Ip’s portrayal of an ageing domestic servant in Ann Hui’s film won her the prestigious Volpi Cup, the first for a Hongkonger
2-MIN READ2-MINSCMPPublished: 3:30pm, 11 Sep 2026This article was published on September 12, 2011.
Veteran Hong Kong movie star Deanie Ip Tak-han was named best actress at the Venice Film Festival for her portrayal of an ageing domestic servant in Ann Hui On-wah’s film A Simple Life (Tao Jie).
The award, a first for a Hongkonger, was a crowning achievement for the 63-year-old Ip, who returned to the big screen for the first time in a decade to take the film’s leading role.
The movie also stars Canto-pop heartthrob Andy Lau Tak-wah.
An emotional Ip said after receiving the award: “It’s great. I haven’t had my heart beat so heavily for so long, because I think it was more than 10 years ago that I had my best supporting actress award in Taipei.”
She won that Golden Horse Award for the 2000 film Crying Heart.
