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  • 21 Aug, 2019

  • By, Wikipedia

Hong Kong Film Award For Best Actress

The Hong Kong Film Award for Best Actress is an award presented annually at the Hong Kong Film Awards (HKFA). It is given to honour an actress who has delivered an outstanding performance in a Hong Kong film. The 1st Hong Kong Film Awards ceremony was held in 1982, with no formal nomination procedure established; the award was given to Kara Hui for her role in My Young Auntie. After the first award ceremony, a nomination system was put in place whereby no more than five nominations are made for each category and each entry is selected through two rounds of voting. Firstly, prospective nominees are marked with a weight of 50% each from HKFA voters and a hundred professional adjudicators, contributing towards a final score with which the top five nominees advance to the second round of voting. The winner is then selected via a scoring process where 55% of the vote comes from 55 professional adjudicators, 25% from representatives of the Hong Kong Performing Artistes Guild and 20% from all other HKFA Executive Committee Members.

Maggie Cheung holds the title of the most awards received having been honoured on 5 separate occasions. Sylvia Chang holds the record for the most nominated actress with 12 nominations.

Winners and nominees

In the following table award nominees are listed by year corresponding to the Hong Kong Film Awards' annual presentation ceremony. At the first incarnation of the ceremony in 1982 awards were presented to winners with no nominees selected. Thereafter, the winner is chosen from a list of nominees from the chosen category.

