Kara Wai

惠英紅
Wai at the USA Smithsonian Institution world premiere of Happiness on 15 July 2016
Born (1960-02-02) 2 February 1960
Other namesKara Hui
Occupationactress
Years active1976–present
FamilyAustin Wai (brother)
AwardsChangchun Film Festival
Best Actress
2010 At the End of Daybreak
Hong Kong Film AwardsBest Actress
1982 My Young Auntie
2010 At the End of Daybreak
2017 Happiness
Best Supporting Actress
2014 Rigor Mortis

Hong Kong Film Critics Society AwardsBest Actress
2010 At the End of Daybreak

Asian Film AwardsBest Supporting Actress
2010 At the End of Daybreak

Golden Horse AwardsBest Leading Actress
2017 The Bold, the Corrupt, and the Beautiful
Best Supporting Actress
2009 At the End of Daybreak

Asian Television AwardsBest Actress
2017 Affairs of the Heart

TVB Anniversary AwardBest Actress
2019 The Defected

Chinese name
Traditional Chinese惠英紅
Simplified Chinese惠英红

Kara Wai Ying-hung BBS (simplified Chinese: 惠英红; traditional Chinese: 惠英紅; 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.[2] 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 didn't keep studying since she finish primary school.[3] In her interview on Be My Guest, Wai revealed her family lost their savings due to her father's business acquaintances.[3] 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.[4][5]

At the age of 14, she began taking dance lessons at the defunct Miramar nightclub and Northern style weaponry lessons from Donnie Yen's mother, Bow-sim Mark.[5][6] Wai did Chinese dance for three years.[7]

Director Chang Cheh is her godfather.[8]

In 1999, she suffered from depression, and her career was in low ebb. She attempted suicide at the age of 40.[6] 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.[9]

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.[7]

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).[10]

1988–2002

In 1987, Wai traveled to Paris, France, to conduct a nude photoshoot for Playboy.[6] 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.[11]

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.[12]

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.[13][14]

In 2018, Wai starred as the conservative wife of a closeted transgender woman in Tracey.[15] 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.[16] 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

YearTitleRole
1976Challenge of the Masters
1977Chinatown KidGirl in brothel
1977The Brave ArcherMu Nianci
1977Teenager's Nightmare: The Criminals Part 5
1977The Dream of the Red ChamberSheyue
1978Invincible ShaolinXiu Yin
1978Heaven Sword & Dragon Sabre Part II
1978The Voyage of Emperor Chien Lung
1978Swordsman and Enchantress
1978The Cunning Hustler
1978The Brave Archer 2Mu Nianci
1978Clan of Amazons
1978Shaolin HandlockLi's student
1979The Tigress of ShaolinTsai Chiao
1979The Last Judgement
1979Life GambleXiao Hung
1979The Scandalous WarlordConcubine
1979Mad Monkey Kung FuMiss Chen
1979The Deadly Breaking SwordXiaoqin
1979The Ghost Story
1979Dirty HoChoi Hung

1980s

YearTitleRole
1980Return to the 36th ChamberHung
1980The Swift Sword
1980Emperor Chien Lung and the Beauty
1980Heaven and HellLin Wei-Gang's Girlfriend
1980Clan of the White LotusMei-Hsiao
1981Sword Stained with Royal Blood
1981Return of the Sentimental SwordsmanSun Hsiao Hung
1981My Young AuntieCheng Tai-Nan
1981The Brave Archer 3
1981Martial ClubChu Ying
1981The Tiger and the Widow
1981The Duel of the Century
1982The Emperor and the Minister
1982Cat vs RatChan's sister
1982The Brave Archer and His Mate
1982Legendary Weapons of ChinaFang Shao-Ching
1982The 82 Tenants
1982Buddha's Palm
1983Demon of the Lute
1983The Lady Is the Boss
1984Three Stooges Go Undercover
1984New Tales of the Flying FoxYuan Tzu-yi
1984The Eight Diagram Pole FighterYang No.8
1984Family Light Affair
1984Double Decker
1984The Return of Pom PomYuen Hung/Mimi
1984Long Road to GallantryLi Sai Nan
1985Twinkle, Twinkle, Lucky StarsTour Girl
1985Why Me?Woman Whose Husband Gambles
1985Journey of the Doomed
1986The Story of Dr. Sun Yat-sen
1986RosaLei's Sister
1986Naughty BoysChuan
1986The Seventh CurseInspector Chiang
1987RougeActress Portraying Ghost
1988Peacock King
1988The Inspector Wears SkirtsMay
1988Pretty Women at WarAh Phoh
1988The Dragon FamilyWai's wife
1989Burning AmbitionChau Siu-Hong
1989They Came to Rob Hong KongInspector Shang
1989Red Lips
1989Widow WarriorsSister-in-law
1989The Inspector Wears Skirts II

