for Lin’s latest book, Jing Qian Jing Hou (literally translated as “Before and Behind the Mirror”) has been less harsh, with Taiwanese authors Pai Hsien-yung and Chiung Yao lauding her pithy writing style and serious workmanship.
Released this month to mark the award-winning actress’ 66th birthday, the book is made up of 22 essays by Lin and six written about her by her friends. It covers her friendships with celebrity peers, views on her screen career, and her thoughts on life.