Carina Lau

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Carina Lau
劉嘉玲
Lau in 2018
Born
Liu Jialing

(1966-12-08) 8 December 1966 (age 57)
Suzhou, Jiangsu, China
Alma materKiangsu-Chekiang College
OccupationActress
Years active1983–present
Spouse
(m. 2008)
Musical career
GenresMandopop
Instrument(s)Vocals
LabelsEMI (1994–1996)
Carina Lau Studio (present)
Chinese name
Traditional Chinese
Simplified Chinese

Carina Lau Kar-ling (Chinese: 劉嘉玲; born 8 December 1966) is a Hong Kong actress and singer. She started her acting career in TVB, before going on to achieve success in films after her 2nd year in college. She was notable in the 1980s for her girl-next-door type roles in films. She also plays Empress Wu Zetian in Tsui Hark's Detective Dee films, starting with Detective Dee and the Mystery of the Phantom Flame in 2010. She has won Best Actress awards at the Hong Kong Film Award and Mainland China's Golden Rooster Awards, and has been nominated at Cannes Film Festival and Taiwan's Golden Horse Awards.

Her husband is Hong Kong actor Tony Leung Chiu-wai. Lau frequently appears in the Hong Kong fashion scene and is a patron of many charities.

Early life[edit]

Lau was born on 1965 in Suzhou, Jiangsu, with her ancestral home in Rong County, Guangxi, to Liu Guiming (1940–2006) and Wang Fumei (born 1944).[1]

Her grandfather, Liu Ji, moved to Thailand in 1935 to make a living and later moved to the country with his wife in 1938, just before the Canton Operation during the Second Sino-Japanese War. Lau's father, Liu Guiming, was born in Thailand on 1940. Lau's father returned to China in 1955 and with the help of All-China Federation of Returned Overseas Chinese, he studied at a junior high school in Guangzhou and high school in Suzhou. Following the start of Cultural Revolution in 1965, overseas Chinese who returned to China were targets of criticism. Lau's father moved to Hong Kong in 1976, while Lau moved to Hong Kong with her mother and brother in 1978, and joined TVB's acting class in 1983.[2][1]

Career[edit]

Lau made her on-screen debut in TVB's The Clones (1984) where she starred opposite of her future husband, Tony Leung. She gained wider recognition after a series of appearances in successful drama series such as The Duke of Mount Deer and Police Cadet and skyrocketed to fame following her role as a wealthy heiress in one of Hong Kong's most-watched ever series, Looking Back in Anger (1989).[3]

Lau then expanded to films. She was nominated at the Hong Kong Film Award for Best Actress for her role in Her Beautiful Life Lies (1989). She received acclaim for her role in Days of Being Wild (1991), one of her many collaborations with film director Wong Kar-wai. She continued to showcase her versatility with impressive performances in the martial arts epic Saviour of the Soul (1991), the biopic Center Stage (1991), the cross-dressing comedy He's a Woman, She's a Man (1994), and the offbeat romance Gigolo and Whore (1994). Following parts in the wuxia classic Ashes of Time (1994) and James Bond pastiche Forbidden City Cop (1997), Lau once again attracted the attention of various awards juries with her measured portrayals of bisexual silk factory owner Wan in Intimates (1997) and a prostitute in the 19th-century epic Flowers of Shanghai (1998).[3]

Her roles as Hon Sam's wife in the two Infernal Affairs sequels and an android in Wong Kar-wai's 2046 (2004) further increased Lau's international recognition. Lau then stepped in the shoes of Sarah Jessica Parker for the Hong Kong version of Sex and the City, named Sex and the Beauties (2004). She won rave reviews for her performances as unhappily-married Rose in the low-budget thriller Curiosity Kills the Cat (2006) and as Wu Zetian in the blockbuster Detective Dee and the Mystery of the Phantom Flame (2010),[3] which earned her a Golden Rooster Award for Best Actress and a Hong Kong Film Award for Best Actress, respectively. She reprised her role as Wu Zetian in two Detective Dee prequels. She received a Best Actress nomination at the Cannes Film Festival for her role as a rich housewife abandoned by her husband in Bends (2013).[4]

In 2016, Lau was one of the celebrities that appeared on the Chinese reality show Up Idol. Since then, she has made guest appearances in other mainland reality TV shows. In June 2017, she and her husband were invited to become a member of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. In 2021, she hosted Reflection, a short web series interviewing various female celebrities.[5]

