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Lisa Cam

This is the 30th instalment in a biweekly series profiling major Hong Kong pop culture figures of recent decades.
Rosamund Kwan Chi-lam was one of the leading actresses of the golden age of Hong Kong cinema – and a nepo baby well before that term was coined.
Kwan was born in 1962 in Hong Kong, and grew up in a family with deep ties to the film industry – both her father, Kwan Shan, and her mother, Zhang Bingqian, were movie stars. Yet she wasn’t set on following in their footsteps.
When she did begin acting in the early 1980s, at the age of 18, unlike many second-generation actresses she did it to support her family, she revealed in a 2016 interview with Phoenix TV.

“I had to enter the entertainment industry because of my family situation,” Kwan said, without elaborating. “I actually wanted to keep studying and I didn’t think much of acting.”
Her breakout role came in 1984 opposite 1980s heartthrob Paul Chung Po-lor in the romantic comedy Challenge on Chasing Girls.
I was playing side characters and love interests, while it was the boys who were fighting and doing interesting things
Kwan on her early film career
Her role as Wong Fei-hung’s love interest, Aunt Thirteen, in the Once Upon a Time in China film series that started in 1991 catapulted her to international stardom. With Jet Li Lianjie’s martial arts movie career taking off, the worldwide attention his films earned meant Kwan was also thrust into the spotlight.
Her portrayal of a modern, educated woman contrasted well with Li’s traditional protagonist, and her beauty helped boost her popularity. However, Kwan has said she does not see beauty as an advantage.
“My parents being who they were and the circles I grew up around, everyone was beautiful,” she recalled in an interview. “But that didn’t make much of a difference for me as an actress. I was playing side characters and love interests, while it was the boys who were fighting and doing interesting things. I had to wait 10 years before I got a meaningful role.”

Throughout the 1980s and 1990s, Kwan was one of Hong Kong’s most sought-after actresses. She starred in numerous successful films, including Project A Part II (1987) with Jackie Chan, and Swordsman II (1992) as well as the Once Upon a Time in China franchise with Li.
Despite appearing in nearly 50 films between 1988 and 1996, Kwan was only ever nominated for a Hong Kong Film Award once, in 1992 for a supporting role in the film This Thing Called Love. Her lacklustre awards count may be attributed to her indifference to the film industry.
“I don’t know why I made so many films during those years,” she reflected in an interview. “I don’t think I ever got the satisfaction other people were getting from filmmaking, but at the time the sentiment was if I didn’t take these jobs, people would stop hiring me.”

Like many stars, Kwan’s career was not without its share of controversy. Despite being a self-proclaimed introvert and private person, her personal life often made headlines.
Although it was known that Kwan married at the age of 19 and divorced not long after she became a celebrity, it was another relationship later in her life that was subject to scrutiny.
Kwan fell into a relationship with Taiwanese art collector and businessman Pierre Chen, whom she met while Chen was still married. Their on-off relationship, rife with rumours of a secret marriage and break-up, kept the media and public intrigued.
In 2015, Kwan confirmed that she and Chen had indeed been married but that they had since divorced. However, it was reported that Chen and Kwan never in fact registered their marriage and so were never officially husband and wife, leading to speculation that the couple had merely broken up rather than divorcing.

Kwan also faced professional challenges in the early 2000s, when the rise of Hollywood blockbusters and shifting audience preferences meant the Hong Kong film industry underwent significant changes.
This period saw fewer roles for many established Hong Kong actors, including Kwan. Despite landing the lead role in films including Feng Xiaogang’s Big Shot’s Funeral (2001), she announced in 2007 she was stepping away from the film industry.
Kwan shifted her focus to business, leveraging her fame and influence to venture into the beauty and fashion industries. She launched a skincare line, RK Beauty, which received positive reviews and carved out a niche in the mainland Chinese market.
She remains active on social media, and freely shares aspects of her life with her followers on Instagram.

