Rise to Fame (1960-65) During her teenage years, Connie appeared more and more frequently on the silver screen: at first mostly in Cantonese operas (often with the legendary Yam Kim-fai, who had taken Connie as her apprentice); but later almost exclusively in martial-arts movies (usually in the company of veteran action stars Yu So-chau, Walter Tso Tat-wah, and perennial bad guy Sek Kin). She also joined the Sin-Hok Kong-luen Film Company’s stable of young stars (which included Suet Nei, Nancy Sit Ka-yin, and Kenneth Tsang Kong) and took part in director Chan Lit-ban’s groundbreaking adaptations of Jin Yong’s serialized novels, The Golden Hairpin (1963-64) and The Snowflake Sword (1964). Released in three and four parts, these films were blockbuster extravaganzas popular for their intricate plots, special effects, and complex action choreography. Two films in 1965 would give a boost to Connie’s career: The Six-Fingered Lord of the Lute (in which she played the lead male role and which was publicized with the creation of her very own fanclub) and Black Rose (in which director Chor Yuen had the foresight to change her image by putting her in a contemporary role as a modern-day Robin Hood). more Connie was a student of legendary opera star Yam Kim-fai.