Carina Lau

Carina Lau

  • Name: Carina Lau
  • Native name: 劉嘉玲
  • Also Known as: 刘嘉玲
  • Nationality: Hong Konger
  • Gender: Female
  • Born: December 8, 1965
  • Age: 58
Carina Lau moved to Hong Kong with her family at the age of 14 and at the the time could not speak the local Cantonese and was often teased by other people the "Mainland Girl". She would eventually gave her best effort to learn the language and then was re-accepted at the TVB actors training program when she had improved her speaking ability. It was 1983 the year when she had graduated from the program and launched her acting career as contract basic actress for TVB, and her now boyfriend Tony Leung(Happy Together) was graduated one year ealrier. Her acting career for TVB was limited to playing ornamental parts in series for the first several years and she didn't get a major challenging starring role until the hit series Looking Back in Anger. That series had established her status as a strong leading lady, but she was aiming to abandon the small screen for films.

She had been in tabnoid headlines for her near-marriage romance with a handsome billionaire in the late 80s, and she was considering giving up acting to marry him but the wedding got cancelled the last minute, and Carina was devastated. Shortly after she started dating Tony after partnering to do a stage play called "Happy Lemon Husband". It was I am Sorry (a low-budget dramedy) that first garnered her the HK best actress nomination in 1989, and she had previously been sent out by TVB to do some films but nothing significant enough to turn her into a film star. Since leaving TVB, she had been approached by film jobs consistently. She found the dream role when Wong Kar Wai let her play a sexy and volatile showgirl in Days of Being Wild opposite Leslie Cheung and Maggie Cheung, and she was in the spotlight and became the "It" girl of the year during film festivals and awards. She once told the press that it was WKW who taught her how to bring out the best of her acting skills and how to use body language to convey emotions.

