Following the unexpected passing of Hong Kong star Kathy Chow, 57, her family background has been cast into the spotlight once again.

The actress, who passed away in her Beijing home on Dec 11 due to illness, was reportedly from an esteemed family and a descendent of the Manchu nobility.

According to reports, she is from the Gūwalgiya clan, one of the most prominent Manchu clans of the Qing Dynasty.

Her family, which is under the Bordered White Banner, one of the Eight Banners of Manchu military, is the largest branch among the Jurchen people.

Kathy once revealed that her ancestors served as fifth-rank officials in Guangdong, and held significant administrative power.

There is even a "Chow Family Village" in that area which is inhabited by Manchu people.

Princess Kathy

Not only that, Kathy was considered a “real princess” due to her lineage.

The Gūwalgiya clan is known for its beauties and many of its women were selected to enter the palace as concubines of the emperor.

Many of Kathy’s fellow clan members still reside in northeastern China and are real princesses.

Other celebrities from the clan include actresses Rosamund Kwan and Emily Kwan.

Kathy in the 1985 Miss Hong Kong pageant and her debut drama The Yang's Saga

Kathy got her start in showbiz after participating in the 1985 Miss Hong Kong pageant. Though she did not make it to the finals, she was invited to join TVB’s artiste training class.

She later signed with the broadcaster and made her debut in period drama The Yang's Saga that same year. 

Best known for her role in 1991 drama The Breaking Point, Kathy's popularity soared after her turn as the most beautiful Zhou Zhiruo in the 1994 Taiwanese adaptation of The Heaven Sword and Dragon Saber.

She was briefly married to actor Ray Lui for a mere five months back in 1988 when she was just 22. 

Photos: Kathy Chow/Weibo

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