1990s

YearTitleRole
1990Stage Door Johnny
1990Angel TerminatorsHon
1990Raid on Royal Casino MarineMay
1990Lethal Angels 2
1991The BanquetThe Servant
1991Heart of Danger
1991Who Cares!
1991Queen of Gambler
1991The Roar of the VietnameseYuen Wan-Yin
1992The Inspector Wears Skirts IVMay
1992Behind the Curtain
1992Guys in Ghost's Hand
1992Zen of SwordHa Hou's Aunt
1992Mega Force from Highland
1992Legend of the Drunken TigerLeela
1993Madam City HunterSiu-Hung
1993Tattoo Girl
1995The Vengeance
1996Dragon from Shaolin
1996Xiu hua da dao

2000s

YearTitleRole
2000High K
2000Fist Power
2001Visible SecretSiu Kam's mother
2003The ParkMrs. Yu
2003Infernal Affairs IIHau's sister
2003The Secret Society – BossFai's ex-wife
2003Night CorridorSam's mother
2004Blood BrothersWing's mother
2005A Chinese Tall Story
2005Crazy N' the CityRachel
2008Legendary AssassinBoss
2008L for Love L for LiesBobo's mother
2009At the End of DaybreakTuck's mother

2010s

YearTitleRole
201072 Tenants of Prosperity
2010Kung Fu Wing ChunMaster Ng Mui
2011A Chinese Ghost StoryLao Lao, the tree demon
2011DragonKnife fighter
2011The Wedding Diary
2011Turning Point 2
2012DivaSister Dan
2012Happiness Me Too
2013Midnight Train
20137 Assassins
2013The Wedding Diary 2
2013The Fox Lover
2013Rigor MortisYeung Feng
2013Control
2014Lock Me Up, Tie Him Down
2014The Midnight After
2015Lovers & Movies
2015Kungfu Taboo
2015Daughter
2016Book of LoveLing
2016Horrible Masion In Wild VillageGranny
2016HappinessTse Yuen-fan
2016The Warriors GateMountain Spirit
2016Mrs KMrs K
201777 HeartbreaksEva's mother
2017The Mysterious FamilyMother
2017The Bold, the Corrupt, and the BeautifulMadame Tang
2018TraceyAnne
2018House of the Rising Sons
2018A Life of Papers
2018Catching Crazy
201977 Heartwarmings
2019Mr. Monster
2019My People, My Country

2020s

YearTitleRole
2020Monster RunLady Lotus
202177 HeartwarmingsEva's Mother
2022Sunshine of My LifeGan Xiaohong
2023 Śakra (Demi-Gods and Semi-Devils)Ruan Xingzhu
CiaoZhang Qianying
Love Never EndsLi Huiru
Last SuspectLin Shu'e

