Carina Lau moved to Hong Kong with her family at the age of 14, unable to speak the local Cantonese language. This led to her being frequently teased by others, earning her the nickname "Mainland Girl". However, she persevered and eventually learned the language, re-joining the TVB actor training program and launching her acting career as a contract basic actress.
She began her career playing minor roles in TV series, but it wasn't until the hit series "Looking Back in Anger" that she established herself as a strong leading lady. Despite her success, she sought to transition to film, feeling limited by her small screen roles.
Carina's personal life was also making headlines, as she was involved in a near-marriage romance with a billionaire in the late 1980s. However, the wedding was cancelled at the last minute, leaving her devastated. She soon began dating Tony Leung, with whom she would eventually partner in a stage play called "Happy Lemon Husband".
Her breakthrough film role came in 1989 with "I Am Sorry", a low-budget dramedy that earned her a HK best actress nomination. She continued to work consistently, eventually finding her dream role as a sexy and volatile showgirl in "Days of Being Wild" opposite Leslie Cheung and Maggie Cheung.
Throughout the 1990s, Carina worked on a range of dramas and comedies, earning a reputation for her versatility and ability to take on complex, daring roles. She was particularly praised for her performances as troubled women and prostitutes, and was not afraid to take on provocative roles.
In the late 1990s, Carina reduced her film work, feeling that there were fewer good scripts available and the industry was in decline. She instead turned her attention to stage work, participating in a period dramatic series in Taiwan and a Hong Kong theatrical play.
Despite her success, Carina was not afraid to take on challenging roles, and was willing to work for little pay in order to develop her craft. Her most recent film, "2046", was a lavish sci-fi epic that saw her reduced to a supporting role, but she was eventually able to find fulfillment in a low-budget Chinese thriller called "Curiosity Kills the Cat".
In this film, Carina turned in a multi-layered and unpredictable performance, earning her the best reviews of her career. She was willing to be made up to look middle-aged and unattractive, and even went so far as to do three takes of paint splattering all over her, a testament to her dedication to her craft.
