In a recent livestream, director Wong Jing – who has collaborated with Shu Qi on numerous film projects – unexpectedly revealed the reason why the acclaimed actress retired in 2017. The information immediately became a focal point of attention in the Chinese entertainment industry.
According to Wong Jing, Shu Qi developed a severe allergy to cosmetics after years of filming and participating in commercials. Doctors diagnosed her with a rare chronic dermatitis, which caused her skin to be constantly red, swollen, and painfully irritated. The condition was so severe that doctors warned: “If you continue to wear makeup, your face will be beyond salvation.”
For an actress renowned for her captivating beauty, this was a massive shock. In 2017, Shu Qi decided to temporarily halt all artistic activities to seek treatment, virtually disappearing from the media for eight years.
During her “retreat,” she wore no makeup, avoided public events, and limited social media updates. The actress tried a series of treatments, from changing her diet, natural skincare, body detox, to intensive skin cell regeneration. After nearly five years of persistence, her skin condition gradually stabilized.
In 2022, Shu Qi returned to the red carpet with a natural yet radiant appearance. Three years later, she made a comeback to the screen with impressive achievements.
Currently, Shu Qi not only acts but also takes on the role of a director. Her debut film, Girl, which she wrote, directed, and produced, is considered a major turning point in her career.
The work was shortlisted for the Venice Film Festival (Italy) and earned her the Best Director award at the Busan International Film Festival (South Korea).
According to the actress’s own words, Girl is a deeply autobiographical film, exploring painful past experiences such as a poverty-stricken childhood, lack of parental love, and domestic violence. Through cinema, she aims to convey the message: “Transform pain into strength.”
Before becoming a director, Shu Qi was one of the leading sex symbols of Hong Kong (China) cinema. From her early 18+ roles to make ends meet, she gradually asserted her talent, becoming a highly acclaimed figure in Chinese cinema with three Golden Horse Awards and numerous international accolades.
Every film project she participated in or directed achieved impressive box office success, making Shu Qi one of Asia’s most valuable female artists, with an estimated fee of about 40 million CNY (nearly 150 billion VND) per film.
Beyond her successful career, the actress also enjoys a private but happy marriage with director Stephen Fung – her friend of 20 years before becoming her life partner. They married in 2016 in a warm, private ceremony.
Nearly 10 years into their marriage, both still harbor the wish to have children. Shu Qi revealed that she once took a year off from work to focus on conceiving but was unsuccessful.
“It’s not that I don’t want to have children. I always longed for it, but I just couldn’t,” she said. Age and health make pregnancy difficult. The couple has also considered adoption.
Nevertheless, Shu Qi affirms that she is living a fulfilling life. When asked about her secret to maintaining peace, she shared: “Recognize daily challenges, cherish everyone and everything, let go when things are unrequited, live simply, think of others, and continuously improve yourself.”