Photo of Kara Hui at the world premiere of the Hong Kong film Happiness in 2015.
Kara Hui was the first to win the award for her role in My Young Auntie (1981).
Photo of Maggie Cheung at Shanghai movie festival in 2007.
Maggie Cheung won the award five times for her roles in A Fishy Story (1989), Center Stage (1991), Comrades: Almost a Love Story (1996), The Soong Sisters (1997) and In the Mood for Love (2000).
Photo of Sylvia Chang at Hong Kong International Film Festival 2011.
Sylvia Chang won the award twice for her roles in Passion (1986) and Forever and Ever (2002).
Photo of Brigitte at the 2008 Dubai International Film Festival.
Brigitte Lin was nominated for her role in Zu Warriors from the Magic Mountain as well as on three other occasions.
Photo of Sandra Ng in Bangkok 2007.
Sandra Ng won in 1998 for Portland Street Blues.
Photo of Anita Yuen.
Anita Yuen won the award for 2 years in a row for her roles in C'est la vie, mon chéri (1993) and He's a Woman, She's a Man (1994).
Photo of Faye Wong in Kuala Lumpur 2011.
Faye Wong was nominated for her roles in Chungking Express (1995) and Chinese Odyssey 2002.
Photo of Cecilia Cheung in 2009.
Cecilia Cheung won in 2004 for Lost in Time.
Photo of Zhang Ziyi
Zhang Ziyi won in 2005 for 2046 and in 2014 for The Grandmaster.
Photo of Zhou Xun at CCTV-MTV music award ceremony in Beijing in July 2002.
Zhou Xun won in 2006 for Perhaps Love.
Photo of Faye Wong in Kuala Lumpur 2011.
Karen Mok was nominated for her roles in The God of Cookery (1997) and Wait 'til You're Older (2006).
Photo of Gong Li at Cannes Film Festival in 2011.
Gong Li won in 2008 for Curse of the Golden Flower.
Photo of Shu Qi at the 2015 Cannes Film Festival.
Shu Qi was nominated for the award in both 2010 and 2012.
Photo of Gao Yuanyuan in Seoul 2011.
Gao Yuanyuan was nominated in 2012 for her role in Don't Go Breaking My Heart
Photo of Karen Mok in Taipei 2007.
Deanie Ip won in 2012 for A Simple Life.
Photo of Miriam Yeung at SINA Music 2006.
Miriam Yeung won in 2013 for Love in the Buff.
Photo of Zhao Wei at the Huabiao Awards in 2007.
Zhao Wei won in 2015 for her role in Dearest.
Photo of Zhou Dongyu.
Teresa Mo won in 2017 for her role in Tomorrow Is Another Day.
Photo of Chloe Maayan.
Chloe Maayan won in 2018 for her role in Three Husbands.
Photo of Teresa Mo.
Zhou Dongyu won in 2020 for her role in Better Days.
Cya Liu won in 2022 for her role in Limbo.
Sammi Cheng won in 2023 for her role in Lost Love.
Table key
Indicates the winner
Year Actor Film Character name Refs.
1981
(1st)
Kara Hui My Young Auntie Cheng Tai-Nan
1982
(2nd)
Becky Lam Lonely Fifteen Bik-Kei Lam
Cherie Chung Eclipse Fu Min
Season Ma Boat People Cam Nuong
Cora Miao Boat People Nguyen's Mistress
Sylvia Chang Aces Go Places Supt. Nancy Ho
1983
(3rd)
Cecilia Yip Let's Make Laugh Yeung Noi-dong
So-ying Hui Ah Ying Ah Ying
Liu Xiaoqing Reign Behind a Curtain Dowager Empress
Cherie Chung Hong Kong, Hong Kong Man Si Sun
Brigitte Lin Zu Warriors from the Magic Mountain Countess
1984
(4th)
Siqin Gaowa ‡ Homecoming Pearl
Cecilia Yip Hong Kong 1941 Han Yuk Nam
Deanie Ip Wrong Wedding Trail Miss Cheng
Sylvia Chang Shanghai Blues Shu-Shu
Josephine Koo Homecoming Coral Zhang
1985
(5th)
Pauline Wong ‡ Love with the Perfect Stranger Wong Gam Gam
Pat Ha My Name Ain't Suzie Mary Lai Shui Mei
Deanie Ip The Unwritten Law Lau Wai Lan
Brigitte Lin Police Story Selina Fong
Cora Miao Women Bao-er
1986
(6th)
Sylvia Chang Passion Wendy Pai
Sally Yeh Peking Opera Blues Pat Neil
Pan Hong The Last Emperor Li Shuxian
Yuk Guen Lee Just Like Weather Christine
Season Ma Silent Love Heung Gite
1987
(7th)
Josephine Siao The Wrong Couples Wong Mui
Cherie Chung An Autumn's Tale Jennifer
Carol Cheng Wonder Women Leung Ho Kau
Joey Wang A Chinese Ghost Story Lit Sin Seen