She will launch her own talk show titled the Carina Show in 2022.[6]

Other activities[edit]

She was executive president of Hong Kong's TVMART channel, but was replaced by the board after a loss of 40 million Taiwan Dollars.[7] She told the media that because she had no education, the decisions made by her had some negative influences on the company.[7]

Incidents[edit]

1990 abduction[edit]

While filming Days of Being Wild in 1990, Lau disappeared, and Reuters news agency later reported that the actress had been kidnapped, although a police report was not filed.[8][9] She was safely retrieved after two hours, and in 2008 revealed that she had been abducted by four men working for a triad boss who forced her to strip and took photos of her topless as punishment for refusing a film offer.[2] No sexual assault took place.[10]

2002 East Week magazine photo[edit]

In October 2002, East Week magazine published a nude photo of an "unnamed female star" in visible distress whose face was partially blurred. The public quickly connected the photo to Lau's abduction 12 years prior,[11][12] and Lau confirmed that she was the person in the photo.[13][14]

Massive protests broke out in the following days, led by various Hong Kong entertainment guilds and citizen groups.[15] Media ethics by Hong Kong tabloids and gossip magazines were questioned.[12] Hong Kong police became involved and East Week was forced to shut down a few days later. It eventually restarted in late 2003 under new ownership.[8][16] In 2009, Mong Hanming, the chief editor of East Week at the time of the incident, received a 5-month jail sentence after pleading guilty to publishing obscene photos.[11][17]

Personal life[edit]

Lau had a relationship with Hong Kong tycoon Julian Hui from 1986 to 1988. They were engaged and lived together, until Hui announced their split in April 1988. The media characterized their relationship as a failed attempt on Lau's part to marry into a wealthy family, but Lau has publicly stated that their breakup was amicable, and she remains friends with Hui and his family.[18]

She has been in a relationship with Tony Leung Chiu-wai since 1989, after working together on a Hong Kong production of Run For Your Wife.[19] They married on 21 July 2008, at the COMO Uma Paro hotel in Bhutan.[20] The wedding itself cost more than HK$30 million and Lau's 12-carat (2.4 g) Cartier wedding ring is worth over HK$10 million. Guests included singer Faye Wong, who performed for them on their special day. Hong Kong director Wong Kar-wai also directed the ceremony.[21] The wedding created a media frenzy in Hong Kong, with companies spending hundreds of thousands of dollars to pursue the wedding party.[22]

There have long been rumours that Leung and actress Maggie Cheung were romantically involved, ever since they starred together in the film In the Mood for Love (2000), which was a hot topic among media outlets in Greater China due to the trio's fame. The alleged feud between Lau and Cheung was put to rest in 2013 when Lau uploaded a photo of them together to social media.[23] When asked about the rumored affair, Lau said in a 2016 interview on The Jin Xing Show that "it's just a beautiful story" and she "knows about the affair as much as the public does".[citation needed]

Filmography[edit]

Film[edit]