Television dramas

YearEnglish titleOriginal titleRoleNotes
1996Journey to the West西遊記Flying Tiger General
1997Deadly Protection保護證人組Lee Dzi San
1997Lady Flower Fist苗翠花Ma Yuk Mui
1999At the Threshold of an Era創世紀Eva Lau Shuet Ling
1999A Smiling Ghost Story衝上人間Fong Yuet-Ping
1999Tai Ji Zong Shi太極宗師Aunt Hung
2001The Heaven Sword & the Dragon Sabre倚天屠龍記Miejue Shi Tai
2006Safe Guards鐵血保鏢Yan Ching
2006Below the Lion Rock獅子山下Herself
2006CRD Love Story情定CRD
2007On the First Beat學警出更Wong Shuk Yin
2007ICAC Investigators 2007廉政行動2007Choi Yuet Ngo
2007Word Twisters' Adventures鐵咀銀牙Poon Bak Fung
2008Wasabi Mon Amour和味濃情Ko Kwai
2008Forensic Heroes II法證先鋒IICheng Lai Ling
2008Legend of the Demigods搜神傳Cho Mong Yau
2008Pages of TreasuresClick入黃金屋Fun
2009Man in Charge幕後大老爺Ching Tai Niang
2009Rosy Business巾幗梟雄Lau FongNominated — TVB Anniversary Award for Best Supporting Actress
2009Sweetness in the Salt碧血鹽梟Choi Ngan Fa
2009Beyond the Realm of Conscience宮心計Tam Yim Sheung
2010A Fistful of Stances鐵馬尋橋Cheung Sheung-chuNominated — TVB Anniversary Award for Best Supporting Actress
2010Can't Buy Me Love公主嫁到Concubine Wei
2010No Regrets巾幗梟雄之義海豪情Yeung Ng Lai-sim
2011The Glamorous Imperial Concubine傾世皇妃Du Feihong (Empress Du)
2013Women of the Tang Dynasty唐宮燕之女人天下Wu Zetian
2014Legend of the Last Emperor末代皇帝传奇Yehenara Jingfen (Empress Dowager Longyu)
2015Incredible Mama我阿媽係黑玫瑰Chung-Sam Fat-yuen
2015Heroes of Sui and Tang Dynasties 5隋唐英雄5Wu Zetian
2015The Female Assassins in the Palace金釵諜影Mo Yun
2015The Legend of Xiaozhuang大玉兒傳奇Lady Abahai
2016Affairs of the Heart人間有情:苦瓜的味道Jing
2019Stained心冤Fion Bo
2019The Defected[17]鐵探Chief Superintendent Man Hei-wah (Madam Man)Won — TVB Anniversary Award for Best Actress
2020Imperfect Love不完美的她Yuan Ling
2020 We Are All Alone 怪你过分美丽 Ruan Lihua
2021The Rebel Princess上阳赋Noble Consort Xie
2021 Murder Diary 刑偵日記 Yeung Bik-sum
TBA 啼笑书香
当家主母

[18] [19]

Awards and nominations

YearAwardCategoryFilm / television dramasResult
19821st Hong Kong Film AwardsBest ActressMy Young AuntieWon
200221st Hong Kong Film AwardsBest Supporting ActressVisible SecretNominated
200340th Golden Horse AwardsBest Supporting ActressNight CorridorNominated
200943rd TVB Anniversary AwardsBest Supporting ActressRosy BusinessNominated
46th Golden Horse AwardsBest Supporting ActressAt the End of DaybreakWon
201016th Hong Kong Film Critics Society AwardsBest ActressWon
4th Asian Film AwardsBest Supporting ActressWon
29th Hong Kong Film AwardsBest ActressWon
10th Chinese Film Media AwardsBest ActressWon
10th Changchun Film FestivalBest ActressWon
Vladivostok International Film FestivalBest ActressWon
44th TVB Anniversary AwardsBest Supporting ActressA Fistful of StancesNominated
201148th Golden Horse AwardsBest Supporting ActressA Chinese Ghost StoryNominated
201231st Hong Kong Film AwardsBest Supporting ActressWu XiaNominated
20131st Malaysia's Golden Wau Awards[20]Best Supporting ActressThe Wedding DiaryWon
201433rd Hong Kong Film AwardsBest Supporting ActressRigor MortisWon
201534th Hong Kong Film AwardsBest Supporting ActressThe Midnight AfterNominated
201711th Asian Film AwardsBest ActressHappinessNominated
36th Hong Kong Film AwardsBest ActressWon
Macau International Movie FestivalBest ActressWon
Chinese Film Media AwardsBest ActressNominated
24th Beijing College Student Film FestivalBest ActressNominated
54th Golden Horse AwardsBest Leading ActressThe Bold, the Corrupt, and the BeautifulWon
22nd Asian Television AwardsBest Actress in a Leading RoleAffairs of the HeartWon
2018 12th Asian Film Awards Excellence in Asian Cinema Awards Won
55th Golden Horse AwardsBest Supporting ActressTraceyNominated
201938th Hong Kong Film AwardsBest Supporting ActressWon
13th Asian Film AwardsBest Supporting ActressWon
2nd Asian Academy Creative AwardsBest Leading Actress (Hong Kong)The DefectedWon
26th Huading Awards Best Actress[21] Won
Top Ten Favorite Actors Won
TVB Anniversary Awards Best Actress Won
2020 35th Hundred Flowers Awards Best Actress My People, My Country Nominated
2021 TVB Anniversary Awards Best Actress Murder Diary Top 10
Most Popular Female Character Nominated
Most Popular Onscreen Partnership (with Philip Keung) Nominated
Favourite TVB Actress in Malaysia Nominated
202336th Golden Rooster AwardsBest ActressLove Never Ends Nominated

