Kara Wai Explained

Kara Wai
Honorific Suffix:BBS
Native Name:惠英紅
Native Name Lang:zh
Birth Date:1960 2, df=yes
Birth Place:British Hong Kong
Other Names:Kara Hui
Occupation:actress
Years Active:1976–present
Credits:, which produces label "Notable credit(s)"; or by
Works:, which produces label "Works"; or by
Label Name:, which produces label "Label(s)" -->
Family:Austin Wai (brother)
Awards:Changchun Film Festival
Best Actress
2010 At the End of Daybreak
Module:
Child:yes
T:惠英紅
S:惠英红
P:Huì Yīng Hóng
J:Wai6 Jing1 Hung4

Kara Wai Ying-hung BBS (; born 3 February 1960) is a Hong Kong actress best known internationally for her roles in wuxia films produced by the Shaw Brothers Studio in the 1970s and 1980s.

Wai has since portrayed a wide range of roles on screen and on television with much success. She is the inaugural and a three-time recipient of Hong Kong Film Award for Best Actress. Her portrayal of a mother in the 2009 film At the End of Daybreak won her acting awards at the Hong Kong Film Awards, Hong Kong Film Critics Society Awards, Changchun Film Festival, Pacific Meridian, Asian Film Awards, and Golden Horse Awards. In following years, she went on to win multiple acting trophies throughout Asia Pacific from film roles, making her as one of the most celebrated Hong Kong actresses.

On 1 July 2018, she was awarded Bronze Bauhinia Star (BBS) by the Chief Executive of Hong Kong Special Administration Region, in recognition of her contribution to Hong Kong film industry and acting performances.[1]

Personal life

Born in Hong Kong, she is the fourth oldest out of six children. She is of Manchu descent. Her elder brother was Austin Wai. In her early years, Wai's family resided in the poor shanty town of Rennie's Mill. She did not continue her education beyond completing primary school.[2] In her interview on Be My Guest, Wai revealed her family lost their savings due to her father's business acquaintances. Left penniless, Wai's mother, herself, and her siblings were forced to peddle goods on the streets of Hong Kong. As a teen, she often sold gum and souvenirs in Wan Chai to sailors.[3]

At the age of 14, she began taking dance lessons at the now defunct Miramar nightclub and Northern style weaponry lessons from Donnie Yen's mother, Bow-sim Mark.[4] Wai performed Chinese dance in a nightclub for three years from age 14 to 17.[5]

Director Chang Cheh is her godfather.

In 1999, she suffered from depression, and her career was in low ebb. She attempted suicide at the age of 40. In 2003, with the help of friends and relatives, Wai began to recover.

In March 2021, Wai expressed her support for cotton produced in Xinjiang after several companies announced they will stop purchasing cotton from the region due to concerns over forced labour from Uyghurs; a move echoed by most Chinese celebrities.[6]

Career

1977–1987: Shaw Brothers Studio

During the film shoot for Dirty Ho (1979), the lead actress quit due to the strain of the martial arts stunts. Wai was then an extra in the film. Director Liu Chia-Liang had seen Wai's audition tape for The Brave Archer (1977) and decided to substitute her in as the lead actress. This was their first time working together. Impressed by her performance, Liu would go on to cast Wai in his other projects.

Wai reached her career apex with My Young Auntie (1982), for which she was earned the Award for Best Actress at the 1st Hong Kong Film Awards.

Wai's last film with Shaw Brothers was The Eight Diagram Pole Fighter (1984).

1988–2002

In 1987, Wai traveled to Paris, France, to conduct a nude photoshoot for Playboy. The photos were taken by Byron Newman. The photo book was published in 1989.

2003–2010: Return and TVB

In 2005, she quietly returned to the Hong Kong entertainment industry. In addition to film, she joined television network TVB and was nominated for a TVB Anniversary Award for Best Supporting Actress in 2009 for Rosy Business and in 2010 for A Fistful of Stances.

