According to Sina, Lam Phuong Binh, 61, garnered significant public attention when she attended the Beijing International Film Festival in late april. Organizers honored her and artist Chu Lam as exemplary Chinese screen stars across different eras. Both Lam Phuong Binh and Chu Lam created deeply impactful characters with an inimitable aura.

Lam Phuong Binh's portrayal of Yang Guifei in Duong Minh Hoang (1993) is a classic image in Chinese television. According to Ifeng, audiences likened her to "Yang Guifei stepping out of history books" due to her appearance and demeanor closely matching descriptions in ancient texts and paintings.

Lam Phuong Binh embodied the concubine as skilled in singing and dancing, knowledgeable in music, and possessing a full figure, whose beauty could make flowers blush and the moon hide in shame (a classical Chinese idiom describing extreme beauty).

According to historical records, Yang Guifei (719-756), named Yang Yuhuan, was granted the title of imperial consort by Emperor Duong Huyen Tong in 745. She was a rare talent among the tens of thousands of concubines and palace maids throughout China's feudal dynasties. The love story of Yang Guifei and Duong Huyen Tong is associated with many tales of the Tang dynasty's ultimate glory during its golden age. However, many believed the emperor's infatuation and favoritism towards the consort led to the dynasty's decline. In 756, due to An Loc Son's rebellion, Emperor Duong Huyen Tong fled the capital with Yang Guifei. Her death remains a mystery.

During the filming of Yang Guifei, Lam Phuong Binh endured a difficult period due to the pressure of gaining weight and performing. The actress once ate 14 dumplings at a time, waking up in the middle of the night to consume chicken soup, eggs, and other nutritious foods to gain weight as required by the director.

On Ifeng, the actress stated that the film was shot over 17 months, and she once hit a female assistant, unable to control herself due to prolonged stress. Afterwards, Lam Phuong Binh collapsed onto the table, crying and apologizing to the assistant.

Duong Thu Van, a makeup artist dubbed the "magic hand" of Chinese cinema, was responsible for the star's makeup and hair. Last year, Duong Thu Van posted some photos of Lam Phuong Binh on his personal page, recalling their collaboration period.

Duong Thu Van wrote on Weibo: "Thank you, Phuong Binh, we jointly created the image of Yang Guifei that audiences remember. This is also the film crew's tribute to the beauty of the Tang era. I still remember, after the makeup was complete, Lam Phuong Binh stood up, and a strong emotion surged: this was no longer makeup but Yang Guifei stepping out of history."

Duong Thu Van also did makeup for Tran Hieu Xuc in Hong Lau Mong and Luu Hieu Khanh in Vo Tac Thien.

Besides Duong Minh Hoang, Lam Phuong Binh also starred in U Coc Luyen Ca and Ma Nu Toc Trang.

The actress featured in film magazines during the 1980s.

Now in her 60s, Lam Phuong Binh has not acted for the past 20 years, dedicating herself to her family and supporting her husband's work. The actress once explained her reason for leaving the screen: "I chose to stop acting when I was still sought after. Before fame and fortune abandoned me, I thought I should abandon them first."

The actress was photographed at her family's villa in Bac Kinh. She married in 1987 and has one son. Lam Phuong Binh's husband is an orchestra conductor. Their son, Ly Thien Dong, inherited artistic talent from his parents and is currently a renowned pianist in China.

By Nhu Anh

Photos: *Mtime*