Carina Lau is synonymous with Hong Kong cinema. But did you know, she was actually born in Suzhou? Her family immigrated to Hong Kong when she was 15 to look for a better life. After enrolling in TVB’s training program, she got her showbiz start and has been acting since 1984.

“Born in China, I never would have thought that in my lifetime I would become an actress, and for almost 40 years at that. When I was young, I really thought that one day I would become a factory worker.”

In 2022, it was reported that Carina Lau has plans to leave her estimated S$142 million fortune to her nephew Jeff. Most of her wealth comes from real estate investments, which include multi-million luxury properties in Hong Kong, Beijing, Shanghai and Suzhou.

How many of us can say that we spent HK$30 million or US$4 million on our wedding? That was the reported amount that Carina Lau and Tony Leung had spent when they got married in a Buddhist-inspired wedding in Bhutan in 2008. Carina Lau was also gifted a 12-carat Cartier wedding ring said to be priced over HK$10 million.

In 1990 on her way to fellow actor Eric Tsang’s house to play mahjong, Carina Lau suffered a kidnap by men who followed her car. Tong Leung, who was in the middle of filming, stopped everything and went to look for her. Interestingly, Carina Lau resurfaced back at Tsang’s house safe and sound three hours later.

Unfortunately, the kidnapping wasn’t the end of Carina Lau’s woes. In 2002, Eastweek Magazine in Hong Kong published topless photos of the star that had been taken when she was abducted. Many celebrities, including Jackie Chan, criticised the publication’s attempt to increase sales and Eastweek was forced to suspend temporarily.

After less than a year after being appointed the CEO of Hong Kong’s TVMART Channel, Carina Lau was made to step down after reporting losses of $40 million in Taiwan dollars in 2005. Carina Lau shared that because she was “not that well-educated”, she had made decisions that left negative impacts that led to its demise. Reports also stated that the channel was mismatched with how Hong Kongers shopped and the hosts hired were not suited for the job.

After departing Wong Kar-wai’s Jet Tone Films in 2018, Carina Lau took on the role of Tony Leung’s manager as he looked for suitable management. In 2021, she revealed at the Weibo Awards Ceremony that he is still her manager. Carina Lau wouldn’t want to do the role in the long run though as they “have professional disagreements.”

ICYDK, Carina Lau has become known for her love for exercise and the outdoors. She often posts photos of herself hiking around Hong Kong and also loves snowboarding and table tennis. And guess who got her into trekking? Fellow A-list actor Chow Yun-fat. “Ageing will happen but exercising is not only good for your skin and metabolism, it also keeps your mental state healthy. That’s very important for actors.”

Carina Lau has been a member of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, the people behind the notable Academy Awards, or Oscars, since 2017. This is likely a testament to her contribution to cinema and her star power.