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Hong Kong’s pop culture icons
In this series, we look at some of the highest-profile figures in Hong Kong pop culture of recent decades in the fields of music, film and television.
Updated: 20 Dec, 2024
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[1]
Profile | Meet Kelly Chen, one of Cantopop’s most beloved stars of the past 30 years
Cantopop star and actress Kelly Chen has been capturing the hearts of music and movie fans for three decades. Her secret? ‘I’ve just tried my best to grab any opportunity.’
22 Jun, 2023
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[2]
Profile | All about Grasshopper, the Hong Kong OG boy band mentored by Anita Mui
Mirror may be the big Hong Kong boy band today, but before them came Grasshopper. The trio were among the first truly popular groups in the city and are still performing today, nearly four decades on.
06 Jul, 2023
[3]
Profile | Takeshi Kaneshiro, Hong Kong cinema’s ‘most good-looking’ actor
Takeshi Kaneshiro, who debuted as a singer in Taiwan in 1992, has not appeared on the big screen since 2017, has no official social media and no one knows where he lives but he remains as popular as ever.
20 Jul, 2023
[4]
Profile | Isabella Leong was on the cusp of Hollywood. Then she met tycoon Richard Li
Macanese actress Isabella Leong called a halt to her acting career – one that had nearly put her on Hollywood’s map – when she began dating Richard Li, the younger son of Li Ka-shing.
03 Aug, 2023
[5]
Profile | He dances, he acts, he loves his wife: the reinvention of Aaron Kwok
Known today as a leading Hong Kong actor, Aaron Kwok started his career as a backup dancer, before being anointed one of the ‘Four Heavenly Kings of Cantopop’. He’s also a husband and proud father.
17 Aug, 2023
[6]
Profile | Carina Lau, superstar: her rise from humble roots and stellar film career
Born in mainland China, Carina Lau grew up thinking she’d be a factory worker, but moved to Hong Kong and, through hard work, built an acting career despite a kidnap ordeal. She met and wed fellow actor Tony Leung.
31 Aug, 2023
[7]
Profile | Hong Kong singer and actor Danny Chan, his rise to fame and death aged 35
Danny Chan was, with fellow idols Leslie Cheung, Anita Mui and Alan Tam, one of Hong Kong’s ‘Three Kings and A Queen of Cantopop’ in the 1980s. He wrote big hits and won numerous awards, but died aged 35.
14 Sep, 2023
[8]
Profile | God of Gamblers actress and Stephen Chow co-star Sharla Cheung: her career
Discovered by director Wong Jing in the 1980s, Sharla Cheung appeared in over 50 films and was a frequent collaborator of another Hong Kong director, Stephen Chow.
29 Sep, 2023
[9]
Profile | How actor Daniel Wu became a star in both Hong Kong and Hollywood
US-born actor Daniel Wu, of Westworld, Tomb Raider and One Nite in Mongkok fame, was on holiday in Hong Kong when he was cast in a commercial. Twenty-five years later, he has nearly 70 films under his belt.
13 Oct, 2023
[10]
Profile | Cantopop superstar Sammi Cheng’s story – and her rocky romantic life
A Cantopop singer on a similar level as Anita Mui, Sandy Lam and Faye Wong, Sammi Cheng is also a celebrated actress and style icon – but her relationship with husband Andy Hui has made headlines.
27 Oct, 2023
[11]
Profile | Singer, troublemaker, secret husband: Ronald Cheng’s road to comedy stardom
Cantopop singer Ronald Cheng has had a colourful past – he was once arrested for putting a flight attendant in a headlock – but now he is one of Hong Kong cinema’s most beloved comedy stars.
10 Nov, 2023
[12]
Profile | Cherie Chung a screen goddess, the Marilyn Monroe of Hong Kong, fans said
Once called the Marilyn Monroe of Hong Kong, actress Cherie Chung rose to fame during the 1980s and appeared in almost 50 films – before walking away from it all at the age of 31.
