In 1984, Hong Kong's Asia Television produced an epoch-making work - the 40-episode TV series "Wu Zetian". This historical masterpiece brings the story of China's only female emperor Wu Zetian to the TV screen for the first time, produced by Li Zhaohua and co-starring Feng Baobao, Pan Zhiwen, Zeng Weiquan, Liu Yong and other actors.
The play tells the legendary life of Wu Zetian. 14-year-old Wu Zetian was recruited into the palace by Tang Taizong and became a talented person. After Taizong's death, she was forced to become a nun. However, the new monarch Tang Gaozong was very fond of her, and despite the opposition of his ministers, he named her Zhaoyi.
Since then, Wu Zetian began her path to power, she successfully defeated Empress Wang, was canonized as the empress, and began to control the government, after the death of Tang Gaozong, she successively set up her sons Tang Zhongzong and Tang Ruizong as emperors, and then ascended the throne and called the emperor, changed the name of the country to Zhou, and created a prosperous generation.
In the play, the 30-year-old Feng Baobao successfully interpreted Wu Zetian's transformation from a girl to an empress. She showed Wu Zetian's innocence and charm in girlhood, as well as her majesty and domineering after ascending the throne, to the fullest, without any sense of disobedience.
Feng Baobao's delicate performance skills brought Wu Zetian's complex inner world and desire for power to life, leaving a deep impression on the audience.
This drama is not only the pioneering work of Wu Zetian's story, but also an indelible memory in the hearts of many audiences. Time flies, 38 years have passed, and "Wu Zetian" is still talked about by people and has become a common cultural memory of a generation.
However, with the passage of time, the once high-spirited actors have now embarked on different life paths, and their stories are as wonderful as this drama, which is worth savoring.
Feng Baobao's life, like Wu Zetian played by her, is full of drama. Born in Malaysia in 1954, she entered the entertainment industry at the age of 5 by participating in the movie "Toxic Husband" and began her career as a child actress.
The young Feng Baobao took on the responsibility of supporting his family, running around various sets, and successively starred in "Rainy Night Terror", "Luminous Cup", "Little Ganluo Baixiang", "Burning Red Lotus Temple: The Wonder of the Rivers and Lakes" and other works, becoming a high-profile child star at that time.
In 1977, Feng Baobao met Zhao Zaiqiang, who was engaged in the financial business, while studying abroad, and they subsequently formed a family and had two sons. However, married life is not as beautiful as a fairy tale.
After giving birth, Feng Baobao made a comeback immediately, and became popular in 1984 with the drama "Wu Zetian", however, her married life was full of bitterness, her husband was messing with flowers and grass outside, and even asked her to write that she was mentally ill in the divorce agreement, which led to her losing custody of her two sons, which caused a huge blow to Feng Baobao.
Despite the difficulties, Feng Baobao did not give up. She is still persevering in her acting career, and has starred in costume dramas such as "Qin Shi Huang", "Yang Guifei", "Xi Shi", as well as modern dramas such as "Flying Over the Dusk", "New Love" and "The House of the Rich".
In 1993, she won the Best Supporting Actress Award at the 12th Hong Kong Film Awards for "92 Black Roses vs. Black Roses", and her acting career reached a peak again.
In 1999, Feng Baobao married Malaysia architect Weng Siu Quan, but the marriage did not last and the two divorced in 2012. Her two marriages are like the imperial power tricks performed in "Wu Zetian", full of twists and turns and helplessness.
As she gets older, she gradually reduces the shooting of film and television works, but still plays some roles, such as the film "Deus Ex" with Xie Xian at the end of 2023.
Pan Zhiwen, born in Xinhui, Guangdong Province in 1950, grew up in Macau, and worked in broadcasting, hosting and other jobs before the 70s of the 20th century, and also served as an actor in the troupe. In 1971, he officially stepped into the TV circle, and starred in dramas such as "Chameleon", "Kindness of the Earth", and "Dangkou Zhi" during Li's TV, becoming a popular student.
In contrast, his acting career has been relatively uneventful.
