The immortal screen goddess

Beijing

She was the classic tragic figure - exquisitely pretty, immensely talented but plagued by scandal and star-crossed affairs.

Ruan Lingyu (1910-1935) was a shining star in the era of silent films, and her name lives on in films that have immortalized her story, including Hong Kong director Stanley Kwan's 1992 bio-pic Center Stage. Actress Maggie Cheung won best actress awards for her role as Ruan Lingyu at both the Berlin and the Hong Kong film festivals.