Over the course the 90s, Carina was constantly working mostly on dramas and comedies and had many box office hits. She subsquently chose very daring dramatic roles and she has a reputation for playing troubled women and porstitutes very well. For instance, her bisexual role in Intimates was one of the most challenging roles of her career and it was very provocative that it was entirely accepted by mainstream audiences. Towards the late 90s, she cut reduced her working in films since there was lesser good scripts and the industry was in decline. She even participated in a period dramatic series in Taiwan and a HK theatrical play when films didn't excite her. With more than 60 starring roles in films, TV series and plays, she was not desperate to work just for work, so the recent years she's still one of the highest earning actress in Asia because she's the spokesperson for numerous big fashion and cosmetic labels. It was unfortunate that her five year involement in making the most lavish sci-fi epic 2046 had reduced her to a supporting role. She was frustrated that she didn't know what she was playing since Wong Kar Wai had not issued a script and was working from his head the whole time. Finally, a fellow actor recommended her to read a script called Curiosity Kills the Cat, a low-budget Chinese thriller, and insisted that she should do the film because it was clear that the leading role was perfectly suitable for her and she's never played anything like it before. Her performance garnered her the best reviews of her career. In this film, she turned in a multi-layered and unpredictable performance and for the first time she was willing to be made up to look very middle-aged and unattractive, and she was welling to do 3 takes of paint splattering all over her like Sissy Spacek in Carrie. (IMDb Mini Biography By: Wing Lee, http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0490500/bio) Edit Biography
Drama
Year Title # Role Rating
2020 Half a Lifelong Romance
Chinese Drama, 2020, 48 eps
Gu Man Lu (Main Role)
48
Main Role
7.0
2019 The Love by Hypnotic
Chinese Drama, 2019, 36 eps
[Rebel] (Guest Role)
36
[Rebel]
Guest Role
7.9
2018 The Destiny of White Snake
Chinese Drama, 2018, 61 eps
[Queen Mother of the West] (Support Role)
61
[Queen Mother of the West]
Support Role
7.9
2000 Showbiz Tycoon
Hong Kong Drama, 2000, 67 eps
Lui Mung Wah (Main Role)
67
Lui Mung Wah
Main Role
5.7
1992 The Modern Love Story
Hong Kong Drama, 1992, 20 eps
(Ep. 1) (Main Role)
20
(Ep. 1)
Main Role
6.9
1989 Looking Back in Anger
Hong Kong Drama, 1989, 50 eps
Ngai Chor Kwun (Main Role)
50
Main Role
7.7
1988 Behind the Silk Curtains
Hong Kong Drama, 1988, 5 eps
(Guest Role)
5
Guest Role
7.5
1987 Police Cadet 1988
Hong Kong Drama, 1987, 40 eps
(Main Role)
40
Main Role
8.2
1986 The Turbulent Decade
Hong Kong Drama, 1986, 60 eps
童亦宁 (Main Role)
60
Main Role
8.0
1986 The Feud of Two Brothers
Hong Kong Drama, 1986, 30 eps
(Main Role)
30
Main Role
7.9
1985 Police Cadet '85
Hong Kong Drama, 1985, 40 eps
Cheung Ka Man (Support Role)
40
Cheung Ka Man
Support Role
7.9
1985 Take Care Your Highness!
Hong Kong Drama, 1985, 20 eps
Suen Fok Yu (Main Role)
20
Main Role
7.6
1985 The Yang's Saga
Hong Kong Drama, 1985, 6 eps
Princess Chai (Yeung Yin Chiu's Wife) (Main Role)
6
Princess Chai (Yeung Yin Chiu's Wife)
Main Role
7.7
1985 The Young Wanderer
Hong Kong Drama, 1985, 20 eps
Yin Hung Yip (Main Role)
20
Main Role
8.1
1984 Pau Ching Tin The Law Enforcer
Hong Kong Drama, 1984, 13 eps
(Main Role)
13
Main Role
8.0
1984 Police Cadet '84
Hong Kong Drama, 1984, 40 eps
Cheung Ka Man (Main Role)