In 1982, Li's TV was reorganized into Asia Television, and Pan Zhiwen continued to stay at ATV in the form of a head contract, during which he starred in many TV series, such as "Three Tales of Floating Life", "The Moon Knife at the End of the World", "Eight Immortals Across the Sea", "The Thirteen Emperors of the Manchu Dynasty" and so on.
In particular, the TV series "Wu Zetian" is regarded as one of his masterpieces In 1995, Pan Zhiwen joined TVB and participated in the performances of well-known dramas such as "Heaven and Earth Boy", "Dragon Babu", "New Shanghai Beach", etc.
Tsang's experience is full of drama. Born in Hong Kong in 1960, he entered the last acting training class of Leigh's TV in 1981. Subsequently, in 1982, the year Leigh's TV was renamed to ATV, Tsang began his acting career.
After years of hard work, he finally got the opportunity to play the protagonist Jin Shiyi in 1984's "Yunhai Jade Bow Edge", and played Zhuo Yihang in "The Legend of the White-Haired Witch" in 1986.
During the filming of "Wu Zetian", Liu Yong was unable to participate for some reason, and Zeng Weiquan was appointed to replace Ming Chongyan, a martial arts master who helped Wu Zetian a lot. In order not to affect the audience's experience of chasing dramas, Zeng Weiquan continued Liu Yong's performance style as much as possible.
This opportunity has taken Tsang's acting career to the next level.
In the early 1990s, Zeng Weiquan turned to TVB, but he was not reused among the many talents of TVB, and most of the roles were supporting roles, such as playing Huang Feihu in "Fengshen Bang" and Xin Lingjun in "Looking for Qin".
On July 30, 2023, Chengdu, Sichuan, Fei Xiang, Na Ran, and Huang Xiyan, the main creators of the movie "Fengshen List Part 1", appeared at the airport to participate in the film roadshow.
In terms of love life, Zeng Weiquan also experienced some twists and turns, in 1986, when filming "Full House", he and Mei Xiaohui met, and the two started a 13-year relationship, however, they failed to come together in the end, and the two chose to break up In 2020, Zeng Weiquan died of lung cancer, and "Apostle Walker 3" became the last work of his life.
Banban's (formerly known as Li Xiaowen) life course is full of ups and downs. Born in Hong Kong in 1953, she formed the band The BumbleBees with her sister Sen Sen and four male musicians. In 1973, Banban joined TVB's "Happy Tonight" and formed the Sensen Banban Choir with his sister.
After playing Han Xiaoying in the 83 version of "The Legend of the Condor Heroes", Banban switched to Asia Television and filmed TV series such as "Walking to Tiger Mountain Again", "Ping Tracer Film", "Eight Immortals Across the Sea" and other TV series In "Wu Zetian", she played Wu Zetian's opponent in the harem, Queen Wang In 1985, Banban was also invited to serve as the host of CCTV's Spring Festival Gala In 1996, Banban married Hong Kong artist Hui Tianci and had a son, but after announcing his divorce in 2001, Banban gradually faded out of the entertainment industry, It was only in recent years that he occasionally sang on the same stage with his sister.
Yin Tianzhao is a character who has experienced an inspirational counterattack. He was born in Dongguan, Guangdong Province in 1964 and entered the second artist training class of ATV in 1982. In "Wu Zetian", he played Wu Zetian's son Li Xian at the age of 20.
However, he did not get reused because of this, but participated in dramas such as "Jingwumen", "I Have a Date with Spring", "Sword Roaring Jianghu" and other dramas Until 1998, he played the zombie in "I Have a Date with Zombies", and only then ushered in the peak of his career In recent years, due to his wife's serious illness, he had to gradually reduce his production and devote most of his energy to taking care of his wife, only occasionally on the air.
Lu Zhenshun's story shows the power of perseverance. He was born in Hong Kong in 1957 and played a role in TVB and movies in his early years. In the mid-90s, he returned to wireless and became an actor familiar to the audience. During this period, he participated in many TV series, such as "The Four Famous Catches Reappear in the Rivers and Lakes", "Ode to Qunfang", "Nezha", "Manchu Thirteen Dynasty II", etc., as well as Tang Gaozong Li Zhi in "Wu Zetian".
