Actress Shirley Yim looks back on journey as single mother after split from martial arts actor Norman Chui

On Sept. 15, the 59-year-old actress made a rare social media post, remembering Chui, the father of her two children, with the words, "Rest in peace, Norman Chui." Chui passed away on Sept. 1 at the age of 74 due to esophageal cancer.

According to HK01, Shirley and Chui began their relationship when she was a teenager, and she had their first child at 18.

The couple parted ways in 1988 after having two children, and Shirley raised them on her own. She later stated that she had "erased the image of Chui" from her memory. Chui and Shirley had two children, Edward and Erica Chui, and their relationship became public in 1983. After their split in 1988, Shirley took full responsibility for raising their children.

Hong Kong actress Shirley Yim (right) and her daughter Erica Chui. Photo courtesy of Erica's Instagram

In a Sky Post interview last year, Shirley shared that she and her children, Edward and Erica, have relied on each other through tough times. She expressed her appreciation for their independence, saying that now, with her children grown and able to care for themselves, she feels more at ease and can focus on her health and social life.

Shirley acknowledged the challenges she faced as a single mother but has no regrets. She moved her children from Hong Kong to Canada to live with their aunt while she traveled between the two countries for work. Financial constraints sometimes kept her from visiting them for up to a year. After filming "The Return of the Condor Heroes" in 1995, she returned to find her children distant, which was heartbreaking but motivated her to rebuild their relationship.

Both of Shirley’s children pursued careers in the entertainment industry. Erica once noted that seeing her mother’s struggles taught her and Edward to be self-reliant.

Despite their parents' separation, Edward and Erica maintain a positive relationship with their father, staying in touch through video calls. They even appeared together as extras in a Chinese film, which helped strengthen their bond.

Shirley is the younger sister of actress Michelle Yim, who described her as quiet but passionate in love and hate, calling it both her strength and weakness.

Shirley left a lasting impression with her portrayal of Li Mochou, a kind-hearted woman turned vengeful after betrayal, in "The Return of the Condor Heroes". While she appears in fewer films now, she occasionally joins TV shows and public events. On an RTHK show last year, she expressed a desire to explore villain or courtesan roles, which she has yet to take on.

Chui became a prominent figure in the 1970s and 1980s for his martial arts hero roles before transitioning to villainous characters in the 1990s, including his notable performance in King of Beggars alongside Stephen Chow.

Alongside his relationship with Shirley, Chui first married in 1975 and had a son, but the couple divorced in 1979. He remarried the next year, though that marriage ended due to an affair. In 2004, Chui married Yuxuan, a mainland Chinese dancer 30 years younger than him.