In 2016, she designed her own sleepwear line in collaboration with fashion label Moiselle. The collection featured sensible pyjamas because, as Kwan explained: “You never know when there is a fire alarm or earthquake warning and you find yourself evacuating on the street.”
Kwan has also dedicated herself to philanthropy. She is involved in various charitable activities, particularly those supporting children and the poor. These efforts have allowed her to redefine her public persona away from the glitz and glamour of the film industry.
It seems Kwan, having begun working when she was 18, is making up for lost time with her self-exploration and -expression.
“There are over 20 things I wanted to do after acting. I dedicate myself to working out three hours with a personal trainer every day. I’m learning how to ski and I want to share my way of life with everyone,” Kwan said in the 2016 Phoenix TV interview.

In recent years, Kwan has reappeared on our screens – in adverts – and served as a spokeswoman for brands.
She may be one of the least decorated Hong Kong actresses of the 1980s and 1990s, but her prolific filmmaking career has seared her into the collective consciousness as a symbol of the golden age of Hong Kong cinema.
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Hong Kong celebrities and icons

Who is Rosamund Kwan? Hong Kong actress co-starred with actors such as Jet Li, Jackie Chan

Rosamund Kwan had no plans to become an actress despite her pedigree – she did it because of family circumstances, she said later. With roles opposite actors including Jackie Chan and Jet Li, she is one of the most recognisable stars of Hong Kong cinema’s golden age. Photo: Christie’s Images

Kwan pictured in 1993. Her breakout role came in 1984 in the romantic comedy Challenge on Chasing Girls. Photo: SCMP

Jet Li and Kwan in a still from Once Upon a Time in China (1991).

Kwan (fourth from right) at the ribbon-cutting ceremony for the newly renovated Windsor House in Causeway Bay in 1992. Photo: SCMP

(From left) Ge You, Kwan and director Feng Xiaogang at a press conference for the film Big Shot’s Funeral in 2002. Photo: SCMP

Rosamund Kwan (centre) after being named The Outstanding Charitable Artiste at a charity ball in 2008.

Jet Li and Kwan in a still from Once Upon a Time in China and America (1997), the sixth film in the series.

How Cantopop singer-songwriter George Lam stayed popular for 5 decades – by being himself

George Lam at an interview with the Post in 2004. Photo: SCMP

Singer-songwriter and actor George Lam has been a Hong Kong favourite since the 1970s, releasing numerous hit songs and appearing on TV and in films. Photo: SCMP

George Lam (left) performs at a celebration for the Philippines’ National Day in 1977. Photo: SCMP

George Lam at a recording studio in 1986. Photo: SCMP

George Lam at an interview with the Post in 1987. Photo: SCMP

George Lam performs at the Golden Bauhinia Awards in 1996. Photo: SCMP

George Lam and Season Ma in a still from Boat People (1982). Photo: Bluebird Film

Sally Yeh and George Lam disclose their plan to hold a series of joint concerts in Beijing to show their support for the city’s bid for the 2000 Olympics, in 1993. Photo: SCMP

George Lam sings at the Sha Tin Racecourse, Hong Kong, in 2009. Photo: SCMP

Cecilia Cheung: Hong Kong actress, sex scandal victim and Chinese social media star

Cecilia Cheung at the 23rd Hong Kong Film Awards in 2004. The actress’ personal life garnered a lot of attention in the 2000s, with tabloids covering scandals and her high-profile romantic life. Photo: SCMP

Cheung in 1999. Photo: Oliver Tsang

Cheung speaks after receiving the award for best new performer, as veteran actors Liza Wang and Danny Lee look on, at the 19th Hong Kong Film Awards in 2000. Photo: Martin Chan

Cheung and Nicholas Tse in 2001. Photo: Reuters

Cheung in a still from Lost in Time (2003), for which she won best actress at the 23rd Hong Kong Film Awards. Photo: China Star Entertainment Group

Cheung and Tse at the 30th Hong Kong Film Awards in 2011, the year they filed for divorce. Photo: K. Y. Cheng

Cheung and Stephen Chow in a still from King of Comedy (1999). Her feature-film debut remains one of her most memorable roles. Photo: The Star Overseas

Cheung and her three sons. Photo: Weibo

Cheung in a photo she posted on her Weibo account in 2023. Photo: Weibo

Eason Chan, Hong Kong actor and singer who’s never been afraid to court controversy

Hong Kong singer and actor Eason Chan remains one of Cantopop’s most influential figures. Photo: Handout

Chan at an interview with the Post in 1998. Photo: SCMP

Chan on stage in concert in 1999. Photo: SCMP

Chan after receiving an award for his song Shall We Talk in 2002. Photo: SCMP

Chan at an interview with the Post in 2005. Photo: SCMP

Karena Lam and Chan in a still from Lover’s Discourse (2010).

