title: Cao Cuifen
text: # Cao Cuifen
  
  Cao Cuifen (born 6 April 1944) is a Chinese actress. She is best known for her performance in the film Raise the Red Lantern.
  
  ## Early life
  
  Cao Cuifen was born in Shanghai, China on April 6, 1944. She was admitted to the Beijing Film Academy prep school in 1960 and the undergraduate program in 1962. She left the academy due to the Cultural Revolution and did not return until 1973.
  
  ## Career
  
  Cao started in her first film, Civil War, when she was 29. In order to support her film career, she decided against having children. She starred in Raise the Red Lantern and Shanghai Family in 1991, working on the films back to back. In 1995, she starred in the film, Orphan Tears, which she won several awards for her performance.
  
  ## Filmography
  
  ### Film
  
  | Year | Title |
  | - | - |
  | 1974 | Civil War |
  | 1984 | Dancing Flames |
  | 1991 | Raise the Red Lantern |
  | 1991 | Shanghai Family |
  | 1995 | Orphan Tears |
  | 2005 | Seven Flames |
  | 2011 | Love is Not Blind |
  
  ### Television
  
  | Year | Title | Role |
  | - | - | - |
  | 1991 | Shanghai yi jia ren | |
  | 2005 | Shou Wang Xing Fu | |
  | 2009 | Dwelling Narrowness | |
  | 2010 | The Pursuit of Happiness | |
  | 2011 | Xing Fu Lai Qiao Men | |
  | 2015 | Ace Agents | |
  | 2019 | The Story of Minglan | |
  | 2019 | Joy of Life | Grandmother Fan |
  | 2021 | Rebirth For You | Grand Empress Dowager |
  