She later turned to acting and enjoyed success starring in films including The Heroic Trio and Drunken Master 2. Her portrayal of a tortured ghost in Rouge won her Taiwan’s Golden Horse Award in 1987.
Mui didn’t talk much about the difficulties she experienced on her journey from a bar singer to becoming a major star in Asia. She once said: “Many people have asked me which one I want to be: a happy ordinary person or an eminent star. If I could, I would choose to be a happy ordinary person.”
She remembered being rejected when she first entered show business: “Once a man scoffed at me in public on Christmas Day. He swore at me. At that time, I was not accepted in the show business. I was humiliated for no reason. I almost burst into tears.”
Mui was born for the stage. Although she gave her farewell concert in 1991, she made a comeback in 1994 and caused quite a stir. But after that, she made light of many things.
“Instant shining is not eternity. Show business is a hard life. I wonder how many people will remember me after I leave the business for good. My hope is that when they feel bored and look at the stars in the sky, people will think of my name.”