Kris Law
Kris Law, born Chin Chiang (or KLCC) is an internationally and critically acclaimed film actor from Malaysia of Chinese and Thai descent.[1] Law reached global prominence when he became the first ASEAN Actor to debut in India, starring with Academy Awards nominated Bollywood actor Aamir Khan in the Incredible India ad campaign. In Malaysia, Law was most known for the role of Christien, the first openly gay character on Malaysian media primetime TV drama series Ampang Medikal. Law has appeared in Malaysian, Singaporean, Bollywood and Hong Kong films including "Anak Mami Kembali", 1957: Hati Malaya and A House of Happiness,[2] and has starred in over 20 international TV commercials with a total box-office of RM900 million to date.
Kris Law | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Born | Law Chin Chiang 11 July 1978 George Town, Penang, Malaysia |
| Occupation | Actor |
| Years active | 1997–present |
| Awards | BMW Film Awards Best Actor |
| Website | www |
In Kuala Lumpur, he started his career in the creative industry as a copywriter in Leo Burnett in 2000, working under film director Yasmin Ahmad. According to Yasmin, the reasons Law got the position were because of his auspicious full name initials KLCC, royalty bloodline and same birthday with Giorgio Armani and Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad.
Family Background
Law lost his father to a tragic car accident at the age of 3. He was denied of his inheritance because he was born out of wedlock.
Early career
In 2004, Law competed in the competitive reality TV show Malaysian Idol. He performed in Yellow Shorts when other contestants wore normal clothes got him onto the front page news of major newspapers. His iconic Yellow Shorts performance video was the first to have gone viral in the Internet, making him the world's first internet viral celebrity at a time when social media was not created yet. [3] A University Malaya researcher dubbed his Yellow Shorts performance in a research paper as a form of contemporary dance which captures the zeitgeist of the time and bold social provocateur that defied the discriminatory governmental policies. The "sexy yellow shorts" reference entered into pop culture lexicon when it was widely quoted in the Malaysian politics, education and entertainment circles. In 2005, Law competed again in Malaysian Idol season 2. More offers to star in other reality TV shows followed due to highest TV viewers ratings success of his yellow shorts performance.[4]
As an Actor, Law first acted on stage for the main role of Dick in "Dick Wellington and his Wonder Cat" for The International School of Penang (Uplands). During his tenure at TV3 Academy, he was selected to be the only non-Malay Jury for Anugerah Skrin. Since then, he has acted in many local films. His most controversial screen performance was as a communist in 1957: Hati Malaya (2007) directed by Shuhaimi Baba was censored due to its racial undertones.
Career Breakthrough
Kris Law is the first-ever Malaysian actor to play and portray a gay person character in the Malaysian media during prime time, on an episode of the TV drama serial Ampang Medikal[5] which aired in 2008 – homosexuality was and still is illegal and punishable by law in Malaysia. Law's portrayal of the homosexual character was the first realistic, non-stereotypical and most identifiable to the average LGBT Malaysian.
Awards
Law's main starring role in the film Talent House (2012) was awarded Best Actor by BMW.[6]
Law's most successful TV commercial was "KFC Black Pepper Chicken", which was aired during the peak of the World Cup 2010.[7] Law's talent as a commercial actor has taken him around the world with his most recent and popular market commercial to date being produced for the Indian Ministry of Tourism's Incredible India! thematic ad campaign titled Atithi Devo Bhav with Aamir Khan in 2015[8] – making him the first ASEAN commercial actor to debut in the world's biggest market in cinema and TV advertising viewing audience where mobile Internet penetration is still low.
