Kar Yan Lam Biography

Also known as Karena Lam. The Vancouver-born actress, of Taiwanese ancestry, was working at herVancouver family restaurant when she was discovered by a talent scout fromTaiwan in 1993, at the age of 15. The scout persuaded her to fly to Taiwan that Christmas, alone, for a singing audition in the hope of securing aprofessional contract. The audition was a success and she released twoalbums, her debut album in 1995 and her second album later in 1999. Howeverboth were met with modest success.

Her film debut in 2002 changed all this and propelled her to real stardom.Karena starred in three successful Hong Kong films in the same year, winningthe awards of Best Supporting Actress and Best New Performer for her role inJuly Rhapsody directed by Ann Hui (at the 2002 Hong Kong Film Awards) and for Inner Senses by Lo Chi Leung (at the Taiwan Golden Horse Awards),gaining her recognition as a talented young actress and marking the start ofher film career.