Fala Chen

Fala Chen
Background information
Chinese name 陳法拉 (traditional)
Chinese name 陈法拉 (simplified)
Pinyin Chén Fǎlā (Mandarin)
Jyutping Can3 Faat3 Laai1 (Cantonese)
Born (1982-02-24) 24 February 1982
Chengdu, Sichuan, China[1]
Occupation Actress,[2] Singer,[2] Beauty Pageant Titleholder
Label(s) Stars Shine International (2010–2012)
Years active 2005–present
Ancestry Fenghua, Zhejiang, China
Alma mater Emory University, Juilliard School
Website Fala Chen
This is a Chinese name; the family name is Chen.

Fala Chen (Chinese: 陳法拉; born 24 February 1982) is a Chinese-born American actress and singer.[1] Currently active in Hong Kong's entertainment industry, she was previously signed under Television Broadcasts Limited (TVB). Having starred in numerous Hong Kong drama series and movies, some of her notable works include Moonlight Resonance, No Regrets, Lives of Omission, Triumph in the Skies II, Turning Point, Tales from the Dark II, and her latest stage debut - Skylight (play). Known to be multilingual, Chen's mother tongue is Mandarin, but she is able to speak English, Cantonese, as well as Japanese, with ease.[3]

Early life

Chen was born and raised in Chengdu, Sichuan, China until 14 years old, when she emigrated to Atlanta, Georgia, United States with her parents.[1] Graduating from high school within the top 10 of her cohorts, she then went on to pursue a course in Marketing and International Business in Emory University's Goizueta Business School in Georgia. She graduated from Emory University with a BBA degree in May, 2005.

During her college term breaks, Chen took part in a couple of pageants as a means to pay for her tuition fees. Amongst them was the Miss Chinese International Pageant 2005 which was hosted in Hong Kong, where she earned a place as 1st runner-up, kicking off her public life.[3][4][5]

Career

TV career

2005–06: Entry to the TV scene

Chen began her professional acting career when she signed an 8-year contract with TVB. She first started out as a host on numerous variety shows on TVB8's mandarin channel, before making her acting debut in the TVB series Forensic Heroes, where she was cast as a murderess.

2007–09: Breakthrough

In 2007, after starring in Heart of Greed, The Family Link, and Steps, Chen won her first acting award in the Best Supporting Actress category for her role in Steps.[3] Additionally, she was also nominated for "My Favorite Female Character" and "Most Improved Actress" categories for the same role. She also received a nomination in the "Most Improved Actress" category for her roles in Heart of Greed and The Family Link in 2007.

Chen's breakthrough came in 2008, when her notable work was the character of Gam Wing Hing (a mute girl) in a TVB series Moonlight Resonance, a non-related sequel to Heart of Greed. The final episode of the series received an average of 47 rating points and peaked at 50 points.[3][6][7] Chen had to specially learn sign language in order to portray her character. This role landed her nominations for the "Best Supporting Actress" and "My Favorite Female Character" categories for the second year in a row.

In 2009, Chen was nominated again for the "Best Supporting Actress" and "My Favorite Female Character" categories for her role in The Stew of Life.

2010–13: Leading roles and entry to the music scene

Chen's acting in 2010's No Regrets secured her position as one of Hong Kong's celebrated actresses, alongside Tavia Yeung, Linda Chung, Myolie Wu, and Kate Tsui. Her role as Lau Ching in No Regrets, not only won her Best Supporting Actress at the TVB Anniversary Awards in 2010, but also brought her recognition at the 16th Asian Television Awards in Singapore for "The Best Actress in a Supporting Role" category.

With a total of five dramas belted out in 2010 alone, Chen was one of the few actresses within the industry with a higher exposure rate.

