Fann moved to Taiwan in 1993. One of her earliest successes was in an
Oil of Ulan (now Oil of Olay) commercial aired in Taiwan and Singapore. In 1996, her role in
The Unbroken Cycle won her first regional nomination at the Asian Television Awards. She continued to star in a large array of drama serials, including
A Romance in Shanghai (produced in Shanghai),
Wild Orchids (filmed in Sydney) and
Brave New World (filmed in
Amsterdam and Belgium). In late 1996, Fann released in Singapore her first Mandarin pop album
Fanntasy, which contained a duet (theme song of her TV drama 'Brave New World') with Taiwanese singer
Jeff Chang. The album was retitled
I Live Alone and repackaged with two additional songs for the Taiwanese market and won 4
IFPI platinum sales awards in Taiwan, marking the start of Fann's regional success.
Late 1990s: rise of regional popularity In 1996, Fann starred in the 40-episode blockbuster drama
Brave New World alongside
Christopher Lee and Hong Kong actor
Alex Man. This was the first time ever that Fann would act together with Christopher Lee. Fann also performed the theme song, "Don't let love become hard for us", as a duet with Taiwanese singer
Jeff Chang. In 1998, Fann was named the female lead,
Xiaolongnü, in
TCS remake of the hit
wuxia drama
The Return of the Condor Heroes where she once again starred alongside Christopher Lee. The release of this drama, along with her second album,
Shopping, further increased her exposure in Taiwan and China. When Hong Kong director
Derek Yee saw Fann's "Shopping" music video on Hong Kong's
Channel V, he flew to Singapore to cast her as the lead actress in the Hong Kong art film
The Truth About Jane and Sam. The movie topped the Singapore box office for three weeks and her role as a gritty wild-child won her a Best New Performer nomination at the 19th
Hong Kong Film Awards in 2000. In addition, her role as a self-centred stockbroker in
Out to Win attracted a million viewers in Singapore during its finale. It was during this period when Fann acquired many of her die-hard fans, led by the Fann-atic Fan Club (FFC). In 1999, Fann released her third album,
Missing You, recorded "
Private Number" with British boyband
911 and performed
Moments of Magic, Singapore's official millennium song. These musical successes resulted in her being the first Singapore artiste to stage a solo paying concert ("My Story"—Fann Wong in Concert) at the
Singapore Indoor Stadium in 2000. That same year, she released her fourth Mandarin album,
No Problem. During the next few years, Fann focused on her acting career. She played a two-timing television reporter in the omnibus Hong Kong film
When I Fall in Love... With Both, acted as a lovelorn insurance agent in the Singaporean romantic drama
Looking For Stars, as well as played the title character in the Taiwanese period drama
Madam White Snake. She also began hosting travelogue shows, including
Travel Hunt: Japan and
Fann Adventure, which was filmed in South Africa and Malaysia.
2003: Hollywood In 2002, Fann became the first Singaporean actress to play a major role in a Hollywood production, as Chon Lin in
Shanghai Knights. When the film was released in early 2003, Stephen Hunter of
The Washington Post stated: Fann is an enchanting new film presence. Clearly modelled after
Zhang Ziyi of
Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon, she combines a dancer's grace with a fighter's speed, and looks great standing still or whirling.
The Hollywood Reporter's David Hunter noted that Fann was "more than equal to playing the strong woman fighter who's also pretty darn cute", while John Keenan of the
Omaha World-Herald stated that "Fann's stunt work is actually more memorable than
Jackie Chan's here". and in 2004, won the Singapore Street Festival's Best International Artiste Award.
2004–2007 In 2004, Fann continued acting in China period dramas such as
Moon Fairy and
My Fair Lady. She also starred in a Singapore serial on the
SARS epidemic titled
Always on My Mind, which won her a Best Actress nomination at the 2004 Star Awards. In mid-2004, Fann was cast in the lead role in the German-Singapore telemovie,
House of Harmony. In late 2004, Fann released her first publication, a semi-autobiographical comic book
Girl Illustrated. After a musical hiatus of five years, she released her first compilation,
In Love With You. In April 2005, Fann was invited to the Cannes
MIPTV Media Market where she promoted
House of Harmony and discussed possible collaborations with European industry professionals. She obtained the
All-Time Favourite Artiste for obtaining the
Top 10 Most Popular Female Artistes .