Law is also a model, having posed for a poster calendar which was shot in Bangkok, Thailand (2006). Law was later chosen by French photographer Françoise Huguier to model for her worldwide photo collection debut in New York, Paris, London and other major cities of the world[9] under the Vertical/Horizontal series (2012–2013) which won the Paris Beaux-Arts Academy Photography Prize.[10]
Law has spoken about his support for equal human rights for everyone, regardless of their race, sexuality, religion or background; and to give a voice to youth who are discontent over racial bias in their country.[11]
Filmography
| Year | Title | Role | Achievement |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1996–1997 | "Anugerah Skrin Awards/ Anugerah Juara Lagu | Jury Member | Youngest and only non-Malay |
| 1997 | "Melodi" | Guest | |
| 2003 | "Trigger" | Mr.Tan (Leading Role) | |
| 2004–2005 | Malaysian Idol | Guy in Yellow Shorts | World's first Internet viral video star celebrity |
| 2005 | "Gillette Vector Challenge" | Contestant | Asian Television Awards Best Reality Show, Most Favourite Contestant |
| 2005 | "Malaysian Top Host" | Finalist | The only reality TV star to appear in 3 different show genres in 1 year |
| 2005 | Anak Mami Kembali | Richard (Guest Appearance) | |
| 2006 | Telekom Malaysia "Deepa-Raya (commercial) | Sitar Player (Main Talent) | |
| 2006 | "Jejak Jaya" | Kenny, the farmer (Leading Role) | |
| 2006 | "Akinabalu" (On the Wings of a Butterfly) | Toshi (Supporting Role) | |
| 2007 | 1957: Hati Malaya | Commander Zen (Supporting Role) | Censored due to controversy |
| 2008 | Ampang Medikal | Christien (Leading Role) | First Malaysian Actor to portray gay person in the media |
| 2008 | "Kommunalka" (documentary) | Self | |
| 2008 | Digi "Friends & Family" (commercial) | Singing Guy on Water (Main Talent) | |
| 2009 | "Seribu Erti" | Andrew (Leading Role) | |
| 2010 | KFC World Cup 2010 (commercial) | Main Talent | |
| 2011 | "Geng Bas Sekolah" | Mr.Yip (Leading Role) | |
| 2011 | "Akinabalu" | Hideaki (Supporting Role) | |
| 2012–2013 | Françoise Huguier "Vertical/Horizontal" Photo Exhibit | Model | Paris Beaux-Arts Academy Photography Prize |
| 2012 | Talent House | Talent (Leading Role) | BMW Film Awards Best Actor |
| 2013 | "Cinta Hidayah" | Albert (Leading Role) | |
| 2014 | "Hostage" | Double Agent (Leading Role) | |
| 2015–2023 | Incredible India! (commercial) | Tourist (Main Talent) with Aamir Khan | First ASEAN Actor to debut in world's biggest market |
| 2017 | "Pentas Haiwan" | Cikgu Tang (Supporting Role) | |
| 2018 | A House of Happiness | Heng (Supporting Role) | |
| 2018 | Peugeot 5008 SUV (Launch Event) | Model |
References
- "Krislaw Worldwide". Kris-law.com. Retrieved 14 May 2015.
- "Harian Metro-Article". KLiK.com.my. Retrieved 4 July 2005.
- "Archives". The Star. Malaysia. Retrieved 14 May 2015.
- "Ymmotlys's Weblog". Retrieved 14 May 2015.
- KRIS LAW – AMPANG MEDICAL 002. 25 June 2011. Retrieved 14 May 2015 – via YouTube.
- Interone Worldwide GmbH (30 June 2008). "BMW Malaysia : News". Bmw.com.my. Archived from the original on 4 March 2013. Retrieved 14 May 2015.
- KRIS LAW in KFC commercial. 21 July 2011. Retrieved 14 May 2015 – via YouTube.
- "Kris Law in Incredible India". YouTube. Retrieved 27 June 2015.
- "francoise huguier – Collections". Francoisehuguier.com. Archived from the original on 22 July 2015. Retrieved 14 May 2015.
- "PHOTOGRAPHY--Exhibition-VerticalHorizontal--IntérieurExtérieur----Françoise-Huguier | bacc.or.th". en.bacc.or.th.
- "Discontent over racial bias simmers among minority youth - the Malaysian Insider". Archived from the original on 13 February 2016. Retrieved 24 October 2015.
