Photo: Unknown authorUnknown author / Public domain (source: Wikimedia Commons)
My Take
Ruan Lingyu is one of those figures whose tragedy almost eclipses her talent, and that bothers me a little. She was among the brightest stars of 1930s Chinese silent cinema, and accounts of her expressive, subtle acting suggest a performer well ahead of her era. Her suicide at just 24 turned her into a permanent icon, but I'd rather remember the craft than the ending. Knowing her also as Lily Yuen, I think of how short a window she had to leave such a mark. For me she's essential viewing for anyone curious about early Chinese film history.
1. Profile
- Name (English)
- Ruan Lingyu
- Name (Japanese)
- 阮玲玉
- Reading
- げん・れいぎょく
- Born
- April 26, 1910 – March 8, 1935
- Zodiac / Chinese zodiac
- Taurus / Dog
- Origin
- Shanghai, People's Republic of China
- Occupation
- actor / film actor
4. Personality
Motto
Private
6. Links
- Wikipedia (Japanese)https://ja.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E9%98%AE%E7%8E%B2%E7%8E%89
Frequently asked questions
When was Ruan Lingyu born?
April 26, 1910 – March 8, 1935.
Where is Ruan Lingyu from?
Ruan Lingyu is from Shanghai, People's Republic of China.
What does Ruan Lingyu do?
Ruan Lingyu works as actor, film actor.
Actor — see all → · Film actor — see all → · More people from People's Republic of China →
7. About this entry
Tags
- Last updated
- 2026-06-02
Facts are limited to publicly available information up to 2024; non-public or unconfirmed items are omitted. English text is machine-assisted (facts translated by Sonnet, "My Take" written by Opus 4.8). The Japanese page is the source of record.