Since then, she has been taking on leading roles in numerous productions, and some of which were Lives of Omission, Queens of Diamonds and Hearts, and Triumph in the Skies II. Lives of Omission (2011) was a distant sequel to the 2009 film Turning Point in which Chen had also acted in as the sister of a triad boss. Queens of Diamonds and Hearts (Feb 2012) allowed Chen to experiment with looking 'ugly' on screen for the first time, as her character Chung Mo Yim was born with a prominent birth mark on her face. Triumph in the Skies II (2013) was a sequel to the station's previous drama Triumph in the Skies (2003). Chen played the role of Holiday Ho - a free-spirited punk girl who aspires to fly - who became emotionally entangled between 2 male leads, Captain Samuel Tong played by Francis Ng and Captain Jayden Koo played by Julian Cheung. Chen also starred in one of TVB's 2013 productions Will Power 《法外風雲》 alongside veteran actors Wayne Lai and Moses Chan where she played the role of Sam Yuet Kan, a junior barrister with a tough personality.

Since 2009, Chen has been sporadically participating in the music scene, singing theme songs for The Stew of Life, Links to Temptation, and Queens of Diamonds and Hearts. In 2010, Chen signed under Stars Shine International and subsequently launched her first album in 2012, titled Beautiful Life. Her contract with Stars Shine International has come to an end.

At the same time, her contract with Television Broadcasts Limited (TVB) had ended in the middle of 2013, and Chen is currently a self-managed artiste. Having more freedom to choose and ever so determined to become a better actress, Chen would like to direct her focus on filming more movies and dramas, and she is not afraid to take up new challenges.

2014: Entry into China's TV industry

Chen acted in her first mainland Chinese drama series, Sound of the Desert, where she played the role of Li Yan.[1] It aired in 2014 and was based on the historical romance novel Ballad of the Desert by Tong Hua.


Film career

2009: Newcomer

In 2009, Chen took her chance at her first leading female character in the movie Turning Point as Michael Tse's girlfriend and Francis Ng's sister. Turning Point is a spin-off from a TVB crime drama in 2009 - E.U. (TV series), where "Laughing Gor", played by Michael Tse, has become a household name.

Chen was nominated for the Best New Performer category at the 29th Hong Kong Film Awards for her role in Turning Point.

2010–13: Budding film actress

Ever since her first break into the movie scene in 2009, Chen has been continuously involved in a string of movies almost every year despite her busy work schedule at TVB.

In 2010, Chen starred in two movies, Black Ransom and 72 Tenants of Prosperity. In Black Ransom, she acted as a superintendent, alongside internationally acclaimed Hong Kong actor and film producer, Simon Yam. 72 Tenants of Prosperity on the other hand, was a light-hearted Hong Kong comedy film directed by Eric Tsang, involving a star-studded cast of Hong Kong stars.

Chen took to the movie scene again in 2011, acting in the first installment of the heartwarming I Love Hong Kong film series, directed and produced by Eric Tsang. She too worked together with Eric Tsang again who produced and acted in The Fortune Buddies, another Hong Kong comedy film which also co-stars Louis Yuen, Wong Cho-lam and Johnson Lee who are better known as "Fuk Luk Sau" (福祿壽).

Chen's latest movie Tales from the Dark 2 (2013) is her first shot at the horror movie scene, and acting with her is Gordon Lam. Chen's story revolves around pillow demons, where her character Chow Jing Ee is seen to suffer from serious insomnia after her break-up with her boyfriend Yuen Hao Hong, played by Gordon Lam. Chen delivered a stellar performance, and was commended for the preparation work she did prior to filming, by staying a few nights alone in the cold apartment they filmed at to get into character and understand the loneliness and insomnia that the character suffered. The media had focused on the scene where Chen's character accidentally killed her boyfriend and tried to get rid of the corpse by taking off all of his garments and putting him into a vacuum bag. This is the first time that Gordon Lam has gone fully nude in a film. Owing to the explicit scenes, the movie has received a Category III rating.[8]

2014: Movies in the making

Chen has concluded filming for The Treasure, directed by Gordon Chan and Ronald Tsang. The movie is pending release.