House of Harmony has since been telecast in Germany, Austria, France and Belgium to a combined prime-time viewership of over 80 million. That same year, Fann took on a lead role in a Taiwanese art-house romance film,
Dragon Eye Congee, which was nominated for five categories at the inaugural
Asian Festival of First Films. In August 2005, she made her voiceover debut in Singapore's first 3D animation film,
Zodiac, The Race Begins, which was released in early 2006. Furthermore, she also contributed her songs for the soundtracks of the movie. In November 2006, Fann made her first promotional visit to
Phnom Penh, Cambodia. She performed at the
Tonle Sap Water Festival Mega Concert and visited the Krousar Thmey blind school, where she donated cassette recorders and biscuits.
2007–2012: Focus on the Chinese market In early 2007, Fann signed a management contract with China's Huayi Brothers. Fann also became the first Singaporean artist to release a self-illustrated 3D animation, titled
Fanntasy World. The release of her Singapore film
Just Follow Law, in which she had to play an uncouth and scruffy man in a woman's body, was a major attraction at the
Chinese New Year box office and won her critical acclaim in the Singapore and Malaysian media. In 2008, she was invited to be a judge at the sixth "spirit of fire" international film festival which was held in Russia.
Ah Long Pte Ltd reached No. 1 in both Singapore's and Malaysia's box office during the Chinese new year. Later, the film
Dance of Dragon that she paired with Korean hunk Jang Hyuk led her to win her first International Best Actress at West Hollywood International Film Festival. In 2009, Fann starred with future husband Christopher Lee in
The Wedding Game. The movie won the best feature film at the first international comedy film festival held in Thailand. In June, she finished her new Chinese movie
In a tangle . In September, she filmed the romantic movie
Cornflower blue, starring with Alex Fong and Chang Chen in Hainan. Both of them were on the screen in late 2010. She filmed another comedy film
Happy Go Lucky, which was shown during the Chinese New Year. In 2010, she slowed down her pace and only two dramas were filmed. But she gained her critic praises from many Chinese media for her character "Ren DaiDai" in the drama
Jin DaBan De Zuihou Yiye starring with Chinese actress
Fan Bingbing. Two more Singaporean dramas followed in 2011. But 2012 seemed to be a busy year for Fann. At the begin of the year, she played a syren in the series
The Legend of Master Ji 3, then she was invited to be a judge for TBS's fashion competition show
Asian Ace. Later she flew to ShanDong and played a spicy wife in the movie
Ai Shui Shui together with
Jaycee Chan, and also a telemovie
Han di hu lue zhu gui based on novel
Water Margin. Another movie
Runaway Woman was filmed in Xinjiang in May. She was awarded the "2012 Huading Most Popular Asian Actress Award" in Beijing Olympic Sports Centre on 4 July. Though she didn't release new album for years, she was still invited to perform at 9th
Asia Song Festival which was held in Yeosul, Korea, on 4 August. In October, she flew to Xinjiang again to film the period drama
Tun Shu Xi Jiang about revolution occurring in Xinjiang. She worked with Hong Kong actor
Bowie Lam (her husband in the drama) and Chinese director
Zhang Jizhong.
2013-2014: New beginnings 2013 marked a new career beginning for Fann. She set up her own studio at the end of 2012, ended her contract with
Huayi Brothers, and signed a new contract with Taiwan management agency Catwalk. In 2014, after working with Fann on a children's charity in Thailand, illustrator Patrick Yee designed and illustrated a nearly wordless picturebook, published by
Epigram Books, about the adventures of a girl with the same name.
2014–present: Focus on motherhood After giving birth to her son Zed in 2014, Fann took a step back in her career to focus on motherhood, only taking on acting projects occasionally. In 2018, Fann made her acting comeback in
Doppelganger, which marked her first on-screen collaboration with husband Christopher Lee in almost 14 years. The role scored her a nomination for
Star Awards for Best Actress at
Star Awards 2019. In 2020, Fann made her
Mediacorp English drama debut in the Hokkien opera themed series,
Titoudao: Inspired by a True Wayang Star. That same year, Fann turned down an invitation from
Zhang Ziyi to appear in the popular Chinese variety show,
I Am the Actor. In 2023, Fann was in negotiations to appear in the fourth season of the popular Chinese reality TV show
Sisters Who Make Waves. Fann ultimately did not appear in the show. In 2024, Fann was featured in a women-focused exhibition, Goddess: Brave. Bold. Beautiful, at the ArtScience Museum alongside
Michelle Yeoh,
Zhang Ziyi and
Marilyn Monroe. ==Personal life==