'She’s not worthy': Netizens unhappy Anita Yuen was called the 'Audrey Hepburn of Hong Kong cinema' by news portal

Hong Kong news portal South China Morning Post (SCMP) recently ran a profile on Anita Yuen documenting the highlights and achievements of the 51-year-old.

The story was titled: “She crossed Jackie Chan and vexed Peter Chan: how Anita Yuen, the Audrey Hepburn of Hong Kong cinema, made her mark playing forthright women."

While Anita is one of Hong Kong's most loved actress, apparently her being called Hong Kong's Audrey Hepburn was just too much for readers and netizens to bear.

Anita with Lau Ching Wan in 1993's C'est la vie, mon chéri

The SCMP article detailed how Anita, who got her start in showbiz at 18 after winning the Miss Hong Kong Pageant in 1990, was not satisfied with being a “vase” aka an actress known for her looks and not for having any other talent. 

She went on to star in movies including C'est la vie, mon chéri (1993) and He’s a Woman, She’s a Man (1994). Her performance in both films won her Best Actress at the Hong Kong Film Awards in consecutive years.

SCMP also discussed Anita’s reputation for “being difficult to work with”.

“Anita Yuen has a reputation of being loud, stubborn, and opinionated about most things - especially when they relate to her. And she knows it,” read a line from the article.

According to SCMP, she angered Jackie Chan when filming the 1995 movie, Thunderbolt, leading to a 22-year feud that was only resolved when “the two unexpectedly ran into each other at dinner”.

Similarly, director Peter Chan also found Anita hard to work with.

He initially had qualms about casting her in Tom, Dick and Hairy (1993), and even considered replacing her. However, he changed his mind and “fell in love with her as an actress” after she wowed him with her acting abilities.

Netizens felt like Anita should not have been compared to the Hollywood icon, who was also known in her later years as a humanitarian who made countless contributions to UNICEF

However, many netizens did not agree with SCMP calling Anita the “Audrey Hepburn of Hong Kong cinema”.

"She's not worthy," read one succinct but pointed comment on SCMP's Facebook post.

“Don’t forget that she was known as the “potty-mouthed actress” when she was younger,' wrote one netizen who added that it was a stretch to liken Anita to someone as "elegant and refined" as Audrey Hepburn.

Others also compared how both actress lead their lives off screen, namely when it comes to humanitarian efforts.

"It is also recorded that Audrey Hepburn raised money to support the Dutch resistance during World War II. Later in her life, she was a humanitarian, and is recognised for her work as a UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador. I would suggest that before you start comparing the two actresses, you note that Anita still has a long way to go," said one netizen.

“Anita doesn’t do any charity work, she only cares about how many Hermès bags are in her wardrobe,” wrote another netizen.

While Audrey is fondly remembered for her charity work, netizens think Anita is better recognised for her love of collecting designer handbags Photos: Sinchew News