Betty Lai

Betty Lai Siu-man (born 23 June 1953), also known by her stage name Ban Ban (formerly and briefly Bun Bun), is a retired actress and singer.

Background

Lai was born in Hong Kong in 23 June 1953, she was of the Meixian, Guangdong ancestry. Her elder sister is Sylvia Lai Sui-pun.

In 1966, Lai, her elder sister, and the other four males singers formed a musical band BumbleBee to promote their traffic and road safety song in Hong Kong.

In 1967, Lai took up a stage name, first as Bun Bun (彬彬) but soon changed to Ban Ban (斑斑), while her sister took a stage name of Sum Sum (森森).

In 1972, Ban Ban and Sum Sum formed a musical duo group Sum Sum Ban Ban (森森斑斑), and both hosted in the variety show Enjoy Yourself Tonight (歡樂今宵) in 1973. In 1979, they released their first album Star, Moon, Sun (星星.月亮.冇太陽).

In 1983, Ban Ban starred in her first acting role in the TVB wuxia drama The Legend of the Condor Heroes, gaining her some fame to receive future acting and hosting and roles. She and Sum Sum left TVB to join ATV to further pursuit their acting and singing career.

In 1985, she was invited by CCTV to host its New Year's Gala.

Ban Ban was married to actor Austin Wai in 1996, and they have a son Wai Kin-ho (惠建豪).

She starred her last role in Forever Love Song (曲終情未了) before leaving the entertainment industry in 2000. Lai and Wai divorced on the following year in 2001 and her son left with her. She allowed her son to be filial to his father.

In October 2012, Lai was notified of her ex-husband Wai's death, she signed in grief and said life is unpredictable.

She later starred in a minor role as Madam Shen (沈夫人) in 2015 Chinese television drama Fu Rong Jin (芙蓉錦).