4 surprising facts about Carina Lau, Hong Kong actress, designer and multifaceted entrepreneur
Securing a place among Hong Kong’s entertainment royalty, actress, designer and entrepreneur Carina Lau Kar-ling has several sides of her that may surprise you
Charismatic, classy and chic – these are just a few of the words people use to describe Carina Lau Kar-ling, the actor and entrepreneur who turns 54 on December 8. Over the years she has maintained an elusive status of reverence reminiscent of old Hollywood glamour, but there is more to this Hong Kong icon than you may know.
From the humble beginnings of a 1980s TVB starlet, Lau has become an international film star, having worked with the likes of auteur Wong Kar-wai. In 2013, she was nominated at the Cannes Film Festival for Best Actress for her portrayal of a struggling housewife in Bends.
Lau, like her husband Tony Leung Chiu-wai, is part of an elite class of Hong Kong celebrities who flourished during the golden era of Hong Kong entertainment. But unlike many of their peers, Lau has been able to remain relevant for diversifying into different businesses. She has also become a symbol of resilience for women everywhere for talking candidly about overcoming her kidnapping experience at the hands of triad members.
Let's take a look back at how Lau has maintained her place in the spotlight.
Fashion designer and muse
Growing up, my aunts would admire Lau the same way they would approve of Audrey Hepburn. It was as if Lau embodied a type of elegance the industry had never seen before. The world soon took notice, and Lau became as synonymous with film as she did with fashion, commonly seen at the front row of significant fashion weeks representing looks from Valentino to Saint Laurent.
In 2015 she attended the ultra-exclusive MET Gala hosted by Anna Wintour, where she wore a stunning black and white Schiaparelli for the theme “China: Through the Looking Glass”. So, it came as no surprise when she decided to start her own brand Anirac (Carina spelt backwards), which focuses on a sophisticated and polished sense of style that Lau exudes herself. In 2017, she also launched her lifestyle brand +01 on her birthday.
How she stays fit