# Kara Wai

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.

## 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. 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.
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. Wai performed Chinese dance in a nightclub for three years from age 14 to 17.
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.

## 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.
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.
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.
In 2018, Wai starred as the conservative wife of a closeted transgender woman in Tracey. 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. 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 | |
| 2016 | Book of Love | Ling |
| 2016 | Horrible 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 |
| 2023 | Ciao | Zhang Qianying |
| 2023 | Love Never Ends | Li Huiru |
| 2023 | 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 | Wu Zetian | |
| 2014 | Legend of the Last Emperor | 末代皇帝传奇 | Yehenara Jingfen (Empress Dowager Longyu) | |
| 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 | Wu Zetian | |
| 2015 | The Female Assassins in the Palace | 金釵諜影 | Mo Yun | |
| 2015 | The Legend of Xiaozhuang | 大玉兒傳奇 | Lady Abahai | |
| 2016 | Affairs of the Heart | 人間有情：苦瓜的味道 | Jing | |
| 2019 | Stained | 心冤 | Fion Bo | |
| 2019 | The Defected | 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 | |
| 2020 | We Are All Alone | 怪你过分美丽 | Ruan Lihua | |
| 2021 | The Rebel Princess | 上阳赋 | Noble Consort Xie | |
| 2021 | Murder Diary | 刑偵日記 | Yeung Bik-sum | |
| TBA | | 啼笑书香 | | |
| TBA | | 当家主母 | | |

## Awards and nominations

| Year | Award | Category | Film / television dramas | Result |
| 1982 | 1st Hong Kong Film Awards | Best Actress | My Young Auntie | Won |
| 2002 | 21st Hong Kong Film Awards | Best Supporting Actress | Visible Secret | Nominated |
| 2003 | 40th Golden Horse Awards | Best Supporting Actress | Night Corridor | Nominated |
| 2009 | 43rd TVB Anniversary Awards | Best Supporting Actress | Rosy Business | Nominated |
| 2009 | 46th Golden Horse Awards | Best Supporting Actress | At the End of Daybreak | Won |
| 2010 | 16th Hong Kong Film Critics Society Awards | Best Actress | At the End of Daybreak | Won |
| 2010 | 4th Asian Film Awards | Best Supporting Actress | At the End of Daybreak | Won |
| 2010 | 29th Hong Kong Film Awards | Best Actress | At the End of Daybreak | Won |
| 2010 | 10th Chinese Film Media Awards | Best Actress | At the End of Daybreak | Won |
| 2010 | 10th Changchun Film Festival | Best Actress | At the End of Daybreak | Won |
| 2010 | Vladivostok International Film Festival | Best Actress | At the End of Daybreak | Won |
| 2010 | 44th TVB Anniversary Awards | Best Supporting Actress | A Fistful of Stances | Nominated |
| 2011 | 48th Golden Horse Awards | Best Supporting Actress | A Chinese Ghost Story | Nominated |
| 2012 | 31st Hong Kong Film Awards | Best Supporting Actress | Wu Xia | Nominated |
| 2013 | 1st Malaysia's Golden Wau Awards | Best Supporting Actress | The Wedding Diary | Won |
| 2014 | 33rd Hong Kong Film Awards | Best Supporting Actress | Rigor Mortis | Won |
| 2015 | 34th Hong Kong Film Awards | Best Supporting Actress | The Midnight After | Nominated |
| 2017 | 11th Asian Film Awards | Best Actress | Happiness | Nominated |
| 2017 | 36th Hong Kong Film Awards | Best Actress | Happiness | Won |
| 2017 | Macau International Movie Festival | Best Actress | Happiness | Won |
| 2017 | Chinese Film Media Awards | Best Actress | Happiness | Nominated |
| 2017 | 24th Beijing College Student Film Festival | Best Actress | Happiness | Nominated |
| 2017 | 54th Golden Horse Awards | Best Leading Actress | The Bold, the Corrupt, and the Beautiful | Won |
| 2017 | 22nd Asian Television Awards | Best Actress in a Leading Role | Affairs of the Heart | Won |
| 2018 | 12th Asian Film Awards | Excellence in Asian Cinema Awards | | Won |
| 2018 | 55th Golden Horse Awards | Best Supporting Actress | Tracey | Nominated |
| 2019 | 38th Hong Kong Film Awards | Best Supporting Actress | Tracey | Won |
| 2019 | 13th Asian Film Awards | Best Supporting Actress | Tracey | Won |
| 2019 | 2nd Asian Academy Creative Awards | Best Leading Actress (Hong Kong) | The Defected | Won |
| 2019 | 26th Huading Awards | Best Actress | The Defected | Won |
| 2019 | 26th Huading Awards | Top Ten Favorite Actors | The Defected | Won |
| 2019 | TVB Anniversary Awards | Best Actress | The Defected | Won |
| 2020 | 35th Hundred Flowers Awards | Best Actress | My People, My Country | Nominated |
| 2021 | TVB Anniversary Awards | Best Actress | Murder Diary | Top 10 |
| 2021 | TVB Anniversary Awards | Most Popular Female Character | Murder Diary | Nominated |
| 2021 | TVB Anniversary Awards | Most Popular Onscreen Partnership (with Philip Keung) | Murder Diary | Nominated |
| 2021 | TVB Anniversary Awards | Favourite TVB Actress in Malaysia | Murder Diary | Nominated |
| 2023 | 36th Golden Rooster Awards | Best Actress | Love Never Ends | Nominated |
| 2024 | 15th China Film Director's Guild Awards | Best Actress | Love Never Ends | Nominated |