In 2009, Wai won the 46th Golden Horse Awards for Best Supporting Actress for her role as a possessive mother in At the End of Daybreak. The film has also won the 16th the Hong Kong Institute of Film Critics award for Best Actress, the 4th Asian Film Awards for Best Supporting Actress, the 29th Hong Kong film awards Best Actress, the 10th Chinese movie media awards "best actress", the 10th China Changchun film festival Best Actress in Vladivostok, Russia international film festival has won seven awards Best Actress.

2011–present

Wai made her first mainland TV appearance in the series The Glamorous Imperial Concubine. She took a pay cut to play Wu Zetian in her next mainland drama, Women of the Tang Dynasty. The role garnered her a Best Supporting Actress nomination at the 13th Huading Awards.

In 2012, Wai officially transferred to the king of the arts and is now a contract actress. In 2013, Wai signed a one-year drama contract with HKTV. Her first role with them was as the Black Rose on Incredible Mama. She won Best Supporting Actress for the Malaysian film The Wedding Diary (2011) at the 2013 Golden Wau Awards, a ceremony celebrating Chinese language films in Malaysia.[7]

In 2014, Wai won the Best Supporting Actress award at the 33rd Hong Kong Film Awards for her film Rigor Mortis.

In 2017, she won the Best Actress Award at the 36th Hong Kong film awards for Happiness.

In March 2018, Wai won the Excellence In Asian Cinema Award at the 12th Asian Film Awards.[8]

In October 2018, she was awarded the Bronze Bauhinia Star for her outstanding achievements in the performing arts industry by the Chief Executive Carrie Lam.[9] [10]

In 2018, Wai starred as the conservative wife of a closeted transgender woman in Tracey.[11] The film earned Wai the Award for Best Supporting Actress at the 38th Hong Kong Film Awards and the Award for Best Supporting Actress at the 13th Asian Film Awards.

In 2019, Wai earned critical acclaim with her role as Chief Superintendent Man Hei-wah (Madam Man) in the TVB crime drama The Defected, for which she won the Best Actress award at the 2019 TVB Anniversary Awards.

In 2021, Wai and Hugo Ng Doi-Yung starred in the movie "Sunshine of my life" as a blind parent of a normal child, played by Karena Ng.[12] In the same year, she starred in the TVB crime thriller Murder Diary, in which she portrayed Yeung Bik-sum, a mental hospital assistant with schizophrenia, and was once again highly praised for her acting skills.

Filmography

Film

1970s

Year Title Role
1976 Challenge of the Masters
1977 Chinatown Kid Girl in brothel
1977 The Brave Archer Mu Nianci
1977 Teenager's Nightmare: The Criminals Part 5
1977 The Dream of the Red Chamber Sheyue
1978 Invincible Shaolin Xiu Yin
1978 Heaven Sword & Dragon Sabre Part II
1978 The Voyage of Emperor Chien Lung
1978 Swordsman and Enchantress
1978 The Cunning Hustler
1978 The Brave Archer 2 Mu Nianci
1978 Clan of Amazons
1978 Shaolin Handlock Li's student
1979 The Tigress of Shaolin Tsai Chiao
1979 The Last Judgement
1979 Life Gamble Xiao Hung
1979 The Scandalous Warlord Concubine
1979 Mad Monkey Kung Fu Miss Chen
1979 The Deadly Breaking Sword Xiaoqin
1979 The Ghost Story
1979 Dirty Ho Choi Hung

