Carina Lau

Carina Lau Kar-ling (Chinese: 劉嘉玲; born 8 December 1966) is a Hong Kong-Canadian[1] 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.

Carina Lau
劉嘉玲
Born
Liu Jialing

(1966-12-08) 8 December 1966
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

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

Lau was born on 1965 in Suzhou, Jiangsu, with her ancestral home in Rong County, Guangxi, to Liu Guiming (1940-2006) and Wang Fumei (1944-).[2]

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.[3][2]

Career

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).[4]

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).[4]

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),[4] 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).[5]

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.[6]

She will launch her own talk show titled the Carina Show in 2022.[7]

Other activities

She was executive president of Hong Kong's TVMART channel, but was replaced by the board after a loss of 40 million Taiwan Dollars.[8] She told the media that because she had no education, the decisions made by her had some negative influences on the company.[8]

Incidents

1990 abduction

In 1990, during the filming of Days of Being Wild, Lau was abducted for several hours, and topless photos of her were taken. At the time, local papers, through Reuters news agency, reported that Lau was kidnapped, though a police report was not filed.[9][10] Tony Leung Chiu-wai has said that Lau never wanted to talk about what happened in those missing hours with anyone, including him.[11]

Lau revealed in 2008 that she was abducted by four men working for a triad boss, as "punishment" for having refused a film offer.[3] She said that she had not been taken advantage of during her two-hour ordeal.[12]

2002 East Week magazine photo incident

In October 2002, East Week magazine published a nude photo of an "unnamed female star" clearly in distress, with the victim's face partially blurred. The public quickly connected the photo to Lau's abduction 12 years prior,[13][14] and Lau acknowledged that she is the person in the photo.[15][16]

Massive protests broke out in the following days, led by various Hong Kong entertainment guilds and citizen groups.[17] Media ethics by Hong Kong tabloids and gossip magazines were questioned.[14] 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.[9][18] 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.[13][19]

Personal life

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.[20]

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.[21] They married on 21 July 2008, at the COMO Uma Paro hotel in Bhutan.[22] 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.[23] The wedding created a media frenzy in Hong Kong, with companies spending hundreds of thousands of dollars to pursue the wedding party.[24]

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.[25] 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".

Filmography

Film

Year Title Role Notes
1986Naughty BoysBonnie
1987Project A Part IICarina
Rich and FamousLau Po-yee
Tragic HeroLau Po-yee
1988The Romancing Star IIFong Fong
Profile of PleasureMiss Chu
City WarriorsMak Ying-yang
Heart to Hearts
1989Return of the Lucky StarsBanana Tso
China WhiteYin-hung
Four LovesSiu-guen
Her Beautiful Life LiesCarole ChangNominated—Hong Kong Film Award for Best Actress
1990She Shoots StraightHuang Cha-ling
Queen's Bench IIIMs. Chen
Days of Being WildMimi/LuluThree Continents Festival for Best Actress
Nominated—Hong Kong Film Award for Best Actress
Nominated—Golden Horse Award for Best Actress
1991The BanquetWoman at dinner
Saviour of the SoulMadam of Pets
Gigolo and WhoreChung Siu-hungNominated—Hong Kong Film Award for Best Actress
Center StageLi Lili
My American GrandsonJiao Li
1992The Night RiderLaura
Girls Without Tomorrow 1992Wa
Now You See Love, Now You Don'tSusan Chong
1993Lord of East China SeaMs. Liu
Lord of East China Sea 2Ms. Liu
Shadow CopWitty
Crazy Hong KongShirley
Rose Rose I Love YouPearl Chan/White Rose
Lover of the SwindlerLing
Lady Super CopWenine Chang Mi-hua
No More Love, No More DeathChing-ching
The Eagle Shooting HeroesZhou Botong
He Ain't Heavy, He's My FatherLaura Watt
C'est la vie, mon chériTracy
1994He's a Woman, She's a ManRose
Ashes of TimePeach Blossom
Deadful MelodyTan Yuehua
1996Who's the Woman, Who's the ManRose
Forbidden City CopKar-ling
1997IntimatesWanGolden Bauhinia Award for Best Actress
Nominated—Hong Kong Film Award for Best Actress
1998Love Generation Hong KongMaggie
Flowers of ShanghaiPearl
2001La BrassiereSamantha
Cop Shop BabesMona Lui
2002Mighty BabySamantha
2003Infernal Affairs IIMaryNominated—Hong Kong Film Award for Best Actress
Infernal Affairs IIIMary
20042046Mimi/Lulu, 2046 android
Itchy HeartBing
Sex and the BeautiesSelina
2006Curiosity Kills the CatRose FengGolden Rooster Award for Best Actress
Nominated—Golden Horse Award for Best Actress
2010Detective Dee and the Mystery of the Phantom FlameWu ZetianHong Kong Film Award for Best Actress
Let the Bullets FlyGovernor's WifeNominated—Golden Horse Award for Best Supporting Actress
Nominated—Hong Kong Film Award for Best Supporting Actress
2011All's Well, Ends Well 2011Mona Tai
2013BendsAnnaNominated—Cannes Film Festival Award for Best Actress
Young Detective Dee: Rise of the Sea DragonWu ZetianNominated—Hong Kong Film Award for Best Supporting Actress
2014Beijing Love StoryJia Ling
2015From Vegas to Macau IIMolly
Cairo DeclarationSoong Mei-ling
2016From Vegas to Macau IIIMolly
2018AsuraAsura King, Head of Cunning
A Beautiful MomentDr. Bo
Detective Dee: The Four Heavenly KingsWu Zetian
In Your DreamsYe RuomeiAlso producer[26]
2019A City Called MacauSister Faye
The Great DetectiveMadam
2021Dynasty WarriorsMaster of the Sword Forge Castle
2022 Warriors of FutureTam Bing