40
Main Role
8.0
1984 The Duke of Mount Deer
Hong Kong Drama, 1984, 40 eps
Fong Yee (Main Role)
40
Main Role
7.8
1982 Hero Without Tears
Hong Kong Drama, 1982, 5 eps
Diet Mou (Main Role)
5
Main Role
7.7
Movie
Year Title Role Rating
2022 Warriors of Future
Hong Kong Movie, 2022,
Tan Bing (Support Role)
Tan Bing
Support Role
7.1
2021 Dynasty Warriors
Chinese Movie, 2021,
[Master of the sword forge castle] (Support Role)
[Master of the sword forge castle]
Support Role
6.6
2019 A City Called Macau
Chinese Movie, 2019,
Fei Jie (Support Role)
Fei Jie
Support Role
6.6
2019 The Great Detective
Chinese Movie, 2019,
[Madam] (Main Role)
[Madam]
Main Role
6.8
2018 Detective Dee: The Four Heavenly Kings
Chinese Movie, 2018,
Empress Wu Ze Tian (Support Role)
Empress Wu Ze Tian
Support Role
7.7
2018 Asura
Chinese Movie, 2018,
(Unknown)
Unknown
7.7
2018 A Beautiful Moment
Hong Kong Movie, 2018,
Doctor Bo / A Bo (Main Role)
Doctor Bo / A Bo
Main Role
6.0
2017 In Your Dreams
Hong Kong Movie, 2017,
Mrs. Yip (Main Role)
Mrs. Yip
Main Role
7.3
2016 From Vegas to Macau 3
Hong Kong Movie, 2016,
Molly (Guest Role)
Molly
Guest Role
6.9
2015 Cairo Declaration
Japanese Movie, 2015,
Soong Mei Ling (Main Role)
Soong Mei Ling
Main Role
0.0
2015 From Vegas to Macau 2
Hong Kong Movie, 2015,
Molly (Main Role)
Molly
Main Role
7.1
2014 Beijing Love Story
Chinese Movie, 2014,
Jia Ling (Main Role)
Main Role
7.4
2013 Bends
Hong Kong Movie, 2013,
Anna Wu (Main Role)
Main Role
6.9
2013 Young Detective Dee: Rise of the Sea Dragon
Chinese Movie, 2013,
Empress Wu Ze Tian (Support Role)
Empress Wu Ze Tian
Support Role
7.6
2010 Detective Dee and the Mystery of the Phantom Flame
Chinese Movie, 2010,
Empress Wu Zetian (Support Role)
Empress Wu Zetian
Support Role
7.5
2008 Ashes of Time Redux
Hong Kong Movie, 2008,
Peach Blossom (Support Role)
Peach Blossom
Support Role
7.3
2006 Curiosity Kills the Cat
Chinese Movie, 2006,
Chian'yu (Mrs. Zheng) (Main Role)
Chian'yu (Mrs. Zheng)
Main Role
5.3
2004 2046
Hong Kong Movie, 2004,
Lulu / Mimi / "Android" (Support Role)
Lulu / Mimi / "Android"
Support Role
7.7
2003 1:99 Shorts
Hong Kong Movie, 2003,
{11} (Main Role)
{11}
Main Role
7.7
2002 Mighty Baby
Hong Kong Movie, 2002,
Samantha (Support Role)
Samantha
Support Role
6.9
2001 La Brassiere
Hong Kong Movie, 2001,
Samantha (Support Role)
Samantha
Support Role
6.8
2001 Cop Shop Babes
Hong Kong Movie, 2001,
Madam Mona Lui (Main Role)
Madam Mona Lui
Main Role
0.0
1998 Love Generation Hong Kong
Hong Kong Movie, 1998,
Maggie (Main Role)
Maggie
Main Role
8.0
1998 Flowers of Shanghai
Taiwanese Movie, 1998,
Pearl (Support Role)
Pearl
Support Role
7.4
1997 Intimates
Hong Kong Movie, 1997,
Wan (Main Role)
Wan
Main Role
7.6
1996 Forbidden City Cop
Hong Kong Movie, 1996,
Kar-Ling (Main Role)
Main Role
7.5
1994 Ashes of Time
Hong Kong Movie, 1994,
Peach Blossom (Support Role)
Peach Blossom
Support Role
7.3
1994 He's a Woman, She's a Man
Hong Kong Movie, 1994,
Rose (Main Role)
Rose
Main Role
7.6
1994 C'est La Vie, Mon Cheri
Hong Kong Movie, 1994,
Tracey (Support Role)
Tracey
Support Role
7.2
1994 Deadful Melody
Hong Kong Movie, 1994,
Tam Yuet-Wah (Support Role)
Tam Yuet-Wah
Support Role
7.2
1993 Kung Fu Cult Master
Hong Kong Movie, 1993,
Miejue (Support Role)
Miejue
Support Role
7.4
1993 Lady Supercop
Hong Kong Movie, 1993,
Wenine Chang Mi Hua (Main Role)
Main Role
0.0
1993 A Roof with a View
Hong Kong Movie, 1993,
[Flat buyer] (Guest Role)
[Flat buyer]
Guest Role
7.7
1993 Lover of the Swindler
Hong Kong Movie, 1993,
Ling (Main Role)
Ling
Main Role
0.0
1993 Lord of East China Sea 2