Theatre career

2013-16: Stage Debut

Ever since Chen's contract with Television Broadcasts Limited (TVB) concluded in 2013, she went on to pursue a 4 year Master of Fine Arts in Drama (MFA) Program at Juilliard School with the passion and determination to better herself as a professional artiste. The MFA Program only accepts 8 to 10 students each year, and encompasses areas such as production, directing, playwriting, pedagogy, and current trends in American and World Theater.

Chen's debut on the theatre stage came in 2016 with Skylight (play) - the premiere of Chinese adaptation of the 1995 British play written by David Hare that debuted in West End and Broadway. The play was scheduled to run for 24 shows at the Hong Kong Academy for Performing Arts, but due to overwhelming responses, 11 additional shows were added, making that a total of 35 shows running across 1 July 2016 to 14 August 2016. Starring alongside Dayo Wong and Terrance Lau, Skylight (play) was a sold out show within a few hours, and it received plenty of raving positive reviews including praises for Chen's performance as a theatre actor.


Music career

2012: First album - Beautiful Life

Chen's first Canto-pop debut album, Beautiful Life, was released on 31 July 2012. Some of the highlights from the album are "一半", "愛上鳥", and "Beautiful Life". Among these songs, "一半" was the first plugged song which garnered her awards in the Best Newcomer category across various music platforms such as 2012 TVB8 Golden Music Awards for the Bronze Award, 2012 Jade Solid Gold Best Ten Music Awards Presentation, and "2013 IFPI Hong Kong Top Sales Music Awards".

Within a week from the launch of her album, it had climbed up to first place on HMV's 'Asian Album Top Sales Chart'.


Endorsements

Chen is the spokesperson for Olay in China, Hong Kong and Taiwan. She is also Hong Kong Cancer Fund’s Pink Ambassador for the Pink Revolution Campaign, which is held every October to promote breast cancer awareness and raise funds to support free services for patients and their families.

Filmography

TV series

Year Title Role Notes
2006 Forensic Heroes
《法政先鋒》		 Yung Wai
容慧 		Guest Star
2007 The Ultimate Crime Fighter
《通天幹探》		 Ada Guest Star
Heart of Greed
《溏心風暴》 		Tong Chi Yan
唐至欣 		Nominated – Most Improved Actress
Best Selling Secrets
《同事三分親》 		To Bing-Bing
杜冰冰 		Guest Star ep. 28
The Family Link
《師姐兵團》 		Angela Nominated – Most Improved Actress
Steps
《舞動全城》 		Ching Ka-Man (Karmen)
程嘉汶 		Won - Best Supporting Actress
Nominated – My Favorite Female Character (Top 20)
Nominated – Most Improved Actress
2008 A Journey Called Life
《金石良緣》 		Shing Mei-Sam (Vicky)
成美心
Catch Me Now
《原來愛上賊》 		Hong Mei-Lei (Minnie)
康美莉
Moonlight Resonance
《溏心風暴之家好月圓》 		Gam Wing Hing (Wing)
甘永慶 		Nominated – Best Supporting Actress
Nominated – My Favorite Female Character
Colours Of Love
《森之愛情》 		Nurse Chan 陳護士 Guest Star
2009 The Stew of Life
《有營煮婦》 		Ng Choi Nei (Charlie)
吳采妮 		Nominated – Best Supporting Actress
Nominated – My Favorite Female Character
2010 In the Eye of the Beholder
《秋香怒點唐伯虎》 		Chu Ting Yuk
朱婷玉
Ghost Writer
《蒲松齡》 		Ling-Wu Siu-Tsui
令狐小翠 		Nominated - Best Actress
Can't Buy Me Love
《公主嫁到》 		Szeto Ngan-Ping
司徒銀屏 		Nominated - My Favorite Female Character
No Regrets
《巾幗梟雄之義海豪情》 		Lau Ching
劉晴 		Won - Best Supporting Actress
Won - Asian Television Award for Best Actress in a Supporting Role
2010-2011 Links to Temptation
《誘情轉駁》 		Hung Long-Kiu (Jojo)
熊朗蕎
2011 Grace Under Fire
《女拳》 		Kwai Fa
葵花
Lives of Omission
《潛行狙擊》 		Chau Mong-ching (Jodie)
周望晴 		Nominated — TVB Anniversary Award for Best Actress
Nominated — TVB Anniversary Award for My Favorite Female Character
My Astro On Demand Awards for My Favorite Characters
2012 Queens of Diamonds and Hearts
《東西宮略》 		Chung Mo-Yim
鍾無艷 		Nominated - TVB Anniversary Award for Best Actress
Nominated - TVB Anniversary Award for My Favourite Female Character
2013 Triumph in the Skies II
《衝上雲霄II》 		Ho Nin-hei, Holiday
何年希
Will Power
《法外風雲》 		Sam Yuet Kan
沈悦勤
2014 Sound of the Desert
《风中奇缘》 		Lee Yan
李妍 		First Mainland Chinese Drama

