Selena Lee Sze-wa (), former stage name Selena Lee Sze-Wan (), is a Hong Kong-born actress and former beauty pageant contestant.
After participating in the 2003 Miss Hong Kong Pageant, Lee had signed an artiste contract with TVB and filmed numerous TVB dramas. She left TVB in 2019 and announced in May 2019 that she will be managed by American talent agency Authentic for work in North America. In September 2019, Lee earned critical acclaim for her dual role as Alex and Coco in the supernatural romance drama Barrack O'Karma and won the Most Popular Female Character award at the TVB Anniversary Awards. In June 2020, she signed an artiste contract with Shaw Brothers Pictures for work in Hong Kong and South-Eastern Asia.
Early life Born in Hong Kong, Selena Lee immigrated with her parents to Toronto in 1988. She attended the University of Toronto, earning a Bachelor of Business Commerce with major in Accounting in 2010.
Lee had also had achieved Grade 8 piano.
Career Selena Lee entered the 2003 Miss Hong Kong Pageant as an overseas contestant, winning Miss Photogenic and Miss Talent. She subsequently signed with the broadcasting giant TVB and made her acting debut in the drama The Last Breakthrough ().
In 2014, Lee portrayed Jessica Tan in the Singaporean sitcom Spouse for House. She won the credit award for best actress in comedy in Asian Television Award.
In 2017, Lee won the Best Actress awards at the European Cinematography Awards and Los Angeles Film Awards with her role in the American short film Once More.
In 2018, Lee participated in Canadian television crime drama Blood and Water () for which she was nominated for Best Supporting Actress at the 7th Canadian Screen Awards.
In April 2019, Lee announced that she would not be renewing her contract with TVB, with intentions to pursue opportunities internationally. It was announced in May 2019 that she would be managed by American talent agency Authentic for work in North America.
In September 2019, Lee portrayed the 2010s flight attendant Alex Cheung and the 1960s hostess Coco Yeung in the TVB supernatural drama Barrack O'Karma (), for which she earned critical acclaim and became a strong contender for Best Actress. At the 2019 TVB Anniversary Awards, she won the Most Popular Onscreen Partnership award with her Barrack O'Karma co-actor Joel Chan. Nominated for the fourth time for Most Popular Female Character, Lee won the award alongside Miriam Yeung for her dual role as Alex and Coco. She was placed among the top 5 nominees for Best Actress as well.
Lee's last drama at TVB, Forensic Heroes IV (), aired in February 2020. She released her first single, Second Love, with her Forensic Heroes IV co-actor Gabriel Harrison and won music awards for the single. Lee signed an artiste contract with Shaw Brothers Pictures for work in Hong Kong and South-Eastern Asia as well. In August 2020, she returned to TVB to film the sequel Barrack O'Karma 1968 (). The drama was aired in April 2022. She is the only one who entered top 5 for both TVB Anniversary Awards 2022 best actress and most favorite best actress in Malaysia category. Both drama series entered the finalist of best actress in a leading role in Asian Television Awards and People's Choice Television Award in 2020 and 2022 respectively.
She released her first album in September 2022 and completed the filming of the remaking international film - Tape.
In 2023, She filmed The Queen of News and entered top 5 for both TVB Anniversary Awards 2023 best actress and most favorite best actress in Malaysia and Greater Bay Area category. She has also been nominated for the People's Choice Television Award in best actress category.
Personal life In 2015, Lee announced on her Weibo blog that she had decided to change her Chinese stage name, Lee Sze Wan (李詩韻), back to her birth name, Lee Sze Wa (李施嬅), in memory of her grandmother, who had died that year.
Selena Lee is best friends with Myolie Wu, Nancy Wu, Paisley Wu, Elaine Yiu and Mandy Wong. They had formed the friendship group “胡說八道會” and filmed a travel show together.
Due to their common interest in long-distance running, Lee along with Benjamin Yuen, Joel Chan, Brian Tse, Jack Wu, Nancy Wu, Paisley Wu, Elaine Yiu and Mandy Wong formed the group "Crazy Runner".
Lee was in a relationship with singer Patrick Tang from 2004 to 2009.
In February 2021, Lee announced via social media that she is engaged to Anson Cha, a fitness coach and personal trainer. In February 2025, she announced they had ended their relationship.
On 31 March 2022, Lee revealed that she has autoimmune disease. She has stopped working since late 2021 and is currently receiving treatment.