Year Title Role Notes
1986 Naughty Boys Bonnie
1987 Project A Part II Carina
Rich and Famous Lau Po-yee
Tragic Hero Lau Po-yee
1988 The Romancing Star II Fong Fong
Profile of Pleasure Miss Chu
City Warriors Mak Ying-yang
Heart to Hearts
1989 Return of the Lucky Stars Banana Tso
China White Yin-hung
Four Loves Siu-guen
Her Beautiful Life Lies Carole Chang Nominated—Hong Kong Film Award for Best Actress
1990 She Shoots Straight Huang Cha-ling
Queen's Bench III Ms. Chen
Days of Being Wild Mimi/Lulu Three Continents Festival for Best Actress
Nominated—Hong Kong Film Award for Best Actress
Nominated—Golden Horse Award for Best Actress
1991 The Banquet Woman at dinner
Saviour of the Soul Madam of Pets
Gigolo and Whore Chung Siu-hung Nominated—Hong Kong Film Award for Best Actress
Center Stage Li Lili
My American Grandson Jiao Li
1992 The Night Rider Laura
Girls Without Tomorrow 1992 Wa
Now You See Love, Now You Don't Susan Chong
1993 Lord of East China Sea Ms. Liu
Lord of East China Sea 2 Ms. Liu
Shadow Cop Witty
Crazy Hong Kong Shirley
Rose Rose I Love You Pearl Chan/White Rose
Lover of the Swindler Ling
Lady Super Cop Wenine Chang Mi-hua
No More Love, No More Death Ching-ching
The Eagle Shooting Heroes Zhou Botong
He Ain't Heavy, He's My Father Laura Watt
C'est la vie, mon chéri Tracy
1994 He's a Woman, She's a Man Rose
Ashes of Time Peach Blossom
Deadful Melody Tan Yuehua
1996 Who's the Woman, Who's the Man Rose
Forbidden City Cop Kar-ling
1997 Intimates Wan Golden Bauhinia Award for Best Actress
Nominated—Hong Kong Film Award for Best Actress
1998 Love Generation Hong Kong Maggie
Flowers of Shanghai Pearl
2001 La Brassiere Samantha
Cop Shop Babes Mona Lui
2002 Mighty Baby Samantha
2003 Infernal Affairs II Mary Nominated—Hong Kong Film Award for Best Actress
Infernal Affairs III Mary
2004 2046 Mimi/Lulu, 2046 android
Itchy Heart Bing
Sex and the Beauties Selina
2006 Curiosity Kills the Cat Rose Feng Golden Rooster Award for Best Actress
Nominated—Golden Horse Award for Best Actress
2010 Detective Dee and the Mystery of the Phantom Flame Wu Zetian Hong Kong Film Award for Best Actress
Let the Bullets Fly Governor's Wife Nominated—Golden Horse Award for Best Supporting Actress
Nominated—Hong Kong Film Award for Best Supporting Actress
2011 All's Well, Ends Well 2011 Mona Tai
2013 Bends Anna Nominated—Cannes Film Festival Award for Best Actress
Young Detective Dee: Rise of the Sea Dragon Wu Zetian Nominated—Hong Kong Film Award for Best Supporting Actress
2014 Beijing Love Story Jia Ling
2015 From Vegas to Macau II Molly
Cairo Declaration Soong Mei-ling
2016 From Vegas to Macau III Molly
2018 Asura Asura King, Head of Cunning
A Beautiful Moment Dr. Bo
Detective Dee: The Four Heavenly Kings Wu Zetian
In Your Dreams Ye Ruomei Also producer[24]
2019 A City Called Macau Sister Faye
The Great Detective Madam
2021 Dynasty Warriors Master of the Sword Forge Castle
2022 Warriors of Future Tam Bing

Television[edit]

Year Title Role Notes
1983 Legend of the Condor Heroes
1984 The Clones Zhong Jieyi
The Duke of Mount Deer Fong Yee
Police Cadet Cheung Ka-man
Pau Ching Tin The Law Enforcer Bao Ling
Hero Without Tears II Die Wu
1985 The Young Wanderer
Police Cadet '85 Cheung Ka-man
To Each Its Own Gu Ruishan
The Yang's Saga Princess Chai
Take Care, Your Highness! Suen Fuk-yu
The Middle Aged Fancy
Tough Fight
1986 The Feud of Two Brothers
Du Xinwu
The Turbulent Decade
1988 Naked Ambition
Lemon Husband
Police Cadet 1988 Cheung Ka-man
1989 Shanghai Storm
Looking Back in Anger Sandy Ngai Chor Gwun
Fate in Our Hands
1990 When the Sun Shines Cameo Episode 94
1996 Once Upon an Ordinary Girl
Hua Zhi
2000 Showbiz Tycoon Lui Mung-wah
2001 My Love, Rose
2005 The Spring River Flows East
2016 Up Idol As Herself Season 2
2018 The Destiny of White Snake Queen Mother of the West
2019 The Love by Hypnotic cameo
2020 Eighteen Springs Gu Manlu
2021 Reflection As Herself host

[25] [26]

Discography[edit]

Year Album Notes
1994 My Real Love (真情流露) with Tony Leung
1995 Believe in Love (相信愛情)
1996 Cooling Love (情冷卻)

Awards and nominations[edit]

Year Award Nominated work Category Result
1989 Hong Kong Film Award Her Beautiful Life Lies Best Actress Nominated
1990 Hong Kong Film Award Days of Being Wild Best Actress Nominated
1991 Nominated
Golden Horse Awards Nominated
Three Continents Festival Won
Hong Kong Film Award Gigolo and Whore Nominated
1998 Intimates Nominated
Golden Bauhinia Awards Won
2004 Hong Kong Film Award Infernal Affairs II Nominated
2006 Golden Horse Awards Curiosity Kills the Cat Nominated
2007 Golden Rooster Awards Won
2011 Hong Kong Film Award Detective Dee and the Mystery of the Phantom Flame Won
Golden Horse Awards Let the Bullets Fly Best Supporting Actress Nominated
2012 Asian Film Award Nominated
Asian Film Critics Association Awards Nominated
Hong Kong Film Award Nominated
2013 Osaka Asian Film Festival Bends Best Actress Won
Hong Kong Film Award Young Detective Dee: Rise of the Sea Dragon
Best Supporting Actress
Nominated

