Where are Hong Kong film icon Wong Kar-wai’s 6 muses now? From Days of Being Wild’s Tony Leung and Maggie Cheung, to Faye Wong, and Takeshi Kaneshiro and Michele Reis in Fallen Angels
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It’s Wong Kar-wai’s world and we’re just living in it.
The 64-year-old icon is known for catapulting Hong Kong cinema to art house film calibre and he is well-revered for his distinct style – dizzying neon lights, bustling city settings, on-point soundtracks and, ultimately, the pitch-perfect casting.
![Hong Kong filmmaker Wong Kar-wai poses with his trophies during the eighth Asian Film Awards in Macau, in March 2014. Photo: Nora Tam](https://cdn.i-scmp.com/sites/default/files/d8/images/canvas/2023/05/03/a2f5efbf-4937-42bb-a13f-65ee61623535_4470add1.jpg)
Here, we pay homage to his muses – the actors that brought to life his often sad, sometimes deeply troubled characters, who’ve gained the love of the audience for their wit, charm and an air of cool.
1. Maggie Cheung
![A still from In The Mood for Love, a 2000 Hong Kong romantic drama film written, produced and directed by Wong Kar-wai, starring Tony Leung (right) and Maggie Cheung (left). Photo: Block 2 Pictures](https://cdn.i-scmp.com/sites/default/files/d8/images/canvas/2023/05/03/f09b4d39-b690-4da0-9a5e-3a60d649d4a1_93128cc8.jpg)
She’s arguably the director’s ultimate muse and her most iconic performance was in In The Mood for Love.
The former actress, 58, was a vision of elegance in her cheongsams, portraying the quiet sadness and restraint perfectly in the film. Outside of Wong’s world, Cheung won her most prestigious award at the 2004 Festival de Cannes for her role in the film Clean. Previously, she won best actress at the Berlin Festival for her role in Center Stage.
![Maggie Cheung is an on-screen goddess. Photo: @zhangmanyuofficial/Instagram](https://cdn.i-scmp.com/sites/default/files/d8/images/canvas/2023/05/03/ccaea083-64c9-48a8-9643-682235c93d10_095c17fb.jpg)
Although retired from acting, Cheung is reported to have made a social media account on Douyin (China’s TikTok), per Today Online.
2. Takeshi Kaneshiro
![Takeshi Kaneshiro in a still from Fallen Angels. Photo: Jet Tone Productions](https://cdn.i-scmp.com/sites/default/files/d8/images/canvas/2023/05/03/63ff9fce-ee7b-4521-af0b-a59de4f80120_42837968.jpg)
![Japanese-Taiwanese actor and singer Takeshi Kaneshiro. Photo: @kaneshiro_takeshi/Instagram](https://cdn.i-scmp.com/sites/default/files/d8/images/canvas/2023/05/03/c6331bad-549d-40f9-987a-11fb4202ebe3_3d341658.jpg)
Per Hong Kong director Peter Chan in a 2022 Strait Times report, Kaneshiro doesn’t seem keen on taking film projects nowadays, so much so that it apparently takes at least six months to convince him to do one.
3. Michele Reis
![Michele Reis and Takeshi Kaneshiro in Wong Kar-wai’s Fallen Angels. Photo: Block 2 Pictures and Jet Tone Contents](https://cdn.i-scmp.com/sites/default/files/d8/images/canvas/2023/05/03/a51b8389-85a2-43b2-8782-67f98f9057aa_a18f5966.jpg)
![Former beauty queen Michele Reis is also an ambassador for luxury brands. Photo: @michele_monique_reis/Instagram](https://cdn.i-scmp.com/sites/default/files/d8/images/canvas/2023/05/03/9ba0bf9b-1cf9-4c36-bc36-4e486d6f5d1c_d7491f3d.jpg)
Acting took a back seat for Reis when she decided to focus on her family, but she remains active on social media and keeps fans updated.
4. Tony Leung
![Tony Leung in a still from Chungking Express. Photo: Accusoft Inc.](https://cdn.i-scmp.com/sites/default/files/d8/images/canvas/2023/05/03/c9b2247f-f8f5-414f-802e-a0438e77b44b_adec112a.jpg)
![Tony Leung, winner of the best actor with Where the Wind Blows, at the 16th Asian Film Awards at Hong Kong Palace Museum, in Hong Kong, on March 12. Photo: AP](https://cdn.i-scmp.com/sites/default/files/d8/images/canvas/2023/05/03/19917ac0-4a6d-44cc-a90a-c00e8e215c85_32afda76.jpg)
In a 2022 Korean Herald report, the actor revealed his wish to star in a K-drama and named Song Kang-ho and Jeon Do-yeon as his favourite Korean actors.
5. Leslie Cheung
![Leslie Cheung (left) and Maggie Cheung (right) in a still from Days of Being Wild. Photo: In-Gear Films](https://cdn.i-scmp.com/sites/default/files/d8/images/canvas/2023/05/03/8d47b428-c8a2-4fc9-972e-f253ed5771d7_2d8b5533.jpg)
The late Hong Kong singer and actor’s most prominent role in a Wong Kar-wai film was his bisexual role in Happy Together, lauded as one of the best LGBTQ+ films of all time by the British Film Institute.
![Red high heels worn by Leslie Cheung at Live in Concert 97, displayed during the press preview for the Miss You Much Leslie Exhibition. Photo: Sam Tsang](https://cdn.i-scmp.com/sites/default/files/d8/images/canvas/2023/05/03/42d53775-aedf-4e09-aae9-f85cbf636717_461fe3b1.jpg)
6. Faye Wong
![Faye Wong in a still from Chungking Express. Photo: Accusoft Inc.](https://cdn.i-scmp.com/sites/default/files/d8/images/canvas/2023/05/03/62e7b6a5-d6dd-4186-8683-b9859a637be8_adec112a.jpg)
Free-spirited and spunky, her role in Chungking Express is a favourite and one of her most popular appearances. Beyond cinema, Wong, 53, is also known as a singer and songwriter. She sang a Chinese cover of the song “Dreams” by The Cranberries for Chungking Express.
![Faye Wong might be working with Wong Kar-wai again. Photo: 163.com](https://cdn.i-scmp.com/sites/default/files/d8/images/canvas/2023/05/03/dcd31bbe-fc44-4580-9f9a-ccc596015fa5_5973927d.jpg)
According to an August 2022 report on Malay Mail, that the actress and the director seem to be collaborating on a project again, more than 18 years since their last film together, 2046.
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- Hong Kong auteur Wong Kar-wai is famous for working with the same actors, from Leslie Cheung to Tony Leung – and he might be working with Faye Wong again, more than 18 years since their last film 2046
- Screen goddesses Maggie Cheung and Michele Reis retired from acting while Takeshi Kaneshiro reportedly takes months to accept an offer, but Tony Leung has expressed interest in starring in a K-drama