Top 10 movie stars that China loves

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America's dimpled child movie star Shirley Temple Black died late Monday evening at the age of 85. Her passing has shocked the world, and her fans in China are also deeply saddened by the loss of yet another showbiz talent.
Temple is just one example of movie stars that China adored, and still adores. Their talents, their styles and their stories during their periods have deeply imprinted the hearts of Chinese audiences.
Here's our editor's pick of the top 10 movie stars who have influenced China. Some of them have left, but their work can still be appreciated, and their legacy remembered.

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1. Alain Delon

Alain Delon was considered as the "Apollo" of showbiz in the 60's and 70's. Chinese audiences might not be familiar with his best work, but can definitely recognize his handsome face. To most Chinese women, he is a perfect symbol of Western nobility and masculinity. Even to this day, fans around the world still regard him as the spokesman for handsomeness.

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2. Ken Takakura

Ken Takakura is perhaps the first Japanese character to make his way into the Chinese market. His masculinity stood out during a period where "softer" appearances were popular. Takakura is best known for his portrait of solemn, stern male characters that would hide passion under layers of responsibilities and burdens. Those close to him say he does not smile or talk much, even when he's not filming. A mysterious and good-looking man – what can be more attractive?

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3. Humphrey Bogart

Humphrey DeForest Bogart (December 25, 1899 – January 14, 1957), the greatest male star in the history of American cinema ranked by the American Film Institute, is still widely recognized as an American cultural icon. He is most known for the film Casablanca and his trademark persona on the silver screen – that hard-boiled cynic who always reveals his noble and softer side in the end.

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4. Charlie Chaplin

In the 20th century, it is not too much to say that Einstein made the greatest contributions to science, and not many would disagree that Chaplin (April 16, 1889 – December 25, 1977) did the same for film. He was the first actor that introduced comedy to most Chinese viewers, and politically, he was also a close friend of China’s. His silent films broke the barrier of language and his form of art was recognized by all. It will be a difficult task to find a person in China who does not recognize Chaplin, even today. There are many great comedians, both now and past, but no one has yet surpassed Chaplin for his vitality and longevity.

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5. Sylvester Stallone
Oh, Rambo! The first macho American man that China knew, Stallone's physique seemed like an amplified version of the sculpture David when he took his shirt off on screen. His accented English, easily recognizable even for someone who doesn't speak English, and his eyes that never seemed to smile, makes him someone whom cannot be forgotten. He represented the strong American image, and even stirred a boxing and bodybuilding fever in China.

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6. Marilyn Monroe

( June 1, 1926 – August 6, 1962)
She was the heroine in a fairytale-like politic scandal. Her life before she found fame is still a mystery. Her smile as she waves from a plane against a sea of cheering soldiers will forever be a beautiful scene in history. Hollywood defined her as sexy, something she was capable of delivering with ease, but also a weight she could not lift so as to breathe at ease. Regrettably, Chinese audiences did not know how to perceive such a symbol of the "American Dream" like Monroe during her time. But hopefully her beauty and legacy can be remembered during our time.

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7. Shirley Temple

( April 23, 1928 – February 10, 2014)
When Chinese audiences saw this adorable child star for the first time on screen, Shirley Temple had already lived for more than half a century. In her movies, she was always alone or in trouble, but this adorable little blonde, who smiled with dimples, could always resolve anything with her kindness, push away the fogginess and bring about light. The brand "Shirley Temple" was a product of the Great Depression. People watched her act to forget their hardships as Temple entertained the poor, the rich, adults and children alike. Several decades later, when her films were screened in China, the effects were the same. Whenever she was around, people forgot about their troubles. We hope she will forget all of her troubles as she rests in peace

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8. Audrey Hepburn

( May 4, 1929 – January 20, 1993)
She will forever be the princess in Chinese people's hearts. Even to this day, tourists flock to Rome to visit the Mouth of Truth with their lovers and eat ice cream on the Spanish Steps. Her sense of style seems to never go out of style. Her kindness and philanthropy works are carried on by today's actresses. When she was alive, she was living perfection. Even after her death, she has remained an icon. That's something that only Audrey Hepburn is capable of.

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9. Momoe Yamaguchi

In the later part of the 1970’s, there was a star that Chinese youth and their parents both liked – Momoe Yamaguchi. She fit well with the Confucian teachings of Chinese culture: reserved, filial and traditional. She stepped off the stage at the peak of her career and married her lover both on- and off-screen, Tomokazu Miura. She has since remained out of the spotlight and devotes her time to her family. She may have disappeared from the center stage, but her voice remains.

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10. Vivien Leigh

( November 5, 1913 – June 8, 1967)
China is the country most heavily influenced by the film and novel Gone with the Wind. In Shanghai suring the 1940's, a city that was most modern and stylish in China at the time, Gone with the Wind was a work that everyone talked about. In the late 1980's, the film swept China again. Leigh's portrait of Scarlett O'Hara was seen as sustenance to most Chinese women's secret fantasies. Leigh's "cat-like" face spoke of desire and a strong self, different from Monroe's out-in-the-open sexiness. Her portrait of heroines on screen reflect her character well, and perhaps that's why she can always struck and break people's hearts.