Anita Mui

Anita Mui, the Hong Kong pop diva, stood among Asia’s most cherished entertainers after moving more than ten million albums whose songs appeared in Cantonese, Mandarin, and Japanese. She first took the stage in nightclubs at age four, yet her decisive breakthrough arrived only in 1982 when she captured first place in a prominent talent contest. Parallels with Madonna soon became evident: both artists rose to fame in the early ’80s, both achieved success on screen, and both became celebrated for lavish productions that featured repeated costume changes. On film, Mui headlined several Hong Kong blockbusters that also found sizable U.S. audiences, among them Rumble in the Bronx with Jackie Chan and My Father Is a Hero with Jet Li. Although she withdrew from music in 1991, a triumphant return followed in 1994, after which she maintained an active touring schedule. In September 2003 she disclosed a cancer diagnosis, yet she pressed ahead with performances and delivered several concerts the following November. By December her health had deteriorated, prompting hospitalization; the Hong Kong superstar died on December 30, 2003, at the age of 40.