View source for Ling Tai

{{short description|Chinese actress}}
{{Infobox person
| name                  = Ling Tai
| image                 =
| imagesize             =
| caption               =
| birth_name            = Gayling Tai
| birth_date            =
| birth_place           = [[Huangshi]], [[China]]
| death_date            =
| death_place           =
| othername             =
| occupation            = Actress, Presenter
| spouse                = Robert J. Fox ({{abbr|m.|married}} 1988; {{abbr|div.|divorced}} 19??) (1 child)
}}
'''Ling Tai''' is a Chinese actress, remembered for being a presenter on the final year of children's programme ''[[Crackerjack! (TV programme)|Crackerjack!]]'' as well as playing Lily in the first series of children's comedy ''[[Spatz]]''.<ref>[https://twitter.com/GladYouRemember/status/1230779436024418304 Glad You Remember on Twitter]</ref>
== Early life ==
In 1960, she was found abandoned as a baby on the streets of [[Hong Kong]]. Rescued by a policeman, she was taken to an orphanage. Aged six months, the girl was brought to Britain with nine other babies, where she was adopted by a couple from [[Eastcote]].<ref>"26 years ago Mum abandoned me in a phone box. And every day since then I've wondered why", ''[[The Sunday People|The People]]'', 31 May 1992 (pg.12-13)</ref> Aged 18, Ling planned to return home to China with her adoptive parents<ref>10 years ago, ''Harefield Gazette'', 13 June 1990 (pg.8); ''Hayes and Harlington Gazette'', 13 June 1990 (pg.8); ''Ruislip and Northwood Gazette'', 13 June 1990 (pg.8); ''Uxbridge and W. Drayton Gazette'', 13 June 1990 (pg.10)</ref> but decided to enter the world of acting.
== Acting career ==
Acting work includes appearances in ''[[The Two Ronnies]]'', ''[[Bergerac (TV series)|Bergerac]]'', ''[[Dramarama (TV series)|Dramarama]]'', ''[[Never the Twain]]'', ''[[Alas Smith and Jones]]'', ''[[Coronation Street]]'' and ''[[Soldier Soldier]]''. ''[[Doctor Who]]'' fans recall Ling for her part as Shou Yuing in the 1989 story ''[[Battlefield (Doctor Who)|Battlefield]]'' (after previously being an uncredited extra in ''[[The Leisure Hive]]'' and ''[[Warriors of the Deep]]'').
On stage, the actress has appeared as the Princess in two pantomime productions of ''[[Aladdin]]'': firstly in 1984 at the Darlington Civic Theatre (starring [[Iris Williams]])<ref>''[[The Stage]]'', 10 January 1985 (pg.27)</ref> and then in 1985 at the [[Theatre Royal, Brighton]] (starring [[Christopher Biggins]]).<ref>''The Stage'', 16 January 1986 (pg.33)</ref> Other work includes ''[[South Pacific (musical)|South Pacific]]'' at [[Connaught Theatre]], Worthing in 1983<ref>{{cite web|url=https://theatricalia.com/person/202e/ling-tai|title=Ling Tai - Theatricalia|website=theatricalia.com}}</ref> and in [[Alex Finlayson]]'s ''Winding the Bell'' at the [[Royal Exchange, Manchester]] in 1989,<ref>"Premiere at the Exchange", ''Stockport Times'', 12 October 1989 (pg.23)</ref> as well as various ''Crackerjack'' productions.<ref>"Year of musical fun lies ahead", ''Sandwell Evening Mail'', 14 December 1984 (pg.40)</ref><ref>"A laughter line-up for half term", ''Caterham Times'', 14 February 1986 (pg.19)</ref>
Her last known acting role was in the 2006 film ''[[The Missing Star]]''.
== References ==
{{Reflist}}
== External links ==
* {{IMDb name|0846730}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Tai, Ling}}
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:Chinese television actresses]]
[[Category:Chinese emigrants to the United Kingdom]]
[[Category:Child abandonment]]
[[Category:Date of birth missing (living people)]]
[[Category:Year of birth missing (living people)]]