The talk of the town this week concerns celebrity couple Carina Lau Ka-ling and Tony Leung Chiu-wai's mystery wedding plans. The ceremony is said to be taking place in Bhutan on Monday and is due to be attended by 80 friends and family members.
However, in an interview with romantic novelist Eunice Lam Yin-nei in the Nanfang Daily, Lau, 42, revealed stories she has kept hidden for years, including being seized and held by triads 15 years ago.
'I was kidnapped on my way to [actor Michael] Miu Kiu-wai's home. They blindfolded me and put me in another car. I was terrified. I was so afraid they would kill me.'
Lau was forced to endure having topless photographs taken of her. At the time triads were keen to invest in filmmaking. Lau had refused a film she was offered and '[this] was the way they punished me'. To settle the affair, she made a film for free.
The ordeal not only strengthened her bond with Leung but forced her to combat her low self-esteem, being a migrant from the mainland.
Suzhou-born Lau (left) came to Hong Kong at 15 not knowing a word of Cantonese and joined TVB acting classes. 'I thought people saw me as a mainland girl and that made me look down on myself. When my photos were revealed [ in East Week in 2002], I was very surprised that the showbiz community and the Hong Kong people were supportive. I was so moved and thankful.