The life of Hong Kong’s ‘happy fruit’ Lydia Sum: comedian, actress and emcee, ‘Fei Fei’ did everything from the heart

Lydia Sum in a still from The Invincible Eight (1971).

• Fei Fei was a Hong Kong comedian, actress and emcee best remembered for her boisterous laugh, glasses, and the joy and positivity she brought to her audiences
• Sum had a very successful acting and singing career but had a turbulent personal life that featured a high-profile divorce from actor Adam Cheng

This is the 24th instalment in abiweekly seriesprofiling major Hong Kong pop culture figures of recent decades.

The late Lydia Sum Tin-ha (also known as Lydia Shum) was a Hong Kong comedian, actress and emcee whose presence in the city's entertainment industry influenced three generations.

Known for her boisterous laugh, black-framed glasses and plump figure, the actress first gained mainstream recognition with her appearances on the variety show Enjoy Yourself Tonight, after which she became a prolific comedic actress.

Do you have questions about the biggest topics and trends from around the world? Get the answers with SCMP Knowledge, our new platform of curated content with explainers, FAQs, analyses and infographics brought to you by our award-winning team.

She was affectionately known by her nickname Fei Fei ("fat fat" in Cantonese) - the actress regularly poked fun at her own physique - and today she is regarded as Hong Kong's queen of comedy and is remembered for bringing joy and positivity to her audiences.

Born in Shanghai in 1945, Sum moved to Hong Kong as a child and made her film debut in 1960 after signing with the film production company Shaw Brothers Studios.

As she appeared in more films Sum slowly began gaining recognition, but it was only in 1967, after joining the broadcaster TVB and appearing on its variety show Enjoy Yourself Tonight as a co-host, that she shot to stardom.

At the time, television producer Robert Chua Wah-peng invited Sum to be part of the show because he was looking for someone who "appeared like anyone's family", he told the Post in 2008.

"Lydia was very fresh, genuine and she could bring a smile to your face. Everything came from the heart," he added.

It was during her time on the show that Sum became beloved among fans for her jovial demeanour and distinctive cackle, both of which were also seen in the films she appeared in.

These included The House of 72 Tenants (1973), which starred Sum as a principled laundress tenant. The Cantonese-language production surpassed Bruce Lee's Enter the Dragon to become the top local film at that year's Hong Kong box office.

The actress, who was also given the nickname "happy fruit", later starred in a wide range of films. They include Drunken Tai Chi (1984), the acting debut of Donnie Yen Ji-dan, and the Lunar New Year comedy It's a Mad, Mad, Mad World (1987), which tells of how a family is changed after they win the lottery.

While Sum did not always play leading characters - she was sometimes typecast as the dependable good friend - the actress remained ever likeable and a constant in the entertainment industry, a rare feat for someone who did not fit the mould of a typical movie star.

"I stand out because I am special, because I am fat," she once said. "Am I not beautiful? I think I am. I have a lot of confidence in myself. I may be fat, but I look good too. As long as the audience accepts me, that's enough."

Sum appeared in over 100 films and hosted more than 5,000 variety shows, but she did not limit herself to just those two forms of entertainment. In the 1970s, Sum ventured into music.

She became a member of the Cantopop group Four Golden Flowers along with Liza Wang Ming-chun, Teresa Cheung Tak-lan and Wong Oi-ming; and she also sang alongside Roman Tam Pak-sin.

In 1991, she shot a 60-episode drama series called Auntie Lydia and Uncle Bill for the television network ATV, which featured Sum as an advertising manager who moves to Canada.

There, her character reconnects with an old classmate - played by frequent co-star Bill Tung Biu - and they end up in a romantic relationship back in Hong Kong. It was the first time Sum had starred in a long-running television drama series.

While the actress had a wildly successful career, her personal life was filled with ups and downs. After marrying Hong Kong actor and singer Adam Cheng Siu-chau in 1985, the couple got a divorce in 1988, eight months after Sum gave birth to their daughter, the Cantopop singer Joyce Cheng Yan-yee.

At the time she was completely heartbroken, according to a Post article from 1990. "I thought of ending my life and retiring permanently from the world of show business," Sum said. But two things kept her going: her daughter and elderly mother.

The actress became a single parent; in the 1990s, Sum emigrated to Vancouver, Canada with her daughter and raised her there. Despite having left Hong Kong, she returned often for work.

Sum eventually made her way back to Asia a few years later, and starred in a Singaporean television sitcom, Living with Lydia, from 2001 to 2005 - her first English-speaking role.

While Sum dealt with several health issues over the years - diabetes, heart disease and high blood pressure - her health took a turn for the worse in the 2000s. In 2002, she had 32 gallstones removed, and in 2006 she was diagnosed with cancer of the liver and gallbladder.

A year later, in October 2007, Sum collapsed at home and was admitted to hospital. She was visited by her daughter and her ex-husband, who told the Post he had not seen Sum for a long time and learned about her condition through the media and friends.

"She winked at me to let me know that she knew I came to see her," Adam Cheng said at the time. "Doctors say her condition has stabilised and is now under control. But it is not known why she suddenly fell ill. Tubes have been attached to her to help her breathe."

A month later, in November 2007, Sum was once again taken to hospital after attending a friend's birthday party in Macau. It was at this time that the actress made her final television appearance, during which she received a lifetime achievement award from TVB.

In February 2008, at the age of 62, Sum died at Queen Mary Hospital. Her death brought condolences from well-wishers in Hong Kong and worldwide, with many of Sum's peers, colleagues and fans noting her impact and legacy.

"Fei Fei cheered up Hong Kong people, who grew up with her laughter," Stephen Chan Chi-wan, then the general manager for broadcasting at TVB, said, describing Sum as a Hong Kong icon who represented the Hong Kong spirit.

In Canada, a few days after Sum's death, Vancouver's then-mayor, Sam Sullivan, declared June 1 "Fei Fei Day" to honour Sum's birthday.

"I would like to acknowledge her legacy as a great artist and as a great supporter of many community services in Vancouver," he said at a city council meeting that was attended by Sum's daughter, Joyce Cheng.

"I know right now my mother must be laughing out loud - her signature laugh, loud and proud - knowing that her birthday this year will be Ms Fei Fei Day in the city of Vancouver," Cheng said at the time.

Want more articles like this? FollowSCMP Filmon Facebook

More Articles from SCMP

What happened to Stormy Daniels? Before her Donald Trump trial testimony, the adult film star did tarot readings and paranormal investigations, wrote her memoir, and married her 4th husband

Got FOMO? Try JOMO – the joy of missing out – instead; experts explain how to switch and why it can help make you happier

Tesla’s launch of self-driving system in China to widen autonomous tech adoption in world’s largest EV market, analyst says

Who is Sudha Reddy, the Indian billionaire who wore 200 carats of diamonds to the Met Gala? P.V. Krishna Reddy’s wife was also at Leonardo DiCaprio’s Killers of the Flower Moon screening at Cannes

This article originally appeared on the South China Morning Post (www.scmp.com), the leading news media reporting on China and Asia.

Copyright (c) 2024. South China Morning Post Publishers Ltd. All rights reserved.