Chan and his wife, Hilary Tsui, pictured in 2013. 

Chan during his Fear and Dreams World Tour concert on July 23, 2023 in Taipei. Photo: Getty Images

Who’s Joey Wong? She acted with Jackie Chan, Leslie Cheung in Hong Kong film’s golden age

Jackie Chan and Joey Wong in a still from City Hunter (1993).

Joey Wong and Leslie Cheung in a still from A Chinese Ghost Story, the 1987 film that made the fledgling Taiwanese actress’ name in Hong Kong. She appeared in a string of films before stepping out of the public eye in 1994. Photo: Film Workshop

Leslie Cheung Kwok-wing (left) and Wong on the set of A Chinese Ghost Story.

Leslie Cheung and Joey Wang in still from A Chinese Ghost Story. Photo: Golden Princess Amusement

Wong in A Chinese Ghost Story II (1990).

Jackie Chan and Wong in a still from City Hunter (1993).

Wong (left) and Maggie Cheung in a still from Green Snake (1993).

Taiwanese pop stars Chyi Chin (left) and Wong (centre) in Tibet in 2000. Photo: Xinhua

Wong at a press conference in Tsim Sha Tsui in 2001. Photo: SCMP

Actor, designer, rapper, comedian, radio host – Jan Lamb of Cantopop duo Softhard has done it all, and more

Jan Lamb pictured in 2014. Photo: SCMP

Jan Lamb Hoi-fung at an interview with the Post in 2005. Lamb, one half of Cantopop duo Softhard, may be Hong Kong show business’ only true multihyphenate. Photo: SCMP

Lamb at a promotional event for his morning radio programme Softhard Kids This Morning in 1994. Photo: SCMP

Lamb at an interview with the Post in 1998. Photo: SCMP

Lamb performs in the annual Ultimate Song Chart Awards organised by Commercial Radio at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre in 1999. Photo: SCMP

Eric Kot (left) and Lamb at a news conference promoting their concert Long Time No See in 2006. Photo: Reuters

Kot (left) and Lamb at an interview with the Post in 2014. Photo: SCMP

Lamb at a promotional event for his stand-up comedy shows in 2016.

Lifestyle

Entertainment

Culture

Film & TV

Hong Kong’s pop culture icons

How Kelly Chen, Cantopop star and beloved Hong Kong actress, has captured the hearts of music and movie fans for three decades

Kelly Chen pictured in 1997. The secret to the Cantopop star and actress’s success? “I’ve just tried my best to grab any opportunity.” Photo: Dickson Lee

Chen (right) is presented with a prize at the Ultimate Song Chart Awards ceremony in January 1996 by Taiwanese singer Wu Chien-lien. Photo: SCMP

Chen (left) and Yutaka Takenouchi in a still from “Calmi Cuori Appassionati” (2001).

Chen (right) and Donnie Yen in a still from “An Empress and the Warriors” (2008).

Chen and her husband, Alex Lau Kin-ho, pose during their wedding ceremony at the InterContinental Hotel in Tsim Sha Tsui in October, 2008. Photo: SCMP

Chen performs in the Grand Variety Show in celebration of the 10th anniversary of Hong Kong’s return to China at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre on June 30, 2007. Photo: SCMP

(From left) Ekin Cheng, Chen and Tony Leung Ka-fai in a still from “Horseplay” (2014).

Chen (left) and Tony Leung Chiu-wai in a still from “Infernal Affairs III” (2003).