Filmography Film and television + Title Year Role Notes/ The Last Breakthrough 2004 Shirley Fong Suet-yee(方雪兒)Supporting Role Just Love2005 Yoyo Leung Yan-yan(梁昕昕)Supporting Role Nominiated in 2005 TVB Anniversary Awards Best Supporting Actress Nominated in 2005 TVB Anniversary Awards Most Improved Female Artiste Life Made Simple Joanna Yeung Yuen-kwan(楊婉君) Supporting Role Real Kung Fu Fuchat Ho-yuet(富察·皓月)Supporting Role Nominiated in 2005 TVB Anniversary Awards Best Supporting Actress Nominated in 2005 TVB Anniversary Awards Most Improved Female Artiste (Top 10) The Herbalist's Manual Ng Mo-yung(吳慕榕)2nd Main Role Nominated in 2006 TVB Anniversary Awards Most Improved Female Artiste (Top 5) Face to Fate2006 Yin Ye-loi(嫣夜來)2nd Main Role To Grow with Love Maggie Kwok Bo-lok(郭寶樂) Supporting Role Nominated in 2006 TVB Anniversary Awards Most Improved Female Artiste (Top 5) A Change of Destiny 2007 Sum-yee (心怡)Supporting Role Nominated in 2007 TVB Anniversary Awards Most Improved Female Artiste (Top 10) On the First Beat Yip Ling-fung(葉玲鳳) Supporting Role Survivor's Law II Cheng Choi-yuk(鄭彩玉)Supporting Role Nominated in 2008 TVB Anniversary Awards Most Improved Female Artiste (Top 5) The Master of Tai Chi 2008 Yin Chui-kiu(言翠翹)Supporting Role Nominated in 2008 TVB Anniversary Awards Most Improved Female Artiste (Top 5) The Seventh Day Miko Yuen Ching(阮靜)Supporting Role Nominated in 2008 TVB Anniversary Awards Most Improved Female Artiste (Top 5) Forensic Heroes II "Cat" Lee Kiu(李蕎) Ep.25–28 Nominated in 2008 TVB Anniversary Awards Most Improved Female Artiste (Top 5) The Four Lam Yeuk-fei(藍若飛)2nd Main Role Nominated in 2008 TVB Anniversary Awards Most Improved Female Artiste (Top 5) When Easterly Showers Fall on the Sunny West Fong Bo-kei(方寶琦) Supporting Role Just Love II 2009 Yoyo Leung Yan-yan(梁昕昕) Supporting Role Beyond the Realm of Conscience Man Bo-yin / Consort Yin(萬寶賢 – 賢妃) Major Supporting Role Nominiated in 2009 TVB Anniversary Awards Best Supporting Actress Nominated in 2009 TVB Anniversary Awards Most Improved Female Artiste (Top 5) A Fistful of Stances 2010 Angel Wing Tsz-ching(榮芷晴)Major Supporting Role Nominated in 2010 TVB Anniversary Awards Most Improved Female Artiste (Top 5) Can't Buy Me Love Yuen Siu-yuk(阮小玉) Supporting Role Nominated in 2010 TVB Anniversary Awards Most Improved Female Artiste (Top 5) The Life and Times of a Sentinel 2011 Cheuk Chi-ying(卓紫凝)/ Princess Duen-man(愛新覺羅·端敏 – 格格) 1st Main Role Nominated in 2011 TVB Anniversary Awards Best Actress Nominated MY AOD Favorite Awards 2011 Best Supporting Actress, My Favourite Most Promising Female Artiste (Top 5) Wish and Switch 2012 Hailey Hou Yurk-hoi(侯若海) 2nd Main Role StarHub TVB Award for Most Improved Female Artiste StarHub TVB Award for My Favourite TVB Female Characters Won Star Hub TVB Awards 2012 Most Improved TVB Artiste Nominated Star Hub TVB Awards 2012 My Favourite TVB Female Characters Gloves Come Off Donna Chai Pak-fai(齊柏暉) 1st Main Role StarHub TVB Award for Most Improved Female Artiste Won Star Hub TVB Awards 2012 Most Improved TVB Artiste Nominated My AOD Favorite Awards 2012 My Favourite Drama Characters, My Favourite Onscreen Couple (with Kevin Cheng) (Top 10) The Confidant Imperial Consort Yuen(索綽絡•婉 – 婉太嬪) Guest Appearance (5 episodes) Slow Boat Home 2013 Heidi Hei-man Kwok(郭希雯) 2nd Main Role Nominated Star Hub TVB Awards 2013 My Favourite TVB Female Characters Nominated Star Hub TVB Awards 2013 My Favourite TVB Female Artiste Nominated Star Hub TVB Awards 2013 My Favourite TVB Female Artiste Awfully Lawful Elsa Chung