Linda Lin Dai, born Cheng Yueru, was a renowned Chinese actress who rose to fame in Hong Kong films made in Mandarin during the 1950s and 1960s. She was a shining star of the Shaw Brothers Studio, and her remarkable performances earned her the Best Actress award at the Asia Pacific Film Festival an impressive four times.
Born on December 26, 1934, Lin Dai was the daughter of Cheng Siyuan, the secretary of Chinese President Li Zongren and Vice Chairman of the CPPCC. Her father's influential position likely played a role in her early exposure to the world of entertainment, as she began her acting career at a young age.
Lin Dai's talent and dedication to her craft soon paid off, as she became one of the most sought-after actresses of her time. Her impressive filmography includes numerous productions from Shaw Studio, where she worked alongside some of the most prominent figures in the industry.
In 1958, Lin Dai took a break from her acting career to pursue further education at Columbia University in New York, where she enrolled in short courses on drama and linguistics. It was during this time that she met and fell in love with Long Shengxun, the son of Long Yun, a former governor of China's Yunnan province. The couple married on February 12, 1961, in Hong Kong.
Tragically, Lin Dai's life was cut short in July 1964, when she took her own life at her home in Hong Kong. The official cause of death was attributed to an overdose of sleeping pills and inhalation of methane gas, reportedly due to family matters deemed "trivial" by the media. Her sudden and unexpected passing sent shockwaves throughout the Chinese community, leaving behind a legacy of unfinished films, including The Lotus Lamp and Blue And Black (I and II).