1980s

Year Title Role
1980 Return to the 36th Chamber Hung
1980 The Swift Sword
1980 Emperor Chien Lung and the Beauty
1980 Heaven and Hell Lin Wei-Gang's Girlfriend
1980 Clan of the White Lotus Mei-Hsiao
1981 Sword Stained with Royal Blood
1981 Return of the Sentimental Swordsman Sun Hsiao Hung
1981 My Young Auntie Cheng Tai-Nan
1981 The Brave Archer 3
1981 Martial Club Chu Ying
1981 The Tiger and the Widow
1981 The Duel of the Century
1982 The Emperor and the Minister
1982 Cat vs Rat Chan's sister
1982 The Brave Archer and His Mate
1982 Legendary Weapons of China Fang Shao-Ching
1982 The 82 Tenants
1982 Buddha's Palm
1983 Demon of the Lute
1983 The Lady Is the Boss
1984 Three Stooges Go Undercover
1984 New Tales of the Flying Fox Yuan Tzu-yi
1984 The Eight Diagram Pole Fighter Yang No.8
1984 Family Light Affair
1984 Double Decker
1984 The Return of Pom Pom Yuen Hung/Mimi
1984 Long Road to Gallantry Li Sai Nan
1985 Twinkle, Twinkle, Lucky Stars Tour Girl
1985 Why Me? Woman Whose Husband Gambles
1985 Journey of the Doomed
1986 The Story of Dr. Sun Yat-sen
1986 Rosa Lei's Sister
1986 Naughty Boys Chuan
1986 The Seventh Curse Inspector Chiang
1987 Rouge Actress Portraying Ghost
1988 Peacock King
1988 The Inspector Wears Skirts May
1988 Pretty Women at War Ah Phoh
1988 The Dragon Family Wai's wife
1989 Burning Ambition Chau Siu-Hong
1989 They Came to Rob Hong Kong Inspector Shang
1989 Red Lips
1989 Widow Warriors Sister-in-law
1989 The Inspector Wears Skirts II

1990s

Year Title Role
1990 Stage Door Johnny
1990 Angel Terminators Hon
1990 Raid on Royal Casino Marine May
1990 Lethal Angels 2
1991 The Banquet The Servant
1991 Heart of Danger
1991 Who Cares!
1991 Queen of Gambler
1991 The Roar of the Vietnamese Yuen Wan-Yin
1992 The Inspector Wears Skirts IV May
1992 Behind the Curtain
1992 Guys in Ghost's Hand
1992 Zen of Sword Ha Hou's Aunt
1992 Mega Force from Highland
1992 Legend of the Drunken Tiger Leela
1993 Madam City Hunter Siu-Hung
1993 Tattoo Girl
1994 Sharpshooters Kan Nam
1995 The Vengeance
1996 Dragon from Shaolin
1996 Xiu hua da dao

2000s

Year Title Role
2000 High K
2000 Fist Power
2001 Visible Secret Siu Kam's mother
2003 The Park Mrs. Yu
2003 Infernal Affairs II Hau's sister
2003 The Secret Society – Boss Fai's ex-wife
2003 Night Corridor Sam's mother
2004 Blood Brothers Wing's mother
2005 A Chinese Tall Story
2005 Crazy N' the City Rachel
2008 Legendary Assassin Boss
2008 L for Love L for Lies Bobo's mother
2009 At the End of Daybreak Tuck's mother

2010s

Year Title Role
2010 72 Tenants of Prosperity
2010 Kung Fu Wing Chun Master Ng Mui
2011 A Chinese Ghost Story Lao Lao, the tree demon
2011 Dragon Knife fighter
2011 The Wedding Diary
2011 Turning Point 2
2012 Diva Sister Dan
2012 Happiness Me Too
2013 Midnight Train
2013 7 Assassins
2013 The Wedding Diary 2
2013 The Fox Lover
2013 Rigor Mortis Yeung Feng
2013 Control
2014 Lock Me Up, Tie Him Down
2014 The Midnight After
2015 Lovers & Movies
2015 Kungfu Taboo
2015 Daughter
2016Book of Love Ling
2016Horrible Masion In Wild Village Granny
2016 Happiness Tse Yuen-fan
2016 The Warriors Gate Mountain Spirit
2016 Mrs K Mrs K
2017 77 Heartbreaks Eva's mother
2017 The Mysterious Family Mother
2017 The Bold, the Corrupt, and the Beautiful Madame Tang
2018 Tracey Anne
2018 House of the Rising Sons
2018 A Life of Papers
2018 Catching Crazy
2019 77 Heartwarmings
2019 Mr. Monster
2019 My People, My Country