A charity sale of Chen’s clothes, shoes and handbags took place in April 2023. Photo: Facebook/@kellychenwailam

How Hong Kong boy band Grasshopper, protégés of Cantopop legend Anita Mui, blazed a trail with their intoxicating dance pop music

(From left) Edmond So Chi-wai, Remus Choy Yat-kit and Calvin Choy Yat-chi of the Cantopop group Grasshopper at an interview with the Post in 2006. The boy band, formed in 1985, are still performing today. Photo: SCMP

(From left) Calvin Choy Yat-chi, Edmond So Chi-wai and Remus Choy Yat-kit, pictured in 1988. Photo: SCMP

Cantopop diva Anita Mui with Grasshopper at the Chinese Gold Songs award presentation ceremony at the Hong Kong Coliseum in January 1989. Photo: SCMP

(From left) Edmond So, Calvin Choy and Remus Choy at the opening of the Aiwa Music Expo at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre in August 1991. Photo: SCMP

(From left) Calvin Choy, Roman Tam, Edmond So and Remus Choy backstage at a concert in Shanghai in July 1993. Photo: SCMP

(From second left) Edmond So, Remus Choy and Calvin Choy at the Ultimate Song Chart Awards presentation ceremony at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre, in January 1996. Photo: SCMP

(From left) Remus Choy, Calvin Choy and Edmond So at an interview with the Post in 2010. Photo: SCMP

(From left) Calvin Choy, Remus Choy and Edmond So on stage during TVB 55th Anniversary Gala on November 19, 2021. Photo: Getty Images

Takeshi Kaneshiro, one of the ‘most good-looking’ actors in Hong Kong cinema and star of some of Wong Kar-wai and Peter Chan’s best movies, is a man of mystery

Takeshi Kaneshiro at an interview with the Post in July 2004. Kaneshiro, who debuted as a singer in Taiwan in 1992, has not been seen on the big screen since 2017 – but remains as popular as ever. Photo: SCMP

Takeshi Kaneshiro and Zhou Dongyu in a still from “This Is Not What I Expected” (2017).

Takeshi Kaneshiro and Brigitte Lin in a still from “Chungking Express” (1994). 

Takeshi Kaneshiro and Kyoko Fukada in a still from the drama series “God, Please Give Me More Time” (1998).

(From left) Xu Jinglei, Takeshi Kaneshiro, Andy Lau, Jet Li, Jacky Heung and director Peter Chan promote “The Warlords” at an event in December 2007. Photo: SCMP

Takeshi Kaneshiro in a still from “Perhaps Love” (2005).

Takeshi Kaneshiro and Michele Reis in “Fallen Angels” (1995). Photo: Block 2 Pictures and Jet Tone Contents

Takeshi Kaneshiro in an interview with the Post in December 2006. Photo: SCMP

Acting with Michelle Yeoh, modelling at 12: the Cinderella story of Isabella Leong, who passed up Hollywood to have children with Richard Li, younger son of Li Ka-shing

Isabella Leong Lok-sze promotes her 2014 appearance in a stage play. Photo: Felix Wong 

Isabella Leong in an interview with the Post in 2005. The Macanese actress put a halt to her acting career when she began dating Richard Li, the younger son of Li Ka-shing. Photo: SCMP

Leong (left) and Chapman To in a still from “Isabella” (2006).

Leong (left), Jaycee Chan and Charlene Choi at the 26th Hong Kong Film Awards in April 2007. Photo: SCMP

Luke Ford (left) and Leong in a still from “The Mummy: Tomb of the Dragon Emperor” (2008).

Leong, Richard Li and their son, Ethan Li, in April 2009. 

Leong and Jim Chim at an event to promote “Sign of Happiness” in February 2014. Photo: SCMP

Leong in a still from “Murmur of the Hearts” (2015).

(From left) Leong, Paul Chun and Faye Yu in a still from “Love After Love” (2020).

