31-07-2025
- Entertainment
- South China Morning Post
When Hong Kong singer-actress Sally Yeh dominated the city's music and cinema scenes
This is the 56th instalment in a
biweekly series profiling major Hong Kong pop culture figures of recent decades.
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In the dazzling, neon-drenched heyday of 1980s and '90s Hong Kong, when Cantopop music reigned supreme across the region and the city's cinema captivated the world, a voice of unparalleled grace emerged: Sally Yeh Chian-wen.
With her silky smooth vibrato, effortless charm and unusual bilingual appeal, Yeh transcended pop stardom to become a cultural icon.
From her early days as a fresh-faced ingenue to her reign as Cantopop's queen, Yeh's journey is one of contentment, honesty and quality. Now, at 64, she remains a beloved figure, proving that true artistry never fades.
Yeh performs in Hong Kong in 1989. Photo: SCMP
Born in Taipei in 1961, Yeh grew up in Canada, where she cultivated a deep love for Western pop music. Unlike many of her peers, she was fluent in English, Mandarin and, later, Cantonese, giving her a unique edge in Hong Kong's competitive entertainment scene.
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Yeh's path to stardom began as a model at age 16, and she was second runner-up at the Miss Vancouver Chinatown beauty pageant the following year.
