Profile | How Hong Kong actress Carina Lau rose to stardom from her ‘mainland girl’ roots, overcame topless photos scandal and wed Tony Leung Chiu-wai

When Carina Lau started acting in Hong Kong in the early 1980s, she was known as the ‘mainland girl’, and had small ‘girl-next-door’ roles in television dramas

She had her breakthrough in a Wong Kar-wai film, overcame being kidnapped and photographed topless, and wed fellow actor Tony Leung Chiu-wai in a US$4 million ceremony

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Hong Kong actress Carina Lau Ka-ling, pictured in 1993 soon after her career breakthrough in a Wong Kar-wai film. Married since 2008 to fellow actor Tony Leung Chiu-wai, she is known for her style and class, and some iconic roles. Photo: SCMP

Published: 7:15am, 31 Aug 2023Updated: 10:28am, 1 Sep 2023

This is the sixth instalment in a biweekly series profiling major Hong Kong pop culture figures of recent decades.

Carina Lau Ka-ling is a formidable Hong Kong actress whose popularity has stood the test of time. Her name is synonymous with style and a classy demeanour, and she is known for her numerous business ventures.

Being one half of one of Hong Kong’s most beloved celebrity couples – her husband is Tony Leung Chiu-wai – Lau is also frequently seen arm in arm with her partner on red carpets everywhere from Hong Kong to the Cannes Film Festival in France.

Fans can keep up with Lau on Instagram, where she frequently posts snippets of her jet-setting lifestyle.

Cheung Siu-fai and Lau promoting TVB series “The Turbulent Decade” in 1986. Photo: SCMP

Lau, who was born in 1965, grew up in Suzhou, Jiangsu province, in mainland China. She had an early interest in acting, but envisioned a future as a factory worker because of where she grew up.

SCMP Series

Hong Kong’s pop culture icons

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