24 Nov, 2023
[13]
Profile | 14 times a best actor winner, Hong Kong’s Lau Ching-wan stays humble
Lau Ching-wan, sometimes credited as Sean Lau, is known for being a faithful husband of 25 years to former Miss Hong Kong Amy Kwok and for an illustrious career that has earned him multiple honours.
08 Dec, 2023
[14]
Profile | Called difficult and ‘the other woman’: Yammie Lam’s screen career cut short
Hong Kong actress Yammie Lam rose to prominence in the 1980s but was dogged by tabloid newspapers and suffered personal blows that saw her career cut short. She died unexpectedly aged just 55 in 2018.
22 Dec, 2023
[15]
Profile | From selling phones to calling the shots, why we love actor-singer Leon Lai
Leon Lai Ming, one of the most well-liked celebrities in Hong Kong and one of the ‘Four Heavenly Kings of Cantopop’, has been in show business for more than 35 years.
05 Jan, 2024
[16]
Profile | How Gillian Chung has risen above the Edison Chen photo scandal to thrive
Gillian Chung, one half of Hong Kong Cantopop duo Twins, is thriving as a singer and actress, but the road to success – marred by a scandal involving intimate photos – has not been an easy one.
19 Jan, 2024
[17]
Profile | Raunchy comedian, controversy magnet: Hong Kong actor Chapman To’s many hats
Hong Kong actor Chapman To, famous for his roles in the Infernal Affairs films, and a number of lowbrow comedies, found working in Hong Kong difficult after his vocal support for pro-democracy causes.
02 Feb, 2024
[18]
Profile | Ada Choi: from beauty queen to lauded actress and family woe to wedded bliss
Ada Choi’s acting career began after she was named second runner-up in the 1991 Miss Hong Kong beauty pageant. Her life has had its ups and downs, but is ‘so good’ since moving to China and marrying.
16 Feb, 2024
[19]
Profile | He married Shu Qi, has a bromance with Daniel Wu: Hong Kong’s Stephen Fung
From singer to actor to director, Stephen Fung has worked with Marvel’s Paul Rudd, is close friends with Daniel Wu and married Shu Qi – we look at the story of the prolific Hong Kong showbiz figure.
29 Feb, 2024
[20]
Profile | Despite her multiple comebacks, Cantopop queen Sandy Lam loves the quiet life
Sandy Lam began life as a 1980s teen idol and released what is seen as the first Cantopop concept record. Known for her powerful voice and avant-garde songs, she has come back from hiatus time and again.
15 Mar, 2024
[21]
Profile | ‘The eyes of six million Hongkongers on me’: all about Nicholas Tse
Nicholas Tse, the son of actor Patrick Tse Yin and actress Deborah Lee, has not just had a successful singing and acting career, he also founded a restaurant chain and a post-production company.
29 Mar, 2024
[22]
Profile | Sandra Ng: from ‘funny hag’ roles to serious actress and producer
Sandra Ng Kwan-yue, now a respected Hong Kong actress and producer, started out playing minor, unattractive roles in the 1980s. But through hard work and humility, she carved a path to success.
12 Apr, 2024
[23]
Profile | Cantopop star, actor, adoring husband – Ekin Cheng’s rise to fame
A look at Ekin Cheng’s journey from actor and Cantopop star to husband to actress Yoyo Mung – and the public romances that made him a tabloid magnet and drew public criticism.
26 Apr, 2024
[24]
Profile | She was Hong Kong’s ‘happy fruit’: the life of ‘Fei Fei’, comedian Lydia Sum
With Lydia Sum ‘everything came from the heart’, said the TV producer who turbocharged the career of the comedian and actress. Known as Fei Fei, she is remembered for the joy she brought audiences.
10 May, 2024
[25]
Profile | Who is Jan Lamb? One half of Cantopop duo Softhard – and a whole lot more
Jan Lamb of Cantopop duo Softhard is nothing if not versatile. The Hong Kong entertainer has been an actor, graphic designer, rapper, stand-up comedian, popular radio host, dramatist, and film director.
