Ruan Lingyu

Ruan Lingyu had a delicate, ethereal presence that made her a natural fit for the silver screen. She was born Ruan Fenggen on April 26, 1910 in Shanghai, China. Her father died when she was a child, leaving her mother to work as a maid to support the family. At sixteen, Ruan began acting to earn money, making her film debut in the 1927 Chinese language film A Married Couple In Name Only. She soon fell in love with Zhang Damin, a gambler disowned by his wealthy family. Throughout their relationship, she financially supported him. In 1930, she signed a contract with Lianhua Studios and starred in Spring Dream of an Old Capital. The film was a huge hit, propelling her to stardom. She went on to appear in Little Toys, Homecoming, and The Goddess, earning the nickname "China's Greta Garbo." Her personal life took a complicated turn. She broke up with Zhang and began dating Tang Jishan, a married tea tycoon. He bought her a mansion in Shanghai, and she became his mistress. In 1934, Zhang sued her, claiming she was his wife and owed him money. The scandal made front-page headlines, and the tabloid press became obsessed with her personal life. Her relationship with Tang was rocky, and he began abusing her. She was devastated when he threw her beloved dog out of a window. In 1935, she was cast in New Women, a drama based on the life of Ai Xia, an actress who had committed suicide. When the film premiered in February 1935, journalists objected to their negative portrayal, sparking a backlash. On March 8, 1935, Ruan committed suicide by overdosing on barbiturates. She was just twenty-four. A note found at the scene read, "Gossip is a fearful thing." More than one hundred thousand fans attended her funeral. Three female fans were so overcome with grief that they committed suicide during the procession. She was buried at Fu Shou Yuan Cemetery in Shanghai. Her life and death remain a poignant chapter in Chinese cinema history.