Coco Lee, a Chinese American singer and songwriter best known for performing an Oscar-nominated song in the film “Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon,” died in Queen Mary Hospital in Hong Kong, where she had been living.

The actress had been dealing with depression for a number of years, according to Lee’s older sisters Carol and Nancy Lee, whose statement was shared on Facebook and Instagram. However, during the past few months, her condition has severely worsened. The statement said that despite CoCo’s efforts to combat her melancholy and professional assistance, “that demon inside of her took the better of her.”

“She committed suicide on July 2 at home and was taken to the hospital. She finally passed away on July 5, 2023, despite the hospital staff’s best efforts to revive her and treat her while she was still in a coma, according to the statement.

Early years and professional beginnings

On January 17, 1975, Coco Lee was born in Hong Kong. She demonstrated a natural affinity for music at an early age and participated in several singing competitions. At the age of 17, she signed her first record deal after her potential was rapidly recognised. This signalled the start of a fantastic career that would last decades and bring her fame all around the world.

Ferren Lee, who was born in Hong Kong, eventually emigrated to the United States and went to middle and high school in San Francisco. At the age of 19, she launched her debut album after placing first runner-up in the annual singing competition held by Hong Kong broadcaster TVB.

Rising to International Fame

Although Lee began her career as a Mandopop singer, during the course of her nearly 30-year career, she diversified and released albums in Cantonese and English. She was best recognised for her live performances and strong voice.

“CoCo is also known to have worked tirelessly to open up a new world for Chinese singers in the international music scene, and she went all out to shine for the Chinese,” her sisters wrote in their post. “We are proud of her!”

The pop and R&B tracks on Ms. Lee’s debut full-length English-language album, “Just No Other Way,” were released in 1999. The soundtrack for Julia Roberts’ movie “Runaway Bride” featured the song “Before I Fall In Love,” among other songs.She was also the first Chinese singer to gain popularity in the United States; in December 1999, her English single “Do You Want My Love” peaked at #4 on Billboard’s Hot Dance Breakouts chart.

In the Mandarin adaptation of Disney’s “Mulan,” Lee provided the voice of the title character Fa Mulan and sang the Mandarin version of the film’s theme song, “Reflection.”

Life in General

2011 saw Lee wed Canadian businessman Bruce Rockowitz, a former CEO of Li & Fung, a Hong Kong-based supply chain company.

The words “love” and “faith” were inked on Lee’s body in her most recent Instagram post, which was published on December 31, 2022. Lee also included a photo of what appeared to be a drainage bag that was attached to her body.

“Love & Faith — my two favourite words that I carry strongly in my heart and which I desperately needed to get through this incredibly difficult year,” she said in the post.

She wrote on social media in March that she had to relearn how to walk after having surgery for an old leg injury brought on by falling overboard during a dancing practise in October 2022.

“Successful operation. I know I can do it, she wrote in a Facebook post, “even though I’m in a lot of pain and I have to relearn how to walk. “Yes, I can and will!”