Barbara Yung Mei-ling was born in Hong Kong on May 7, 1959. Yung was a popular actor in Hong Kong during the 1980s. She died (result of a suicide) while at the peak of her career, at age 26, on May 14 1985. Yung left Hong Kong for England during her teenage years. Yung had studied textile design at Art College Design School in England. Upon her graduation, she returned to Hong Kong and joined the Miss Hong Kong pageant in 1982. She emerged as one of the top 10 contestants. She soon signed up with Hong Kong Television Broadcasts (TVB) as an actor. She began her acting debut in 1982 in a Hong Kong TVB produced Cantonese swordplay series (Ching Dynasty period) co-starring Ken Tong Chun Yip and Simon Yam Tak Wah called, "Sup Sam Mui". This was the series that shot her into stardom.

Yung's most famous TVB series was "The Legend of Condor Heroes". She held the role of Wong Yung. Her other TV series included, "The Foundation", "The Sandwich Man", "The Fearless Duo", "United We Stand", "The Adventure of Chor Lau Heung", "The Rough Ride" and "The Battles Field".

Yung was cremated in Hong Kong but is laid to rest in England.