2020s

Year Title Role
2020 Monster Run Lady Lotus
2021 77 Heartwarmings Eva's Mother
2022 Sunshine of My Life Gan Xiaohong
2023 Śakra (Demi-Gods and Semi-Devils) Ruan Xingzhu
Ciao Zhang Qianying
Love Never Ends Li Huiru
Last Suspect Lin Shu'e

Television dramas

Year English title Original title Role Notes
1996 Journey to the West西遊記 Flying Tiger General
1997 Deadly Protection 保護證人組 Lee Dzi San
1997 Lady Flower Fist 苗翠花 Ma Yuk Mui
1999 At the Threshold of an Era 創世紀 Eva Lau Shuet Ling
1999 A Smiling Ghost Story 衝上人間 Fong Yuet-Ping
1999 Tai Ji Zong Shi 太極宗師 Aunt Hung
2001 The Heaven Sword & the Dragon Sabre倚天屠龍記 Miejue Shi Tai
2006 Safe Guards 鐵血保鏢 Yan Ching
2006 Below the Lion Rock 獅子山下 Herself
2006 CRD Love Story 情定CRD
2007 On the First Beat學警出更 Wong Shuk Yin
2007 ICAC Investigators 2007 廉政行動2007 Choi Yuet Ngo
2007 Word Twisters' Adventures 鐵咀銀牙 Poon Bak Fung
2008 Wasabi Mon Amour和味濃情 Ko Kwai
2008 Forensic Heroes II 法證先鋒II Cheng Lai Ling
2008 Legend of the Demigods 搜神傳 Cho Mong Yau
2008 Pages of Treasures Click入黃金屋 Fun
2009 Man in Charge 幕後大老爺 Ching Tai Niang
2009 Rosy Business 巾幗梟雄 Lau Fong Nominated — TVB Anniversary Award for Best Supporting Actress
2009 Sweetness in the Salt 碧血鹽梟 Choi Ngan Fa
2009 Beyond the Realm of Conscience 宮心計 Tam Yim Sheung
2010 A Fistful of Stances 鐵馬尋橋 Cheung Sheung-chu Nominated — TVB Anniversary Award for Best Supporting Actress
2010 Can't Buy Me Love公主嫁到 Concubine Wei
2010 No Regrets 巾幗梟雄之義海豪情 Yeung Ng Lai-sim
2011 The Glamorous Imperial Concubine 傾世皇妃 Du Feihong (Empress Du)
2013 Women of the Tang Dynasty 唐宮燕之女人天下
2014 Legend of the Last Emperor 末代皇帝传奇
2015 Incredible Mama 我阿媽係黑玫瑰Chung-Sam Fat-yuen
2015 Heroes of Sui and Tang Dynasties 5 隋唐英雄5
2015 The Female Assassins in the Palace 金釵諜影Mo Yun
2015 The Legend of Xiaozhuang 大玉兒傳奇
2016 Affairs of the Heart 人間有情:苦瓜的味道 Jing
2019 Stained 心冤 Fion Bo
2019 The Defected[13] 鐵探 Chief Superintendent Man Hei-wah (Madam Man) Won — TVB Anniversary Award for Best Actress
2020 Imperfect Love 不完美的她 Yuan Ling
2020We Are All Alone怪你过分美丽Ruan Lihua
2021 The Rebel Princess 上阳赋 Noble Consort Xie
2021Murder Diary刑偵日記Yeung Bik-sum
TBA啼笑书香
当家主母

[14] [15]

