Hong Kong star Carina Lau, who just celebrated her 59th birthday, has been busy starring alongside Wong Cho Lam in a highly acclaimed stage play “Hong Kong Style Divorce,” which has received rave reviews. Recently, a netizen shared an old photo of her appearing in a Shanghai Intermediate Court 31 years ago, marveling at how she “hasn’t changed at all” over the decades. She also became the first Hong Kong celebrity to sue a company in mainland China.
The photo showed Carina Lau in court in Shanghai in February 1993, looking young and determined, wearing a dark checkered top, with long hair flowing and a sense of resilience in her demeanor. The netizen praised her beauty, remarking, “I was amazed, she is truly beautiful,” admitting that they hadn’t paid much attention to Carina Lau’s looks in the past but were now astounded.
The caption of the photo revealed that the case being heard was related to a lawsuit filed by Carina Lau against Yalish Cosmetic Company, Shanghai’s First Department Store, and Shanghai Hualian Business Mansion for infringing on her image rights in February 1993.
According to mainland media reports, the case traces back to 1992 when Carina Lau discovered unauthorized use of her image on advertisements outside the First Department Store and Hualian Business Mansion on Nanjing East Road in Shanghai, as well as on the packaging and manuals of “Yalish” cosmetics. She sued as the plaintiff, seeking 1 million RMB in compensation. This case was China’s first image rights dispute initiated by a Hong Kong artist and the first time a major retailer was named as a defendant. The case ultimately ended in a settlement, with Carina Lau withdrawing her lawsuits against the department store and business mansion and receiving 100,000 RMB in compensation.
Born in Suzhou, Jiangsu, Carina Lau moved to Hong Kong with her family at a young age. She spent a year honing her Cantonese skills when starting her career. Her teacher at TVB’s artist training program once remarked that out of all his students, Carina Lau was the first to master Cantonese so well within a year. She began her acting career at 17 after joining TVB’s actor training class and eventually fell in love and married Tony Leung Chiu-Wai.
Carina Lau’s rise to fame predates many of her fans’ ages, compared to other prominent female stars from Hong Kong and Taiwan like Brigitte Lin, Maggie Cheung, Anita Mui, and Josephine Siao. She hadn’t received much praise for her looks in the past, but that changed after she appeared on a mainland Chinese reality show where she showcased her bold and lively personality, revealing both a tomboyish and feminine side of herself. She admitted that she has more flaws than virtues but was willing to show her “true self” on the show.
Unexpectedly, through the variety show, Carina Lau gained a multitude of new fans. Many viewers who watched the show expressed their admiration for her, saying, “Even if I’m not Tony Leung, without seeing through the eyes of a lover, I find her too adorable.” Fans couldn’t help but exclaim, “So this is the Carina Lau you are!” and “Only now as an adult do I appreciate Carina Lau’s beauty.” Her performance on the show finally put to rest the common debate of why Tony Leung loves Carina Lau that had been circulating for over a decade.
Carina Lau has revealed that despite being together with Tony Leung for many years, she has not changed her personality for him. She remains lively while he stays reserved. Tony Leung has expressed his reliance on Carina Lau, saying, “After filming, I often can’t snap out of it, Carina is my exorcist. When I hear her laughter, when I hear her speak to me, I know I’m back in reality.” Carina Lau has also repeatedly mentioned the support Tony Leung has given her.
Since rising to fame with TVB’s drama “The Shell Game,” Carina Lau solidified her place in the film industry with works like “The Liar,” “Ruan Lingyu,” and “Days of Being Wild.” Following a kidnapping incident in 2003, she starred in “Infernal Affairs 2”; and in 2010, she portrayed Wu Zetian in Tsui Hark’s “Detective Dee and the Mystery of the Phantom Flame,” winning the Hong Kong Film Award for Best Actress.
Carina Lau and Wong Cho Lam’s collaboration in the stage play “Hong Kong Style Divorce” has created a buzz even before its premiere, leading to an extension of the show with a total of 58 performances running from December to February next year. Prior to the performances, Carina Lau quietly celebrated her 59th birthday. In a photo, Carina Lau wore sunglasses and a light brown casual top, while the 62-year-old Tony Leung confidently displayed his graying temples. Carina Lau captioned the picture with the words “simple, happy,” and received numerous blessings from fellow celebrities.