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Stuart Lau

Emily Tsang

It was all so simple for veteran artist Deanie Ip Tak-han as she took to the stage to claim the best actress prize at last night's 31st annual Hong Kong Film Awards.
Her film A Simple Life was the big winner on the night, taking home five awards, including best film.
The home victory added to an impressive set of international awards for the 64-year-old's performance as an ageing maid struggling after suffering a stroke. 
She was also voted top female performer at the Venice Film Festival, Taipei's Golden Horse Awards and the Asian Film Awards.
'A 60-something-year-old getting this award ... I bet there are no more chances to come on stage any more. This sounds like the words one would say before one's death, but I mean it,' said Ip, twice a best supporting actress winner, as she accepted the prize at the Cultural Centre.
Co-star Andy Lau Tak-wah won best actor for the third time and director Ann Hui On-wah became the first person to win four best director gongs.
Lau appeared close to tears as he credited his co-star and his unborn child with bringing him luck. 'Had it not been for sister Deanie I wouldn't have got this prize,' said Lau, whose wife Carol Chu is expecting the couple's first child.
The film tells the tale of a maid's service to four generations of a family and her love for the youngest sons.
And host Eric Tsang Chi-wai credited Lau's role in getting the film made. 'It [A Simple Life] was once a movie that wouldn't have been released due to limited funds, had it not been for Andy Lau's assistance in requesting money,' Tsang said.
There was also a best screenplay award for A Simple Life's screenwriter, Qin Hailu.
The other big winner on the night was pioneering 3D martial arts drama Flying Swords of Dragon Gate. 
The film, directed by Tsui Hark, earned five awards in technical categories, including best action choreography.



Deanie Ip simply the best at awards