24 May, 2024
[26]
Profile | She starred opposite Jackie Chan and Leslie Cheung: meet Joey Wong
Joey Wong, who retired at the peak of her career, was one of the most well-known actresses of the 1980s and 90s Hong Kong entertainment scene. We look back at her life and career, and at where she is today.
07 Jun, 2024
[27]
Profile | Eason Chan ‘wanted to prove himself’: singer’s done so in a stellar career
Eason Chan is one of the most influential Hong Kong pop singers and has a won a string of awards in a three-decade career, despite taking some controversial stances and facing some low moments.
21 Jun, 2024
[28]
Profile | From Hong Kong movie darling to ‘poison’: how Cecilia Cheung overcame scandals
Actress Cecilia Cheung’s personal life has never been far from the spotlight since her debut in 1999. Following scandal she moved to mainland China, where she promotes fashion brands on social media.
05 Jul, 2024
[29]
Profile | How Cantopop’s George Lam has stayed popular since the 70s by being genuine
Singer-songwriter George Lam has been a Hong Kong fixture since the 1970s. Still performing at 76, he puts his enduring appeal down to being himself and not bothering about ‘image and all that’.
19 Jul, 2024
[30]
Profile | Who is Rosamund Kwan? Hong Kong actress, nepo baby and philanthropist
Rosamund Kwan, who has acted opposite movie stars including Jet Li and Jackie Chan, had no plans to become an actress despite her family pedigree – she did it ‘because of my family situation’.
02 Aug, 2024
[31]
Profile | Meet Sammy Leung, one half of Hong Kong’s favourite radio host duo
You may know Sammy Leung as the host of your favourite Hong Kong radio show or TV variety show, or from his acting in films. Better known as Sum-mei, he’s co-presented with Kitty Yuen for most of his radio career.
16 Aug, 2024
[32]
Profile | How Hong Kong’s ‘good girl’ Vivian Chow became beloved Cantopop star
Vivian Chow Wai-man was one of the most popular Cantopop singers of the 1990s and also a noteworthy actress, famous for her good-girl persona – and her up-and-down relationship with husband Joe Nieh.
30 Aug, 2024
[33]
Profile | Why Cantopop stars from Faye Wong to Eason Chan love lyricist Albert Leung
Having created lyrics for stars from Anita Mui to Leslie Cheung and Jacky Cheung, Leung is one of Cantopop’s most loved and prolific writers.
13 Sep, 2024
[34]
Profile | How actress Shu Qi went from soft-porn to mainstream cinema, and now filmmaking
‘A hard-working actress’ who ‘can do anything she wants to do’, a director once said of Shu Qi – a remark borne out by her subsequent career.
27 Sep, 2024
[35]
Profile | Hong Kong singer and actor Jacky Cheung’s rise to God of Songs
Known as one of the ‘Four Heavenly Kings’ of Cantopop, Jacky Cheung has enjoyed a stellar career as an actor and singer since 1984.
11 Oct, 2024
[36]
Profile | From child star to activist, Hong Kong actress Josephine Siao’s career
Josephine Siao began her acting career aged 6 and made over 100 films before becoming deaf. She is an activist against child sexual abuse.
25 Oct, 2024
[37]
Profile | From songwriter in wife’s shadow to serious actor, Louis Cheung’s rise
Hong Kong tabloids painted Louis Cheung as dependent on singer wife Kay Tse, but as an acclaimed actor he’s standing on his own two feet now.
08 Nov, 2024
[38]
Profile | Miriam Yeung’s career as singer and actress, and rupture with fans
Declaring herself a Chinese patriot at the height of anti-government protests in Hong Kong angered fans, but Yeung is back performing again.
22 Nov, 2024
[39]
Profile | How Hacken Lee, once snubbed by fans, thrives as a Cantopop star
The singer has made his mark on Cantopop despite once being told by superstar Anita Mui that she wanted to ‘slap you upside the head’.
06 Dec, 2024
[40]
Profile | How ‘big sister’ Liza Wang has delighted Hong Kong for over 50 years
Liza Wang, 77, actress, singer and Cantonese opera star, is still performing and releasing new music over half a century since her TV debut.
20 Dec, 2024