Awards and nominations

Year Award Category Film / television dramas Result
1982 My Young Auntie
2002 Visible Secret
2003 Night Corridor
2009 43rd TVB Anniversary AwardsBest Supporting Actress Rosy Business
At the End of Daybreak
2010 Best Actress
Best Supporting Actress
Best Actress
Best Actress
Best Actress
Vladivostok International Film Festival Best Actress
44th TVB Anniversary Awards Best Supporting Actress A Fistful of Stances
2011 A Chinese Ghost Story
2012 Best Supporting Actress Wu Xia
2013 1st Malaysia's Golden Wau Awards[16] Best Supporting Actress The Wedding Diary
2014 Rigor Mortis
2015 The Midnight After
2017 Happiness
The Bold, the Corrupt, and the Beautiful
22nd Asian Television Awards Affairs of the Heart
201812th Asian Film AwardsExcellence in Asian Cinema Awards
55th Golden Horse AwardsBest Supporting ActressTracey
2019
2nd Asian Academy Creative Awards Best Leading Actress (Hong Kong)The Defected
26th Huading AwardsBest Actress[17]
Top Ten Favorite Actors
TVB Anniversary AwardsBest Actress
202035th Hundred Flowers AwardsBest ActressMy People, My Country
2021TVB Anniversary AwardsBest ActressMurder Diary
Most Popular Female Character
Most Popular Onscreen Partnership (with Philip Keung)
Favourite TVB Actress in Malaysia
2023 Love Never Ends
2024 Best Actress

Notes and References

  1. http://gia.info.gov.hk/general/201807/01/P2018063000485_287245_1_1530352737320.pdf List of Awardees, page 27, 1 July 2018, HKSAR Press Release. Retrieved 1 July 2018
  2. Be My Guest, Episode # 157, 20 March 2010
  3. Web site: Kara Hui (惠英紅) on humble beginnings and 40 years in the film industry. Tam. Arthur. 3 March 2016. Time Out Hong Kong. en. 1 April 2020.
  4. Web site: Kara Hui Regrets Suicide Attempt: "It Was Very Stupid!". JayneStars.com. Hong Kong Economic Times. en. 3 April 2020.
  5. Web site: Kara Hui Regrets Suicide Attempt: "It Was Very Stupid!" – JayneStars.com.
  6. Web site: Sina Visitor System. 2021-07-14. passport.weibo.com.
  7. Web site: Malaysia's Chinese-Language Films Honored by Wau Awards. Frater. Patrick. 2013-10-16. Variety. en. 2 April 2020.
  8. Web site: Kara Wai says she's on cloud 9 after receiving the Excellence in Asian Cinema Award. https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211024/OHQ4okFUe5k. 2021-10-24. 22 January 2018. YouTube. Associated Press. en. 1 April 2020.
  9. Web site: 獲頒銅紫荊星章 58歲惠英紅:姓惠的覺得很光榮 (13:47) - 20181027 - SHOWBIZ. 明報OL網. zh-hant. 1 April 2020.
  10. Web site: Kara Hui honoured to receive Bronze Bauhinia Star. Hsia. Heidi. 2 November 2018. sg.style.yahoo.com. en-SG. 1 April 2020.
  11. Web site: Tracey: Philip Keung earns first lead role in transgender drama. Lee. Edmund. 21 November 2018. South China Morning Post. en. 1 April 2020.
  12. Web site: 【一路瞳行】視障女高音傑青獻唱主題曲 惠英紅雨中哭訴極感人. 23 May 2021 . HK01. 2021-05-23
  13. Web site: Kara Hui Promotes 'The Defected' In Hong Kong. 30 March 2019 . Gettyimages.hk. 2019-03-29
  14. Web site: Kara Hui Ying-Hung (惠英紅). www.lovehkfilm.com.
  15. Web site: ⓿⓿ Kara Hui - Actress - Hong Kong - Filmography - TV Drama Series - Chinese Movies.
  16. Web site: Loy. Vincent. Malaysia's 1st Golden Wau Awards 2013. 28 October 2013 . 22 March 2016.
  17. Web site: 第26届华鼎奖奖项出炉 陈宝国惠英红获最佳男女主. 10 December 2019. Sina. zh.