At the age of 58, Wang Zuxian, one of the “Four Dan Actresses” in the 1990s Hong Kong film industry, suddenly withdrew from the entertainment industry at the peak of her career at the age of 37. She subsequently secluded herself in Canada, sparking speculation from the public that she retired due to emotional distress. In recent years, she has been running a moxibustion clinic in Vancouver and on January 4th, she made a public appearance at a Traditional Chinese Medicine forum in Silicon Valley, USA, where she delivered a guest lecture. This marked the first time she openly addressed the reasons for her retirement at the height of her acting career.
Wang Zuxian gained fame in 1987 for her role in the movie “A Chinese Ghost Story” which became a sensation across Asia, including in Japan, South Korea, and Malaysia. However, in 2004, at the age of 37 after starring in the film “Magic Kitchen,” Wang Zuxian suddenly disappeared from the entertainment scene. She retreated to Vancouver, Canada, seemingly vanishing from the public eye.
Speculations surrounding the reasons for Wang Zuxian’s withdrawal from the entertainment industry varied, with some attributing it to her breakup with veteran singer Dave Wong. However, over the years, Wang Zuxian had never directly addressed these rumors.
In recent years, Wang Zuxian found success in Canada by establishing a moxibustion clinic where she personally attends to her clients. At the Traditional Chinese Medicine forum in Silicon Valley, she appeared wearing a mask while sharing her moxibustion philosophy. It was during this event that she publicly mentioned that her decision to retire at the peak of her career at 37 was not related to her personal relationships. Instead, she felt that leaving at her best state would leave everyone with good memories of her.
Wang Zuxian revealed that back in 1984, she entered the entertainment world after being discovered during her student days, leading her to pursue a career in British Hong Kong. However, she confessed that she did not enjoy the hectic and unbalanced lifestyle of the industry that disrupted her sleep patterns.
She admitted, “People often end up in situations not of their own choosing that somehow turn into what seems like very good fates, so I followed this fate and entered the entertainment industry.” She revealed that she once suffered from depression due to identity issues but gradually found inner balance through practicing Buddhism, Traditional Chinese Medicine, and establishing her moxibustion clinic. This statement directly refuted years of speculation about her retirement being linked to emotional distress.
Wang Zuxian emphasized that the first half of her life was filled with struggles, exploration, and confusion, leading her to now prioritize inner peace and focus on new directions for her future life, placing a greater emphasis on her physical and mental well-being.
However, some netizens shared clips of Wang Zuxian at the event, noticing that she had a “drooping eyelid” in her left eye, with some describing her as appearing to have difficulty opening that eye, which contrasted with her bright and expressive eyes in her previous works. Some speculated that this might be due to temporary fatigue, lack of sleep, or allergic inflammation. Others related it to Wang Zuxian’s past mentions of body adjustments and wellness processes, suggesting it was a temporary physical reaction. Despite this, Wang Zuxian’s overall condition remained stable, showing focused spirit at the event without any impact on her schedule.