References

  1. List of Awardees, page 27, 1 July 2018, HKSAR Press Release. Retrieved 1 July 2018
  2. ▌深夜时谈 EP08 — 惠英紅 ▌, 84 Hotspot, 2 December 2017, archived from the original on 2021-10-24, retrieved 3 April 2020
  3. 1 2 [Be My Guest, Episode # 157, 20 March 2010]
  4. "惠英紅 Kara Wai | 甜蜜、虛幻,又刻骨銘心的初戀故事 | ELLE HK", YouTube, Google, LLC, 24 May 2019, archived from the original on 2021-10-24, retrieved 1 April 2020
  5. 1 2 Tam, Arthur (3 March 2016). "Kara Hui (惠英紅) on humble beginnings and 40 years in the film industry". Time Out Hong Kong. Retrieved 1 April 2020.
  6. 1 2 3 "Kara Hui Regrets Suicide Attempt: "It Was Very Stupid!"". JayneStars.com. Hong Kong Economic Times. Retrieved 3 April 2020.
  7. 1 2 Exclusive Kara Hui Interview Part 5 - Working With Liu Chia-Liang, archived from the original on 2021-10-24, retrieved 2 April 2020
  8. Exclusive Kara Hui Interview Part 7 - Final Video, archived from the original on 2021-10-24, retrieved 3 April 2020
  9. "Sina Visitor System". passport.weibo.com. Retrieved 2021-07-14.
  10. Exclusive Kara Hui Interview Part 3 - Favorite Role, archived from the original on 2021-10-24, retrieved 2 April 2020
  11. Frater, Patrick (2013-10-16). "Malaysia's Chinese-Language Films Honored by Wau Awards". Variety. Retrieved 2 April 2020.
  12. "Kara Wai says she's on cloud 9 after receiving the Excellence in Asian Cinema Award". YouTube. Associated Press. 22 January 2018. Archived from the original on 2021-10-24. Retrieved 1 April 2020.
  13. "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 (in Traditional Chinese). Retrieved 1 April 2020.
  14. Hsia, Heidi (2 November 2018). "Kara Hui honoured to receive Bronze Bauhinia Star". sg.style.yahoo.com. Retrieved 1 April 2020.
  15. Lee, Edmund (21 November 2018). "Tracey: Philip Keung earns first lead role in transgender drama". South China Morning Post. Retrieved 1 April 2020.
  16. "【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". HK01. 2021-05-23
  17. "Kara Hui Promotes 'The Defected' In Hong Kong". Gettyimages.hk. 2019-03-29
  18. Kara Hui at lovehkfilm.com
  19. Kara Hui at chinesemov.com
  20. Loy, Vincent. "Malaysia's 1st Golden Wau Awards 2013". Retrieved 22 March 2016.
  21. "第26届华鼎奖奖项出炉 陈宝国惠英红获最佳男女主". Sina (in Chinese). 10 December 2019.
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