Lily Li
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Biography
One of Shaw Bros' most endearing actresses (and a favorite on mine), she was also worked closely, with Liu Chia-Liang and his brother Liu Chia-Yung. Definitely, a fast learner, she could hang with the best of them, always poised and graceful, she was one of kung-fu's greatest hidden treasures. She's had her moments to shine and never fails to deliver. In films like One-Foot Crane (one of her few chance to star as the lead, in a kung-fu film) and the excellent Warrior From Shaolin -- where she put on a show of devastating skills. Here, she got to play a villain, who fought with hidden weapons and she never looked better.
It's a shame that she never got the exposure that most other fighting-females did and she surely deserved. Her fellow actors were receiving praise for all of their films, but how they failed to see this "diamond in the rough," is beyond me. Her role as Chen Kuan-Tai's wife in Executioners From Shaolin, showed off both her acting and fighting skills. Even Jackie Chan appreciated her skills enough, to cast her in The Young Master - where her "Skirt-fighting" was most impressive.
Today's actresses could take some notes from this Shaw Bros' class act, even the sensual Hui Ying Hung could have taken a backseat to this woman of many talents, had they pushed her more. I have not seen one movie that she has played in that she didn't add some spice to or that I didn't like. She still found time to act, even thru the 90's in the film White Lotus Cult. She’s definitely come a long way from the shy little girl, who started her film career at Shaw Brothers (as a teenager).