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Ruan Lingyu. Photo outsourced from

Top 10 facts about Ruan Lingyu

Ruan Lingyu was 26th April 1910 in Shanghai in China. Her real is Ruan Fenggen, and she came from a working-class family.

Her dad died while she was six, and she was raised by her mother, who worked as a maid in a wealthy family.

She started he acting career at 16 during the silent cinema age. She was an exception in her acting and gave a charismatic performance which gained her fame.

Her career was cut short on 8th march 1935 when she committed suicide. Here are the top 10 facts to help you learn more about her life.

1. Ruan Lingyu was a Chinese actress

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Ruan’s acting career started in 1926 When she was desperately trying to make ends meet. She signed up for the prominent MingXing filming company.

She made her first film at the age of 16 years the, “A Married Couple in Name Only,” directed by Bu Wancang.

Her first film created a platform for her acting breakthrough, and after two years, she was signed by Da Zhonghua Baihe Company, where she shot six films.

The film that made her famous was “the spring dream of an old capital or Reminiscences of Beijing, 1930”, a big hit in China.

Ruan starred in this film after signing with the newly formed Lianhua Studio in 1930. She played the role of a prostitute by the name of Yanyan.

2. Ruan Lingyu had a lonely childhood

When she was six, Ruan lost her dad, an unskilled labourer working for the British-owned Asiatic Petroleum Company.

After her father’s died, she was left with her mother, who worked as a housemaid for the wealthy Zhang family. At that time, being a housemaid was considered shameful.

As a result, she grows up lonely and isolated, witnessing the immense wealth of her mother’s employers.

3. Ruan Lingyu hid her true self

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The only ticket which could rescue Ruan from poverty was education at the time.

When she turned 13 years old, her mother sent her to school. Her mother advised her not to reveal her background.

She was to hide her background to avoid other children bullying her because her occupation was considered shameful in society.

Her rough upbringing and modern education laid a foundation for Ruan’s acting career.

  4. Ruan Lingyu’s career picked up after being signed at Lianhua studio

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After being signed at Lianhuas, she became Lianhuas’s major film star. In 1931 she started making the most outstanding works, one being the Melodrama love and duty directed by Bu Wancang.

Ruan started gaining popularity, and she could get leading roles in films and movies.

In 1933 the Star Daily held a poll for China’s “movie Queen.” Ruan was voted second runner-up.

Additionally, Ruan started collaborating with a group of leftist Chinese directors.

5. She became an icon of Chinese cinema

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Chinese cinema was introduced in China in 1896. However, important Chinese cinema movies were produced in the 1930s.

During that evolution, Ruan Lingyu was a movie star from the Lianhua studio production company that dominated the market.

Therefore, Ruan became a Chinese cinema icon due to her exceptional acting ability.

6. Ruan Lingyu has a thriving but short-acting career

In 1926 Ruan started her acting career, and with no time, she rose to fame. She got signed by the best film company of that time, Lianhua studio. This opened more opportunities for a starring career.

Ruan’s career was cut short when she committed suicide by overdosing on Barbiturate.

She is remembered up to date with some movies produced to tell her story.`

7. Ruan Lingyu was torn between two men

Ruan was torn between two men, her puppy love, Zhang Damin, son of the family where her mother worked, and tycoon Tang Jishan.

His wealthy family later abandoned Zhang due to his spendthrift ways. He later became a gambler, supported by Ruan’s salary.

In 1993 Raun got fed up with Zhang’s gambling habit, and they split up, and Ruan began living with Tang Jishan, a tea tycoon and womanizer.

In 1924 Zhang filed a lawsuit claiming Ruan as his wife, accusing her of stealing and adultery with Tang.

The media took the opportunity to look into Ruan’s private life, which put her under severe pressure.

8. Ruan Lingyu committed suicide

She committed suicide at the age of 24 while in Shanghai on 8th March 1935. She took an overdose of Barbiturates.

Ruan was going through many public issues and intense private problems.

Modern researchers believe Ruan’s deteriorating relationship with Tang Jishan and Zhang Damin’s lawsuit was the cause of her death.

One of the prominent Chinese writers, Lu Xun, was shocked by the details surrounding Ruan’s death and wrote an essay entitled “Gossip is a fearful thing.” The title was inspired by words that were on a note left by Ruan

Also, it is believed Ruan was physically abused on the evening before she overdosed, meeting her death.

9. Ruan Lingyu’s funeral lasted for three days

Ruan Lingyu funeral. Photo from

Ruan funeral service took place at Wangu O’s funeral home, lasting for three days.

The New York Times called her funeral “the most spectacular funeral of the century.” The funeral procession was 3 miles long with more than 100,000 people.

Well-known film actresses and actors attended the funeral, and her pall bears were some of the leading directors, such as Lai Man-wai. Fei-mucai Chushuny and Wu Yonggang.

After her funeral service, her casket was taken to a cemetery in the Zhabei district. During the cultural revolution, Ruan’s tomb was destroyed.

In 1998 a uniquely designed monument was dedicated to her debut in Fushouyuan cemetery in Shanghai.

10. After Ruan death, films were produced to tell her life

Zhang Damin tried to tell her story regarding Ruans suicide. In 1935 he agreed to star as himself in a film entitled Tears of Love. The move was later banished.

In 1937 a Hong kong film titled “who’s to blame “was directed by Shum Kat-Sing and Tam Yuk Lan as Ruan.

Stanley Kwan, a movie director from Hong Kong in 1991, directed a movie about Ruan. The film was entitled Center stage.

Maggie Cheung started the centre stage movie as Ruan, Lawrence NG as Zhang Damins, and Chin Han as Tang Jishan. In this movie, Maggie Cheung Won the Berlin Film Festive Silver Bear for Best actress.