Amy Yip

Amy Yip Chi-mei she was one of the leading sex symbols of Hong Kong cinema in the late 1980s and early 1990s. Yip began her entertainment career as a trainee with the Hong Kong broadcaster Asia Television (ATV), taking on minor television roles after signing a two-year contract in 1985. During her tenure at ATV, she was approached by Raymond Chow, founder of the film production company Golden Harvest, who offered her a position once her contract ended. She had small roles in films such as Jackie Chan's Miracles and The Inspector Wears Skirts 2 (both 1989), until she starred in Category III film Erotic Ghost Story.

By 1994, she had starred in more than twenty films, most notably The Magnificent Scoundrels, Great Pretenders, Robotrix, To Be Number One, and Sex and Zen. She retired from acting in 1997. She has garnered a cult following for the numerous films that she starred in. As an entrepreneur, she is the owner of The Leith Penang, a boutique hotel in Penang, Malaysia.

Career Born in Hong Kong on 10 July 1966, she has family roots in Taishan, Guangdong. Yip's father was a barber, and her mother was a housewife. She is the youngest of five children. After studying at Kau Kam English College, Yip first started working in the entertainment industry as a trainee for Asia Television, appearing in small television roles after signing a two-year contract with them in 1985. During her training, she was approached by Golden Harvest founder Raymond Chow, who made her an offer to join his company after fulfilling her contract with ATV. Yip agreed, but stipulated in the contract that she would not be shot fully naked nor bare her nipples.

After making brief appearances in Miracles (1989) and The Inspector Wears Skirts 2 (, 1989), Yip scored a breakthrough role with Erotic Ghost Story (1990). This was a Category III film where she played a fox spirit aiming to seduce the protagonist scholar. She became one of the most popular actresses in Hong Kong and many other parts of Asia in the early 1990s.

In 1991, she portrayed Sister Har in Queen of the Underworld, in which a woman climbed from the lowest depths of society to become the celebrated queen of nightlife in 1960s and 1970s Hong Kong.

She retired from acting in 1997 .

Public image Yip is described as a sex symbol by the press. A 1990 article by the South China Morning Post directly attributed her success to her figure, stating that "her 36-inch [92cm] bust has certainly carried her publicity." Yip denied dating Chan, stating that the two were only friends.

Yip's long term boyfriend was the orthopedics surgeon Dr. Sammy Sek Chiu Lui ; the pair met in 1992. Numerous rumours have surfaced over the years about Yip marrying Lui, and being pregnant. In an interview in early 2006 with an East Weekly reporter, who spotted Yip walking her dog at Repulse Bay, she said she was in a steady relationship with her boyfriend of more than 15 years and had no intention of getting married or having children. She added she had food and beverage businesses set up in Hong Kong and Macau that kept her busy and occupied.

When asked if she would consider a comeback into the film business, Yip flatly rejected the idea, saying that she was very happy with her carefree lifestyle and had no desire of returning to filming long hours and traveling intensively for movies and record publicity. She also said that she is content with not showing her breasts to make a living.

In May 2018, an English language book detailing her career in movies and television was released. Her boyfriend Lui died of a heart attack while flying to the United States in November 2018.

Nam Kee Pau, a baozi chain in Singapore, sells a large steamed bun named the Amy Yip Big Pau after the actress' bust size.

She has garnered a cult following for the numerous films that she starred in.

Filmography

Film Year Title 1988 Who is The Craftiest 奸人本色 1988 Heart to Hearts 三人世界 1988 China Heat 霸王花之中華警花 1989 The Inspector Wears Skirts 2 神勇飛虎霸王花 1989 Miracles 奇蹟 1989 Mr. Sunshine 开心巨无霸 1989 Lost Souls 富貴開心鬼 1989 Ghost Fever 鬼媾人 1990 Jail House Eros 監獄不設防 1990 Erotic Ghost Story 聊齋艷譚 1990 Look Out, Officer! 師兄撞鬼 1990 Doctor's Heart 救命宣言 1990 My Neighbours are Phantoms 嘩鬼住正隔籬 1990 Mortuary Blues 屍家重地 1990 Raid On Royal Casino Marine 霸王花第三集皇家賭船 1990 She Shoots Straight 皇家女將 1990 Legend of the Dragon 龍的傳人 1990 Ghostly Vixen 天師捉姦 1990 To Spy with Love 小心間諜 1991 The Blue Jean Monster 著牛仔褲的鍾馗 1991 Queen of the Underworld 夜生活女王霞姐傳奇 1991 Magnificent Scoundrels 情聖 1991 Great Pretenders 千王 1991 Robotrix 女機械人 1991 Lethal Contact 龍貓燒鬚 1991 Erotic Ghost Story 2 聊齋艷譚續集五通神 1991 Easy Money 老表發錢寒 1991 Vampire Kids 殭屍福星仔 1991 To Be Number One 跛豪 1991 Sex and Zen 玉蒲團之偷情寶鑑 1992 China Dolls 妓女警察 1992 The Prince of Temple Street 廟街十二少 1992 Requital 五湖四海 1992 Stooges in Hong Kong 不文騷 1994 Underground Judgement 地下裁決