Din Long Lee Final Victory Ping
Loletta Lee Final Victory Mimi
1988
(8th)
Anita Mui Rouge Fleur
Cora Miao Keep on Dancing Chieh Chang Chang
Carol Cheng Heart to Hearts Chu Lai Ngor
Niu Tien The Other ½ & the Other ½ June Lee
Maggie Cheung As Tears Go By Ngor
1989
(9th)
Maggie Cheung A Fishy Story Huang
Sylvia Chang All About Ah-Long Sylvia Poon
Sylvia Chang Eight Taels of Gold Odds and Ends
Carrie Ng The First Time is the Last Time Winnie Wong
Bo-Bo Fung Beyond the Sunset May
Carina Lau Her Beautiful Life Lies Carole Chang
1990
(10th)
Carol Cheng Her Fatal Ways Cheng Shih-Nan
Carina Lau Days of Being Wild Leung Fung-ying
Maggie Cheung Farewell China Li Hung
Sylvia Chang Queen of Temple Street Big Sis Wah
Gong Li A Terra-Cotta Warrior Dong Er/ Zhu Lili
1991
(11th)
Cecilia Yip This Thing Called Love Yee
Carol Cheng Her Fatal Ways 2 Cheng Shih-Nan
Anita Mui Au Revoir, Mon Amour Mui Ye
Carina Lau Gigolo and Whore Chung Siu-Hung
Sharla Cheung Dances with Dragon Moon Chan
1992
(12th)
Maggie Cheung Center Stage Ruan Ling-yu
Chingmy Yau Naked Killer Kitty / Vivian Shang
Brigitte Lin Handsome Siblings Eva Mor, daughter of Eva
Anita Mui Justice, My Foot! Madam Sung
Maggie Cheung New Dragon Gate Inn Jade King
Brigitte Lin Swordsman II Asia the Invincible
1993
(13th)
Anita Yuen C'est La Vie Mon Cheri Min
Josephine Siao Always on My Mind Yin Tseung's wife
Josephine Siao The Legend Miu Chui-Fa
Carrie Ng Remains of a Woman Judy Yu
Veronica Yip A Roof with a View Yip Hiu-Tung
1994
(14th)
Anita Yuen He's a Woman, She's a Man Lam Chi Wing
Hui Fan One of the Lucky Ones Maid Wo
Faye Wong Chungking Express Faye
Chien-lien Wu The Returning Elaine
Joan Chen Red Rose White Rose Wang Jiao-Rui
Alice Lau I Have a Date with Spring Butterfly Yiu
1995
(15th)
Josephine Siao Summer Snow May Sun
Chingmy Yau I'm Your Birthday Cake! Cher
Bo-Bo Fung Mother of a Different Kind Nurse Lam
Anita Mui Rumble in the Bronx Elaine
Cecilia Yip Peace Hotel Oman
1996
(16th)
Maggie Cheung Comrades: Almost a Love Story Qiao Li
Gong Li Temptress Moon Pang Ruyi
Josephine Siao Hu Du Men Lang Kim-Sum
Sandra Ng 4 Faces of Eve Gam Mo/Chan Giu/Miu Si/Mei Mei
Karen Mok The God of Cookery Turkey
1997
(17th)
Maggie Cheung The Soong Sisters Soong Ching-ling
Chien-lien Wu Eighteen Springs Gu Manzhen
Shu Qi Love Is Not a Game, But a Joke Lee Lai-shan
Paulyn Sun Island of Greed Miu-Heung
Carina Lau Intimates Wan
1998
(18th)
Sandra Ng Portland Street Blues Sister Thirteen
Shu Qi City of Glass Vivian
Fiona Leung A Hero Never Dies Fiona
Anita Yuen Till Death Do Us Part BoBo
Chingmy Yau Hold You Tight Ah Moon
1999
(19th)
Law Lan Bullets Over Summer Granny
Deanie Ip Crying Heart Mrs. Fat
Loletta Lee Ordinary Heroes Sow
Gigi Leung Tempting Heart Sheo-rou
Cecilia Cheung Fly Me to Polaris Autumn
2000
(20th)
Maggie Cheung In the Mood for Love Su Li-zhen
Sammi Cheng Needing You... Kinki Kwok
Qin Hailu Durian Durian Qin Yan
Michelle Yeoh Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon Yu Shu Lien
Zhang Ziyi Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon Jen Yu
2001
(21st)
Sylvia Chang Forever and Ever Chi Mo's mom
Sammi Cheng Wu yen Chung Wu Yen
Anita Mui July Rhapsody Lam Man-Ching
Sammi Cheng Love on a Diet Mini Mo
Sammi Cheng Fighting for Love Siu Tong
2002
(22nd)
Angelica Lee The Eye Man
Sandra Ng Golden Chicken Kam
Faye Wong Chinese Odyssey 2002 Princess Wushuang
Karena Lam Inner Senses Cheung Yan
Maggie Cheung Hero Flying Snow
2003
(23rd)
Cecilia Cheung Lost in Time Siu Wai
Cecilia Cheung Running on Karma Lee Fung Yee
Sandra Ng Golden Chicken 2 Kam
Karena Lam The Floating Landscape Maan
Carina Lau Infernal Affairs II Mary Hon
2004
(24th)
Zhang Ziyi 2046 Bai Ling
Sylvia Chang 20 30 40 Lily
Karena Lam Koma Ling
Yuen Qiu Kung Fu Hustle Landlady
