30 Years of Prestigious Marriage Was a Lie: 1980s Sex Symbol Irene Wan Reveals 'I Had Children Out of Wedlock'

In the 1980s, Hong Kong’s 60-year-old sexy goddess Irene Wan, who became a sensation across Mainland China, Hong Kong, and Taiwan with films such as “Let’s Make Laugh,” “An Amorous Woman of Tang Dynasty,” “Flower Street Era,” “Women’s Prison,” and “Rich and Famous,” suddenly married tycoon Wong Koon-bok at the height of her career and moved to the United States, fading from the film scene for many years. Recently, she has shot back to fame due to her participation in TVB’s anniversary drama “The Queen of News 2,” once again drawing attention. In fact, in 2018, she performed in a TVB drama for the first time, starring in “Daddy Cool,” playing the wife in a May-December romance with 37-year-old Lai Lok-yi.

However, this relationship, long believed by the public to be a “prestigious marriage,” has recently taken a dramatic turn. During an interview with veteran Hong Kong journalist and friend Wong Man-ling, Irene Wan made a startling revelation: “I’ve never actually been married. I had three daughters out of wedlock.”

Regarding her long-concealed relationship status, Irene Wan displayed the same forthrightness that earned her the title of “Hong Kong’s First Generation Bold Woman.” She admitted that she and Wong Koon-bok had been together for a long time. However, for her, a marriage certificate is merely a formality—“As long as we’re happy together, that’s enough.” She expressed that circumstances and people will always change; though they split up long ago, she has no regrets about the relationship. Irene feels that an official title means nothing to her, thus thoroughly living out the bold and uninhibited persona she often played on screen.

When talking about her three daughters, Irene Wan revealed a softer side. She confessed that after splitting with their father, she spent most of her time raising them by herself, though he occasionally helps out. She still feels guilty, calling herself an “unqualified mother.” Interestingly, her eldest daughter, now 30, harbors no resentment; instead, she deeply understands her mother’s independent spirit, often teasing that Irene “has the mentality of a teenager.” Their friend-like rapport gives Irene great comfort.

Since returning to Hong Kong in 2010, Irene Wan’s marital status has always been a focus of public attention. From early rumors of being an “old married couple” to now openly revealing the “unmarried truth,” Irene Wan has proved through her actions that she refuses to let her life be defined by societal norms.