Lai-sa (鍾麗莎) 2nd Main Role Spouse for House 2014 Jessica Tan 1st Main Role Singapore — Mediacorp Channel 5 Sitcom 19th Asian Television Awards - Best Comedy Performance by an Actor/Actress - Highly Commended Ghost Dragon of Cold Mountain To Fa(桃花) / Yan Mei-leung (殷媚娘) 1st Main Role Won TVB Star Award Malaysia for Top 15 Favourite Drama Characters Nominated TVB Star Award Malaysia Best Actress Nominated TVB Anniversary Awards 2014 Best Actress, Most Popular Female Character (Top 10) Master of Destiny 2015 young Kwan Yeuk-nam Guest Appearance Brick Slaves Choi Kin-ching(蔡堅菁) 1st Main Role TVB Star Award Malaysia for Top 16 Favourite Drama Characters StarHub TVB Award for My Favourite TVB Female Characters Nominated TVB Anniversary Awards 2015 Best Actress, Most Popular Female Character Nominated for People's Choice Television Award for Best Actress (Top 5)Spouse for House 2 Jessica Tan 1st Main Role Singapore — Mediacorp Channel 5 SitcomPresumed Accidents2016 Faye Lin Yeuk-fei(凌若菲)/ Chong Wing-yee(莊穎兒)/ Princess Yuet Ngar(月牙公主) Guest Appearance StarHub TVB Award for My Favourite TVB Female TV Characters Nominated TVB Anniversary Awards 2016 Best Actress, Most Popular Female CharacterSuccession War 2018 Empress Xiaoherui(孝和睿皇后) 1st Main Role Nominated TVB Anniversary Awards 2018 Best Actress, Most Popular Female Character,Most Favourite TVB Best Actress in Malaysia, NominatedPeople's Choice Television Award 2019 for Best Actress Top 5Blood and WaterMichelle ChangSupporting Role 7th Canadian Screen Award Best Supporting Actress Top 5I Bet Your Pardon 2019 Marilyn Ma Lai-lin(瑪麗蓮) 2nd Main RoleBarrack O'Karma Alex Cheung Wai(章瑋)/Coco Yeung Yuk-wah(楊玉嬅) 1st Main Role Won TVB Anniversary Award for Most Popular Female Character 2019(tied win with Miriam Yeung)Won TVB Anniversary Award for Most Popular Onscreen Partnership 2019 (shared with Joel Chan) Won People's Choice Television Award for Best Actress Won New York Festivals Television and Film Awards 2021 for Best Actress - Credit Award Nominated TVB Anniversary Awards 2019 Best ActressForensic Heroes IV 2020 Dr. Man Ka-hei(聞家希) 1st Main Role Nominated for Top 5 Best Actress in Leading Role in 25th Asian Television Award Nominated TVB Anniversary Awards 2020 Best Actress, Most Popular Female Character Nominated People's Choice Television Award 2020 for Best Actress, Best Acting SceneBlood and Water Season 3 : Fire and Ice Michelle Chang 1st Main RoleBarrack O'Karma 1968 2022 Ella / Lydia / Psychiatrist 1st Main RoleSinging interlude song Love Forever 相愛萬年-Won 7th VIP Music Chart Hits Award Ceremony - VIP Best Performing Award - Gold/VIP Most Popular Creative Song AwardNominated TVB Anniversary Awards 2022 Most Popular TV Soundtrack Nominated for Top 8 Best Actress in Leading Role in 27th Asian Television Award Nominated TVB Anniversary Awards 2022 Best Actress Top 5, Most Favourite TVB Best Actress in Malaysia Top 5, Most Popular Onscreen Partnership 2019 (shared with Joel Chan), Most Popular Female Character Nominated People's Choice Television Award for Best Actress/ Best On Screen Partnership/ Best Drama Theme Songs The Queen of News 2023 Cheung Ka-yin Alice張家妍 2nd Main Role Nominated TVB Anniversary Awards 2022 Best Actress Top 5, Most Favourite TVB Best Actress in Malaysia Top 5,Most Favourite TVB Best Actress in Greater Bay Area Top 5 Nominated People's Choice Television Award for Best Actress/ Best On Screen Partnership, Won Youku Entertainment× the Queen of News Closing Ceremony, Most Representative Queen's Award The Queen of News 2 2025 Cheung Ka-yin Alice