Television

Year Title Role Notes
1983Legend of the Condor Heroes
1984 The ClonesZhong Jieyi
The Duke of Mount DeerFong Yee
Police CadetCheung Ka-man
Pau Ching Tin The Law EnforcerBao Ling
Hero Without Tears IIDie Wu
1985The Young Wanderer
Police Cadet '85Cheung Ka-man
To Each Its OwnGu Ruishan
The Yang's SagaPrincess Chai
Take Care, Your Highness!Suen Fuk-yu
The Middle Aged Fancy
Tough Fight
1986The Feud of Two Brothers
Du Xinwu
The Turbulent Decade
1988Naked Ambition
Lemon Husband
Police Cadet 1988Cheung Ka-man
1989Shanghai Storm
Looking Back in AngerSandy Ngai Chor Gwun
Fate in Our Hands
1990When the Sun ShinesCameoEpisode 94
1996Once Upon an Ordinary Girl
Hua Zhi
2000Showbiz TycoonLui Mung-wah
2001My Love, Rose
2005The Spring River Flows East
2016 Up Idol As Herself Season 2
2018The Destiny of White SnakeQueen Mother of the West
2019The Love by Hypnoticcameo
2020 Eighteen Springs Gu Manlu
2021 Reflection As Herself host

[27] [28]

Discography

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

Awards and nominations

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 Cannes Film Festival Bends Best Actress Nominated
2014 Osaka Asian Film Festival Award Won
Hong Kong Film Award Young Detective Dee: Rise of the Sea Dragon
Best Supporting Actress
Nominated

References

  1. Young, Ian (28 May 2013). "From Hong Kong to Canada and back: the migrants who came home from home". South China Morning Post. Archived from the original on 28 May 2013. Retrieved 8 September 2021.
  2. "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.
  3. Clara Mak (19 July 2008). "Lau tells of kidnap". South China Morning Post.
  4. "Carina Lau". Hollywood.com. Retrieved 13 November 2017.
  5. "Actress Carina Lau on the gamble that took her to Cannes". South China Morning Post. 8 October 2013.
  6. "【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.
  7. "【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.
  8. "Carina Lau to be short-lived CEO". China Daily. 9 August 2005. Retrieved 17 February 2008.
  9. Brown, Andrew (5 November 2002). "Media shake-up after topless shots". CNN. Archived from the original on 8 February 2004.
  10. "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.
  11. Karen Durbin (7 August 2005). "Still in the Mood for a Collaboration". The New York Times.
  12. "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.
  13. "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
  14. "Journalism requires ethics: expert", Taipei Times. Retrieved 17 February 2008.
  15. "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.
  16. "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.
  17. "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.
  18. "Hong Kong police arrest suspect in connection with racy star photos case. Associated Press", Sina Corp. Retrieved 17 February 2008.
  19. "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.
  20. 《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
  21. "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.
  22. Vivienne Chow (22 July 2008). "After 20 years, stars wed in royal style". South China Morning Post. p. C1.
  23. "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)
  24. "Actors' wedding leads to Hong Kong media frenzy". International Herald Tribune. 20 July 2008.
  25. "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.
  26. Yi ching chun dik ming yi (2017) - IMDb, retrieved 29 December 2021
  27. Carina Lau at hkmdb.com
  28. Carina Lau at chinesemov.com
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