Film

Year Title Role Notes
2009 Turning Point
《Laughing Gor之变节》 		Karen and Jodie Nominated - Hong Kong Film Award for Best New Performer
2010 Black Ransom
《撕票風雲》 		Superintendent Koo
72 Tenants of Prosperity
《72家租客》 		Xiu Tou Hung
小桃紅
2011 I Love Hong Kong
《我愛HK 開心萬歲》 		Lee Kei (Nikki)
李琪
The Fortune Buddies
《勁抽褔祿壽》 		Sister Man
蚊姐
2013 Tales from the Dark II
《奇幻夜》 		Chow Jing Ee
2015 Secret Treasure[9]

Theatre

Year Title Role Notes
2016 Skylight (play)
《前度》		 Kyra 35 sold out shows at Hong Kong Academy for Performing Arts

Discography

Albums

Year Album Title Album Information
2012 Beautiful Life
 Release Date: 31 July 2012
Label: Star Shine International
Debut Album

Awards

2013

2012

2011

2010

2009

2008

2007

2005

2004

2003

2002

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 "Fala Chen says she's hardly interested in fame game". The Straits Times. 25 February 2013.
  2. 1 2 Chen, Vivian (4 October 2012). "Sunglasses with which to see and be seen". South China Morning Post.
  3. 1 2 3 4 Yan, Seto Kit (9 March 2010). "The right moves: Fala Chen discovers her love for ballroom dancing in Steps". The Star Online (Malaysia). Retrieved 30 June 2013.
  4. ↑ Hauser, Brooke (12 August 2007). "The Rainbow Runway". The New York Times. Retrieved 30 June 2013.
  5. ↑ "Miss NY Chinese 2004". 纽约华裔小姐. Retrieved 2008-06-24.
  6. ↑ "《溏心風暴》收視飄紅 有望勝過《大長今》". 新浪娛樂. 2007-06-01.
  7. ↑ 《溏心風暴》收視超高 結局收視創近5年新高 (in Chinese). 騰訊娛樂. 2007-06-06.
  8. ↑ "Fala Chen Faces Gordon Lam's Naked Body in "Tales from the Dark 2"". Jayne Stars. 1 August 2013.
  9. ↑ Kevin Ma (16 July 2014). "Bona launches Secret Treasure". Film Business Asia. Retrieved 16 July 2014.
  10. ↑ "Asian Television Awards 2011 Winner List". Television Asia Plus. Retrieved 1 July 2013.
  11. ↑ "Hong Kong's TVB King & Queen crowned". AsiaOne. 7 December 2010.
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Fala Chen.
Awards and achievements
TVB Anniversary Awards
Preceded by
Shirley Yeung
for Always Ready		 Best Supporting Actress
2007
for Steps 		Succeeded by
Tavia Yeung
for Moonlight Resonance
Preceded by
Susan Tse
for Rosy Business		 Best Supporting Actress
2010
for No Regrets 		Succeeded by
Sharon Chan
for Ghetto Justice
Miss Chinese International Pageant
Preceded by
Mandy Cho		 1st runner up
2005 		Succeeded by
Ginney Kanchanawat
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