References[edit]

  1. ^ a b "出生于苏州,在香港成名,为何说刘嘉玲祖籍是广西的?". Sohu. 4 March 2021. Retrieved 28 March 2023.
  2. ^ a b Clara Mak (19 July 2008). "Lau tells of kidnap". South China Morning Post.
  3. ^ a b c "Carina Lau". Hollywood.com. Retrieved 13 November 2017.
  4. ^ "Actress Carina Lau on the gamble that took her to Cannes". South China Morning Post. 8 October 2013.
  5. ^ "【对照记 第一季】6集全 | 刘嘉玲/何超莲/惠英红/郭采洁/薇娅| 优酷 YOUKU - YouTube". www.youtube.com. Retrieved 1 January 2022.
  6. ^ "【嘉玲秀】劉嘉玲節目大爆林青霞張國榮打牌習慣 掛「東方不敗」畫報增運". www.msn.com. Retrieved 1 January 2022.
  7. ^ a b "Carina Lau to be short-lived CEO". China Daily. 9 August 2005. Retrieved 17 February 2008.
  8. ^ a b Brown, Andrew (5 November 2002). "Media shake-up after topless shots". CNN. Archived from the original on 8 February 2004.
  9. ^ "HK celebrities protest secret filming of pop star". Channel NewsAsia. 29 August 2006. Archived from the original on 8 January 2009. Retrieved 17 February 2008.
  10. ^ "Triads made me pose in the nude: HK star Carina Lau". The Straits Times. 13 July 2008. Archived from the original on 14 July 2008.
  11. ^ a b "Editor jailed for publishing obscene photo of kidnapped actress", South China Morning Post. Retrieved 12 May 2009. Archived 23 February 2012 at the Wayback Machine
  12. ^ a b "Journalism requires ethics: expert", Taipei Times. Retrieved 17 February 2008.
  13. ^ "香港娱乐圈千人大游行 抗议《东周刊》裸照事件". www.chinanews.com.cn. Retrieved 30 December 2021.
  14. ^ "自揭当年受虐事件 刘嘉玲感谢绑架者没有侵犯她-搜狐娱乐". yule.sohu.com. Retrieved 30 September 2023.
  15. ^ "香港《东周刊》"裸照事件"激发公愤被立即停刊". news.sina.com.cn. Retrieved 30 December 2021.
  16. ^ "Hong Kong police arrest suspect in connection with racy star photos case. Associated Press", Sina Corp. Retrieved 17 February 2008.
  17. ^ "嘉玲裸照案《東周刊》前總編昨收監 | 蘋果新聞網 | 蘋果日報". 蘋果新聞網 (in Chinese (Taiwan)). 5 May 2009. Retrieved 30 December 2021.
  18. ^ 《金星秀》第20160928期: 刘嘉玲回应婚姻传闻 精彩人生四十顿悟The Jinxing Show EP.20160928【东方卫视官方超清】, retrieved 28 December 2021
  19. ^ "金牌监制潘嘉德:梁朝伟性格内向因太矮而自卑_影音娱乐_新浪网". ent.sina.com.cn. Retrieved 28 December 2021.
  20. ^ Vivienne Chow (22 July 2008). "After 20 years, stars wed in royal style". South China Morning Post. p. C1.
  21. ^ "Royal treatment for bridal couple". The Straits Times. 22 July 2008. Archived from the original on 19 May 2011.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link)
  22. ^ "Actors' wedding leads to Hong Kong media frenzy". International Herald Tribune. 20 July 2008.
  23. ^ "高招 劉嘉玲 拉張曼玉逆襲 世紀合照 破13年僵局". Apple Daily (in Chinese). 25 November 2013. Archived from the original on 24 November 2020. Retrieved 6 December 2018.
  24. ^ Yi ching chun dik ming yi (2017) - IMDb, retrieved 29 December 2021
  25. ^ Carina Lau at hkmdb.com
  26. ^ Carina Lau at chinesemov.com

External links[edit]