Fann Wong facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Fann Wong
Fann in August 2019
Born	Fann Woon Fong (范文芳) (1971-01-27) 27 January 1971 (age 54) Singapore
Nationality	Singaporean
Alma mater	LaSalle International Fashion School
Occupation	Actress singer businesswoman model
Years active	1988–present
Agent	Huayi Brothers Catwalk Production House
Spouse(s)	Christopher Lee ​ (m. 2009)​
Children	1
Parents	Fann Chin Khew (father) Wong Siew Toy (mother)
Awards	Full list
Musical career
Genres	Mandopop
Instruments	Vocals
Chinese name
Traditional Chinese	范雯芳
Simplified Chinese	范文芳
Hanyu Pinyin	Fàn Wénfāng
Pha̍k-fa-sṳ	Fam Vùn-fông
Jyutping	Faan6 Man4 Fong1
Hokkien POJ	Hoān Bûn-hong
Tâi-lô	Huān Bûn-hong

Fann Woon Fong (born 27 January 1971), known as Fann Wong, is a famous actress, singer, businesswoman, and model from Singapore. She is known as one of MediaCorp's Ah Jie, which means she is one of Singapore's most successful actresses.

At the Star Awards 1995, Fann made history. She was the first actress to win three big awards in one year: Best Actress, Best Newcomer, and Top 5 Most Popular Female Artiste. She became popular across Asia through her movies and TV shows. Fann was also the first Singaporean actress to act in Hollywood. She played Chon Lin in the 2003 film Shanghai Knights. She married actor Christopher Lee on 29 September 2009.

Early life and beginnings

Fann Wong was born in Singapore on January 27, 1971. Her parents, Fann Chin Khew and Wong Siew Toy, were tailors. Fann's stage name comes from her parents' last names. She has three siblings: an older sister, a younger brother, and a younger sister named Fan Wen Qing. Fan Wen Qing was also a child actress.

Fann went to Temasek Secondary School. She took her GCE 'O' Level exams in 1987. As a child, she acted in several children's TV shows for SBC. When she was 16, she won a beauty contest held by Her World magazine. She then started a successful modeling career in Singapore. For two years, she modeled part-time while studying for her GCE 'A' Level exams. Later, she earned a diploma in fashion merchandising from LaSalle International Fashion School.

Career highlights

In 1993, Fann moved to Taiwan. One of her first big successes was an Oil of Ulan (now Oil of Olay) commercial. It was shown in Taiwan and Singapore. The next year, a TV producer from Singapore discovered her. He cast her in Dreams Come True, a Singaporean drama. Fann soon starred in two more Singapore TV shows: The Challenger and Chronicle of Life.

After one year in Singaporean TV, her role in Chronicle of Life won her Best Actress and Best Newcomer awards at the 1995 Star Awards. In 1996, her role in The Unbroken Cycle earned her a nomination at the Asian Television Awards. She continued to act in many dramas. These included A Romance in Shanghai, Wild Orchids, and Brave New World.

In late 1996, Fann released her first Mandarin pop album in Singapore, called Fanntasy. It included a duet with Taiwanese singer Jeff Chang. The album was later released in Taiwan as I Live Alone. It sold very well, earning four IFPI platinum sales awards. This marked the start of Fann's success across Asia.

Becoming a regional star

In 1996, Fann starred in the drama Brave New World. She acted alongside Christopher Lee for the first time. Fann also sang the theme song, "Don't let love become hard for us," with Jeff Chang.

In 1998, Fann played the main character, Xiaolongnü, in the TV show The Return of the Condor Heroes. She acted with Christopher Lee again. This show and her second album, Shopping, made her even more famous in Taiwan and China. Hong Kong director Derek Yee saw her "Shopping" music video. He then cast her as the lead in the Hong Kong film The Truth About Jane and Sam. This movie was number one at the Singapore box office for three weeks. Fann's role in it earned her a nomination at the 2000 Hong Kong Film Awards. Her role in Out to Win also attracted many viewers in Singapore. During this time, Fann gained many loyal fans, who formed the Fann-atic Fan Club (FFC).

In 1999, Fann released her third album, Missing You. She also sang "Private Number" with the British boyband 911. She performed Moments of Magic, Singapore's official millennium song. Because of her music success, Fann was the first Singaporean artist to have a solo concert at the Singapore Indoor Stadium in 2000. That same year, she released her fourth Mandarin album, No Problem.

For the next few years, Fann focused on acting. She played different roles in films and dramas. She also started hosting travel shows, like Travel Hunt: Japan and Fann Adventure.

Hollywood breakthrough

In 2002, Fann became the first Singaporean actress to have a big role in a Hollywood movie. She played Chon Lin in Shanghai Knights. When the movie came out in 2003, many critics praised her. Stephen Hunter from The Washington Post said she was "an enchanting new film presence." He noted her "dancer's grace with a fighter's speed." David Hunter from The Hollywood Reporter said Fann was "more than equal to playing the strong woman fighter." John Keenan from the Omaha World-Herald even said Fann's stunt work was "more memorable than Jackie Chan's." She was nominated for Best Fight at the MTV Movie Awards 2003. In 2004, she won the Singapore Street Festival's Best International Artiste Award.

2004–2007: Busy years

In 2004, Fann continued to act in Chinese dramas like Moon Fairy. She also starred in a Singaporean show about the SARS epidemic, called Always on My Mind. This role earned her a Best Actress nomination at the 2004 Star Awards. In mid-2004, Fann was cast in a German-Singaporean TV movie, House of Harmony. Later in 2004, Fann released her first book, a comic book called Girl Illustrated. After five years, she also released her first collection of songs, In Love With You.