He played the role of Mongolia prince Huodu in "The Condor Heroes", Wang Shubigan in "Fengshen List", sect leader Dongfang Undefeated in "Smiling Proud Jianghu" and other roles Although his roles are mostly supporting roles, his superb performance makes him an indispensable part of the series Emotionally, Lu Zhenshun also showed the power of perseverance At the end of 2023, he revealed that he met his girlfriend when he participated in a singing competition 41 years ago, and now he has finally achieved positive results.
Jiang Han's life has contributed a model to his acting career. His original name was Jiang Yongming, born in Hong Kong in 1937, and he was a major actor in Great Wall and Phoenix Films. In 1979, he joined Li's TV (later changed to ATV) and starred in "Eight Immortals Across the Sea", "Ping Tracer Film", "Havoc in the Powder Building" and other dramas, including playing Tang Taizong Li Shimin in "Wu Zetian".
In 1992, he joined TVB, although most of them were supporting roles, but he created many classic roles, such as Duan Zhengming in "Dragon Babu", Rong Liangdong in "Ninety-Five Supreme", etc. After 2012, Jiang Han gradually faded out of the film and television circle due to his advanced age, and the last work was "Return to the Three Kingdoms" In his later years, he suffered from tube vasculitis and caused inconvenience, frequently went in and out of the hospital, and then moved into a nursing home On December 7, 2017, Jiang Han died in a nursing home at the age of 78.
Leung Hon-wai devoted his life to the development of Cantonese opera. Born in Hong Kong in 1944, he began learning the gongs, drums and music of Cantonese opera at the age of 15. In the 70s and 80s of the 20th century, he participated in many TV series and films, such as "Martial Arts Emperor Flower", "Qin Shi Huang", "Eight Immortals Across the Sea" and "Crocodile Tears".
He played Di Renjie in "Wu Zetian", in addition to his acting career, Leung Hanwei also actively participated in the inheritance and development of Cantonese opera, he advocated the establishment of a Cantonese opera academy to cultivate more new Cantonese opera talents, and he also founded the Han Style Cantonese Opera Research Institute alone, which is committed to reforming Cantonese opera and cultivating Cantonese opera professionals, however, on August 22, 2011, Leung Hanwei died of pancreatic cancer in Hong Kong at the age of 67.
The life journey of these actors is not only a reflection of their personal fate, but also a microcosm of the changes of the entire era. Their ups and downs have illuminated the context of the Hong Kong entertainment industry and even the entire society.
(The specific time is unknown) Wu Zetian, Emperor of Wu Zhou.
From the glory of success to the trough of loss, from obscurity to fame, the stories of these people are a line of notes in Hong Kong's era.
Time flies, 38 years have passed since the premiere of "Wu Zetian". Looking back on the past, one can't help but feel a lot of emotion. Some of the high-spirited actors at that time have now passed away, some have retired to the background, and some are still continuing their acting careers.
Although their life trajectories are different, they have all left a lasting mark on this drama.
Portrait of Zhang Cambodia, Zhang Cambodia (625-706), the character Meng Jiang, a native of Xiangyang, Xiangzhou, Tang Dynasty. It dabbles in scripture and history, especially the three rites. By Di Renjie
Although Feng Baobao has experienced two failed marriages, her acting career is still successful. Pan Zhiwen has always adhered to the entertainment industry and maintained great professional enthusiasm. Although Tsang Wai-kuen and Jiang Han have passed away, their performing arts are still widely acclaimed.
Banban chose to fade out of the entertainment industry, while Yin Tianzhao took care of his sick wife, he still appeared on the screen from time to time, Lu Zhenshun has been working silently, and finally harvested the belated love, and Liang Hanwei devoted his life to the inheritance and development of Cantonese opera.
The movie "Wu Zetian" not only tells a magnificent history, but also witnesses the great changes in the entire Hong Kong entertainment industry. Since the birth of the film, the Hong Kong film and television industry has undergone many changes.
(The specific time is unknown) Wu Zetian, Emperor of Wu Zhou.
And the stories of these actors reflect the changes in the fate of individuals in this process of change.
The drama "Wu Zetian" not only makes us nostalgic for the past, but also triggers us to think deeply about life, career, and love. This drama makes us understand that no matter when and where, we should love life, be firm in our career pursuits, and stick to our dreams.