Cecilia Cheung One Nite in Mongkok Dandan
2005
(25th)
Zhou Xun Perhaps Love Sun Na
Sammi Cheng Everlasting Regret Wang Qiyao
Karena Lam Home Sweet Home Yan Hong
Sylvia Chang Rice Rhapsody Jen
Karen Mok Wait 'Til You're Older Tsui Man
2006
(26th)
Gong Li Curse of the Golden Flower Empress Phoenix
Teresa Mo Men Suddenly in Black 2 Chang Wai-Yee
Angelica Lee Re-cycle Ting-Yin
Rene Liu Happy Birthday Mi
Isabella Leong Isabella Bik-Yan Cheung
2007
(27th)
Siqin Gaowa The Postmodern Life of My Aunt Ye Rutang
Teresa Mo Mr. Cinema Chan Sau Ying
Zhang Jingchu Protégé Jane
Rene Liu Kidnap He Wanzhen
Charlene Choi Simply Actors Dani Dan
2008
(28th)
Paw Hee-Ching The Way We Are Mrs. Cheung
Prudence Liew True Women For Sale Lai Chung-chung
Barbie Shu Connected Grace Wong
Zhou Xun Painted Skin Xiao Wei
Karena Lam Claustrophobia Pearl
2009
(29th)
Kara Hui At the End of Daybreak Tak's mother
Zhang Jingchu Night and Fog Wong Hiu Ling
Zhao Wei Mulan Hua Mulan
Shu Qi Look for a Star Milan Sit
Sandra Ng Echoes of the Rainbow Mrs. Law
2010
(30th)
Carina Lau Detective Dee and the Mystery of the Phantom Flame Empress Wu Zetian
Josie Ho Dream Home Cheng Lai-Sheung
Fiona Sit Break Up Club Flora
Miriam Yeung Love in a Puff Cherie
Tang Wei Crossing Hennessy Oi-lin
2011
(31st)
Deanie Ip A Simple Life Sister Peach
Shu Qi A Beautiful Life Li Pei-ru
Tang Wei Dragon Yu
Gao Yuanyuan Don't Go Breaking My Heart Zixin
Zhou Xun Flying Swords of Dragon Gate Ling Yan-qiu
2012
(32nd)
Miriam Yeung Love in the Buff Cherie
Sammi Cheng Romancing in Thin Air Sue
Elanne Kong Love Lifting Li Li
Zhou Xun The Great Magician Liu Yin
Zhou Xun The Silent War Xue Ning
2013
(33rd)
Ziyi Zhang The Grandmaster Gong Er
Tang Wei Finding Mr. Right Wen Jia-jia
Sammi Cheng Blind Detective Goldie Ho
Hee Ching Paw Rigor Mortis Mui
Cherry Ngan The Way We Dance Lam Fa/ Fleur
2014
(34th)
Zhao Wei Dearest Li Hongqin
Sandra Ng Golden Chickensss Kam
Tang Wei The Golden Era Zhang Naiying
Zhou Xun Women Who Flirt Zhang Hui
Charlene Choi Sara Sara
2015
(35th)
Jessie Li Port of Call Wang Jiamei
Miriam Yeung Little Big Master Lui Wai-hung
Tang Wei A Tale of Three Cities Chen Yuerong
Sylvia Chang Office Winnie Chang
Karena Lam Heaven in the Dark Michelle
2016
(36th)
Kara Wai Happiness Aunt Fanny
Zhou Dongyu Soul Mate Ansheng
Ma Sichun Soul Mate Qiyue
Nina Paw Show Me Your Love Yau Ngan
Tang Wei Book of Love Jiao
2017
(37th)
Teresa Mo Tomorrow Is Another Day Mrs Wong
Sylvia Chang Love Education Yue Huiying
Zhou Xun Our Time Will Come Lan
Stephy Tang The Empty Hands Mari Hirakawa
Chrissie Chau 29+1 Christy Lam
2018
(38th)
Chloe Maayan Three Husbands Ah Mui
Charlene Choi The Lady Improper Siu Man
Zhang Jingchu Project Gutenberg Yuen Man
Jennifer Yu Distinction Qian Siying
Crisel Consunji Still Human Evelyn Santos
2019
(39th)
Zhou Dongyu Better Days Chen Nian
Sammi Cheng Fagara Acacia Ha
Sammi Cheng Fatal Visit Ling
Cecilia Choi Beyond The Dream Yan / Yip Lam
Stephy Tang My Prince Edward Fong
2020-21
(40th)
Cya Liu Limbo Wong To
Chrissie Chau Madalena Lena
Louise Wong Anita Anita Mui
Sandra Ng Zero to Hero So's mother
Gong Li Leap Coach Lang Ping
2022
(41st)
Sammi Cheng Lost Love Tin Mei
Louisa So The Sparring Partner Carrie Yau
Teresa Mo Mama's Affair Mei Fung
Angela Yuen The Narrow Road Candy
Sylvia Chang A Light Never Goes Out Mei Hsiang
2023
(42nd)
Jennifer Yu In Broad Daylight Kay
Kay Tse Band Four Cat
Michelle Wai Ready O/R Rot Heidi
Louise Wong A Guilty Conscience Jolene Tsang
Chung Suet Ying The Lyricist Wannabe Law Wing Sze

Multiple wins and nominations

Age superlatives

Record Actress Film Age (in years) Ref.
Oldest winner Law Lan Bullets Over Summer 66
Oldest nominee Nina Paw Show Me Your Love 67
Youngest winner Becky Lam Lonely Fifteen 17
Youngest nominee Becky Lam Lonely Fifteen 17