Teresa Li Wai Foon, or Lee Fung (李楓) first made her movie debut back in 1967 when she played a supporting role in “Lau Kam Ding – the Female General” (玉郎三戲女將軍). She went on to play many other supporting roles and cameos throughout her career – up till 2020 in “The Calling of A Bus Driver” (阿索的故事). Other notable dramas include “The Hippocratic Crush”, “Ghetto Justice” and “Another Era”.
To our surprise, it is understood that the 69-year-old Hong Kong actress is now residing in an old folks home after retiring from TVB. A few fans recently rallied together on social media to find out the veteran’s whereabouts and their efforts paid off.
After word got out, a netizen came forth and claimed, “She’s living in the same old folks home as my father. She’s still very energetic and is always out and about.” Shortly after, news portal HK01 reached out to Lee Fung personally and she confirmed the rumour – admitting that she’s been living in the old folks home for close to a year now (since the pandemic happened).
“Yes, I’m living in an old folks home that I previously volunteered at. The environment here is considered decent, there are a few rooms and we get our own beds. I’m quite lucky because I managed to get my own room, so I have my privacy which is quite hard to come by. Even when I’m on the phone I don’t have to worry about other people eavesdropping,” Lee Fung told the publication.
Known for having a “voice that sounds like a duck” when she plays the antagonist, Lee Fung is easily recognised for her black mole near her nose. She tied the knot with a businessman (working in the fashion industry) at a young age. The couple have a son and daughter together. Due to her husband’s failed business and addiction to buying stocks though, they were forced to declare bankruptcies twice.
As a result, Lee Fung had to sell her dowry and jewellery to make ends meet. A decade ago, the actress was diagnosed with a brain tumour couldn’t even afford to seek treatment in a private hospital. Looking back, Lee Fung regrets neglecting her children for her career, and they became estranged. Luckily time heals wounds, and her son even declared that he doesn’t hold any grudges towards her during his wedding.
Life hasn’t been easy but Lee Fung is choosing to look at the glass half full. “I don’t think my current state is miserable, I’m very thankful. You have a place to live, what else do you want? I have some friends who weren’t that happy before they passed on, and that made me sad. I hope that I won’t be like them,” the veteran actress insisted there’s nothing to complain about living in an old folks home.
Although Lee Fung still hopes to act a little bit more, she explains that the old folks home has its own restrictions about entering in and out. Plus, she’ll be required to apply for permission. She added, “The biggest drawback is that there isn’t much freedom here. The old folks home has their own rules and we can’t blame them for being strict because if they let us head out as and when we want, how can they manage the place. The most important thing is that I’m not troubling anyone. I really don’t want to bother others.”
Source: HK01 via 8Days.