Aaron Kwok, dancer, singer, actor, husband to Moka Fang, and father – how he went from being one of the ‘Four Heavenly Kings of Cantopop’ to all-round star

Aaron Kwok with the prize for best actor he received at the 35th Hong Kong Film Awards in 2016. Photo: Edward Wong

Aaron Kwok at an interview with the Post in 2009. Kwok started his career as a background dancer nearly four decades ago. Now he is a beloved Cantopop singer and actor – and a smitten husband and proud father of two. Photo: SCMP

Kwok (right) alongside fellow Cantopop singers Andy Lau (left) and Jacky Cheung at an RTHK event in 1996. Photo: SCMP

Aaron Kwok, pictured in 1993. Photo: SCMP

Kwok won the Best Actor prize at the 35th Hong Kong Film Awards in 2016. Photo: Edward Wong

Kwok (right) and Charlie Young play a troubled couple in “After This Our Exile” (2006).

Kwok performs at an event organised by RTHK at Queen Elizabeth Stadium in 2001. Photo: SCMP.

Kwok (left) and Chow Yun-fat in a still from “Project Gutenberg” (2018).

Kwok with his wife, Moka Fang Yuan, in Happy Valley, Hong Kong. Photo: Kenneth Chan

How Hong Kong actress Carina Lau rose to stardom from her ‘mainland girl’ roots, overcame topless photos scandal and wed Tony Leung Chiu-wai

Carina Lau Ka-ling. Photo: Instagram/@carinalau1208

Hong Kong actress Carina Lau Ka-ling, pictured in 1993 soon after her career breakthrough in a Wong Kar-wai film. Married since 2008 to fellow actor Tony Leung Chiu-wai, she is known for her style and class, and some iconic roles. Photo: SCMP

Cheung Siu-fai and Lau promoting TVB series “The Turbulent Decade” in 1986. Photo: SCMP

(Clockwise from top right) Leslie Cheung Kwok-wing, Lau, Maggie Cheung Man-yuk and Tony Leung Chiu-wai on the set of Wong Kar-wai’s movie “Days of Being Wild” in 1990. Photo: SCMP

Carina Lau in a still from “Ashes of Time” (1994).

Carina Lau and Nicholas Tse celebrate with their trophies after winning the best actor and best actress awards at the 30th Hong Kong Film Awards in 2011. Photo: SCMP

Carina Lau and Tony Leung at the opening night of hit musical “Les Miserables” at the Hong Kong Cultural Centre, in 1996. Photo: SCMP

Carina Lau in a still from “In Your Dreams” (2018).

Lau and Leung at the 16th Asian Film Awards in March 2023. Photo: Dickson Lee

1980s Hong Kong pop idol Danny Chan’s bittersweet success story: his talent, fame, the tabloid rumours, his retirement and early death

Singer Danny Chan Pak-keung puts one of his albums in a time capsule in 1991. Photo: SCMP

Danny Chan was one of Hong Hong’s “Three Kings and A Queen of Cantopop” in the 1980s, with fellow idols Leslie Cheung, Anita Mui and Alan Tam. Photo: SCMP

Yvonne Siu, project manager of TVB, presents a souvenir to Danny Chan in 1984. Photo: SCMP

Chan singing at his own birthday party in 1988. Photo: SCMP

Chan (left) and Jacky Cheung Hok-yau at the Top Ten Pop Stars Election in 1987. Photo: SCMP

There were numerous rumours about a relationship between Pansy Ho and Chan. Photo: Weibo

Chan performing at a concert to promote Aids awareness in 1990. Photo: SCMP

Chan was taken to Queen Mary Hospital after collapsing at home on May 19, 1992. Photo: SCMP

Flanked by singer Anita Mui Yim-fong and actor Chow Yun-fat, Danny Chan’s older brother Chan Pak-ling carries his younger brother’s picture at the singer’s funeral in 1993. Photo: SCMP

The rise of Hong Kong actress Sharla Cheung, star of Stephen Chow and Wong Jing films, and the surprise movie she made after retiring

Sharla Cheung, Stephen Chow SIng-chi (centre) and Ng Man-tat in “All for the Winner”. Photo: Handout

Profile | Who is Rosamund Kwan? Hong Kong actress co-starred with actors such as Jet Li, Jackie Chan

Rosamund Kwan did not plan on being an actress, despite her family’s strong ties to the film industry, but made the most of it once she did