Hong Kong Movie, 1993,
Liu (Support Role)
Liu
Support Role
0.0
1993 Lord of East China Sea
Hong Kong Movie, 1993,
Liu (Support Role)
Liu
Support Role
0.0
1993 Rose Rose I Love You
Hong Kong Movie, 1993,
Pearl Chan / White Rose (Main Role)
Pearl Chan / White Rose
Main Role
7.2
1993 The Eagle Shooting Heroes
Hong Kong Movie, 1993,
Zhou Bo Tong (Main Role)
Zhou Bo Tong
Main Role
7.3
1993 Shadow Cop
Hong Kong Movie, 1993,
Witty (Main Role)
Witty
Main Role
5.0
1992 Now You See Love... Now You Don't
Hong Kong Movie, 1992,
Susan Chong (Support Role)
Susan Chong
Support Role
6.4
1991 Saviour of the Soul 1
Hong Kong Movie, 1991,
[Madam of Pets] (Support Role)
[Madam of Pets]
Support Role
7.0
1991 Center Stage
Hong Kong Movie, 1991,
Li Lili (Support Role)
Li Lili
Support Role
7.9
1991 Gigolo and Whore 1
Hong Kong Movie, 1991,
Jung Siu Hung (Main Role)
Main Role
6.2
1990 Days of Being Wild
Hong Kong Movie, 1990,
Mimi (Main Role)
Mimi
Main Role
7.6
1990 Lethal Lady
Hong Kong Movie, 1990,
Huang Chia Ling (Main Role)
Main Role
6.7
1989 China White
Hong Kong Movie, 1989,
Yen (Support Role)
Yen
Support Role
0.0
1989 I Am Sorry
Hong Kong Movie, 1989,
Carol Cheung (Main Role)
Carol Cheung
Main Role
6.0
1989 Return of the Lucky Stars
Hong Kong Movie, 1989,
Banana Tso (Main Role)
Main Role
6.8
1989 Four Loves
Hong Kong Movie, 1989,
Cheng Hsiao Chuan (Main Role)
Cheng Hsiao Chuan
Main Role
7.7
1988 City Warriors
Hong Kong Movie, 1988,
(Main Role)
Main Role
6.4
1988 Profiles of Pleasure
Hong Kong Movie, 1988,
Miss Chu (Support Role)
Miss Chu
Support Role
0.0
1988 The Romancing Star 2
Hong Kong Movie, 1988,
Fong Fong (Support Role)
Fong Fong
Support Role
6.5
1987 Project A 2
Hong Kong Movie, 1987,
Carina/Beattie (Support Role)
Carina/Beattie
Support Role
7.5
1987 Rich and Famous
Hong Kong Movie, 1987,
Lau Po-Yee (Support Role)
Lau Po-Yee
Support Role
7.3
1987 Tragic Hero
Hong Kong Movie, 1987,
Lau Po-Yee (Main Role)
Lau Po-Yee
Main Role
7.3
1987 Armour of God 1
Hong Kong Movie, 1987,
[Member of The Losers band] (Guest Role)
[Member of The Losers band]
Guest Role
7.6
1986 Naughty Boys
Hong Kong Movie, 1986,
Bonnie (Main Role)
Bonnie
Main Role
7.2
TV Show
Year Title # Role Rating
2024 Jia Ren Zi You Yue
Chinese TV Show, 2024, 12 eps
(Regular Member)
12
Regular Member
0.0
2024 Jia Ren Zi You Yue Pilot
Chinese TV Show, 2024, 1 eps
(Regular Member)
1
Regular Member
0.0
2020 Shine! Super Brothers
Chinese TV Show, 2020, 12 eps
(Guest)
12
Guest
7.6
2018 Good Will Hunting
Chinese TV Show, 2018, 5 eps
(Main Host)
5
Main Host
10.0
2018 The Women Have Something to Say
Chinese TV Show, 2018, 10 eps
(Guest)
10
Guest
7.4
2017 Keep Running Season 5
Chinese TV Show, 2017, 13 eps
(Ep. 1) (Guest)
13
(Ep. 1)
Guest
8.6
2016 Up Idol Season 2
Chinese TV Show, 2016, 12 eps
(Regular Member)
12
Regular Member
7.4
2016 With You Along the Way Season 2
Chinese TV Show, 2016, 12 eps
(Ep. 6-7, 11) (Guest)
12
(Ep. 6-7, 11)
Guest
7.9
1998 Super Trio Series 3: The Super Trio Show
Hong Kong TV Show, 1998, 26 eps
(Ep. 12) (Guest)
26
(Ep. 12)
Guest
10.0
1998 Behind the Headlines with Wen Tao
Chinese TV Show, 1998, 5000 eps
(Guest)
5000
Guest
0.0
1996 Xing Guang Ban Wo Xin
Chinese TV Show, 1996, 20 eps
(Ep. 15) (Guest)
20
(Ep. 15)
Guest
0.0
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Carina Lau

Carina Lau
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Details

  • First Name: Carina
  • Family Name: Lau
  • Native name: 劉嘉玲
  • Also Known as: 刘嘉玲
  • Nationality: Hong Konger
  • Gender: Female
  • Born: December 8, 1965
  • Age: 58

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