Brigitte Lin marks 72nd birthday on Weibo

Actor Brigitte Lin. [Weibo capture]
Actor Brigitte Lin. [Weibo capture]

Brigitte Lin, the actor who captivated South Korean audiences in the 1990s through the Hong Kong film "Swordsman II," is drawing attention after posting a birthday celebration on social media at age 72.

Lin shared the post on the Chinese social media platform Weibo on Tuesday, marking her 72nd birthday.

"Happy birthday to me. All the blessings you send will come back to you," she wrote, sharing several photos alongside the message.

In the photos, Lin beams in a red dress, posing in front of a large bouquet of red roses arranged in the shape of a birthday cake.

Brigitte Lin during her acting career. [Social media capture]
Brigitte Lin during her acting career. [Social media capture]

Lin was born on Nov. 3, 1954, in Taiwan. She made her debut in 1973 at age 19, and rose to widespread fame when the 1992 martial-arts film "Swordsman II" became a major hit — Lin played the cross-dressing female lead to great acclaim. She visited South Korea in 1993 for a fan signing event to promote the sequel. After wrapping director Wong Kar-wai's "Chungking Express" in 1994, she married a businessman that same year and in effect disappeared from the screen.

The birthday post spread across several South Korean online communities, drawing a wave of reactions. "It was the first time I felt my heart flutter for a woman — because of 'Swordsman II,'" one user wrote. Others chimed in: "She's 72 and her beauty hasn't changed a bit," "An actor is always an actor, no matter the age," "Still beautiful," and "Aging so gracefully — the eternal 'Swordsman II.'"


jshan@heraldcorp.com