In April 2005, Fann went to the Cannes MIPTV Media Market. She promoted House of Harmony and talked about working with European film experts. She won the Star Awards for All-Time Favourite Artiste award. This was for being in the Top 10 Most Popular Female Artistes list many times. House of Harmony was shown in Germany, Austria, France, and Belgium to over 80 million viewers. That same year, Fann played a lead role in a Taiwanese romance film, Dragon Eye Congee.

In August 2005, she did her first voiceover for Singapore's first 3D animation film, Zodiac, The Race Begins. The movie was released in early 2006. She also sang songs for the movie's soundtrack. In November 2006, Fann visited Phnom Penh, Cambodia. She performed at the Tonle Sap Water Festival Mega Concert. She also visited a school for blind children, where she gave them cassette recorders and biscuits.

2007–2012: Focus on China

In early 2007, Fann signed a contract with China's Huayi Brothers. Fann also became the first Singaporean artist to release a self-illustrated 3D animation, called Fanntasy World. Her Singaporean film Just Follow Law was very popular. In this movie, she played a rough man stuck in a woman's body. She received great reviews for her acting.

In 2008, she was a judge at an international film festival in Russia. Her movie Ah Long Pte Ltd was number one at the box office in Singapore and Malaysia. Later, her film Dance of Dragon, with Korean actor Jang Hyuk, won her the Best Actress award at the West Hollywood International Film Festival.

In 2009, Fann starred with her future husband Christopher Lee in The Wedding Game. This movie won the best feature film at a comedy film festival in Thailand. She filmed two more Chinese movies, In a tangle and Cornflower blue. In 2010, she filmed fewer dramas. However, she received praise from Chinese media for her role in Jin DaBan De Zuihou Yiye. Two more Singaporean dramas followed in 2011.

2012 was a busy year for Fann. She played a siren in The Legend of Master Ji 3. She was also a judge for a fashion show called Asian Ace. She filmed movies like Ai Shui Shui with Jaycee Chan and Runaway Woman. She won the "2012 Huading Most Popular Asian Actress Award" in Beijing. Even without a new album, she performed at the 9th Asia Song Festival in Korea. In October, she filmed the drama Tun Shu Xi Jiang in Xinjiang.

New beginnings and motherhood

In 2013, Fann started a new chapter in her career. She opened her own studio in late 2012. She ended her contract with Huayi Brothers and signed with a new agency, Catwalk, in Taiwan.

In 2014, Fann worked with illustrator Patrick Yee on a children's charity in Thailand. After this, Patrick Yee created a picture book about a girl named Fann. It was published by Epigram Books.

After giving birth to her son, Zed, in 2014, Fann took a break from her career. She wanted to focus on being a mother. She only took on acting projects sometimes.

In 2018, Fann returned to acting in Doppelganger (TV series). This was her first time acting with her husband Christopher Lee in almost 14 years. She was nominated for Star Awards for Best Actress at Star Awards 2019 for this role.

In 2020, Fann acted in her first Mediacorp English drama, Titoudao: Inspired by a True Wayang Star. That same year, she turned down an invitation to appear in the popular Chinese show, I Am the Actor. In 2023, Fann was considered for the Chinese reality TV show Sisters Who Make Waves, but she did not appear in it. In 2024, Fann was featured in an exhibition called Goddess: Brave. Bold. Beautiful at the ArtScience Museum.

Personal life

Fann Wong has been with Malaysian actor Christopher Lee since late 2002. They made their relationship public in mid-2005. Before Christopher, she had a long relationship with businessman Anthony Chan.

Fann and Lee have worked together in eight TV shows. They played lovers in six of these shows. After they announced their relationship, they were not often seen together in public. However, in December 2006, they walked hand-in-hand at the 2006 Star Awards. This was a rare public moment for them.

In September 2008, people started to say they would get married. They married on 16 May 2009. Their wedding cost about 5 million. It was shown in a TV show called The Wedding (范心有李). On 9 August 2014, Fann gave birth to their son, Zed.

In July 2020, Fann warned her fans about a scam. Someone was using her name to get fans' personal information. The scam asked fans to sign up on a website to get a prize.

On 5 July 2021, Fann's father passed away at 81 years old. On 13 October 2021, Fann opened her online pastry shop called Fanntasy. Fann enjoys drawing comics, shopping, and eating.

Filmography

Discography

Fann Wong has released several music albums and singles throughout her career.

Studio albums

Singles and Soundtracks

Fann has also released singles and contributed songs to movie and TV show soundtracks.

• "Private Number" (1999) - Duet with 911
• "Moments Of Magic" (1999) - Singapore's official millennium song
• Songs for The Golden Pillow OST (1995)
• Songs for Return of the Condor Heroes OST (1998)
• Songs for The Truth About Jane and Sam OST (1999)
• Songs for The Legendary Swordsman OST (2000)
• Songs for Zodiac: The Race Begins... OST (2006)

Concerts

Fann Wong has performed in several concerts:

• 2000: My Story – Fann Wong in Concert (Singapore Indoor Stadium)
• 2004: Friendship Melody Music Concert (Ho Chi Minh Indoor Stadium, Vietnam)
• 2006: Tonle Sap Water Festival Mega Concert (Phnom Penh, Cambodia)
• 2012: 9th Asia Song Festival (Korea)

Awards and nominations

Fann Wong has won many awards for her acting and singing. Here are some of her major achievements:

See also

In Spanish: Fann Wong para niños