Helena Law Lan () (born Lo Yin-ying (); 13 November 1934), is a veteran Hong Kong actress in both the film and TV industry.
Career She started in the film industry in 1939, cast in antagonistic roles during the black and white film era. It was during this time that she took the stage name of "Law Lan" based on the advice of her boss because he said the name was reminiscent of Shanghai socialites (), and this name better suited the type of roles that she played.
In 1971, Law joined TVB and took part in numerous drama series. Here, she played a variety of different characters instead of only being cast in antagonistic roles as she had previously. She also took part in the popular nightly variety show, Enjoy Yourself Tonight, which included skits, singing, dancing, and variety games, filmed in front of a live audience.
Law has also been cast as a spirit medium in more than 36 Hong Kong horror films. Law's performance as ( fourth granny) in the film, Bullets Over Summer, garnered her the "Best Actress" award at the 19th Hong Kong Film Award in 2000, making her the oldest winner of this coveted award.
Law has starred in over 300 movies and television dramas throughout her career.
Personal life Law's father died during World War II aged 34 after complications from opium withdrawals. She has been living alone since 1994 when her mother died, thus saving her from immigrating to Canada. There is a fake rumour being disseminated online that Law's mother is of Indian heritage. On 30th June 2026 she appeared on Canton province's Pearl River Channel (珠江频道) entertainment interview and clarified that both her parents came from Shunde, Guangdong and are pure blooded Chinese. The interview was also aired on Chinese social media platform, WeChat. According to Law,her mother had emigrated to Indonesia at age 14. In the program, Law even shared the photos of both her parents.
Law is a devout Catholic. She is often asked about the contradiction of portraying characters such as Chinese mediums and exorcists helping to contact the deceased from the underworld as opposed to her Christian faith. Law said she has consulted the priest on this and was assured that she was just performing her role for her audience and as long as she remains faithful in Christ, then it should not matter.
Filmography Television dramas Year Title Role Notes/ 1976 Hotel Mrs. Chui 1977 A House Is Not a Home 1978 The Giant Conflict 1979 Chor Lau-heung So Sam-tse The Good, the Bad and the Ugly 1980 The Brothers 1981 Young's Female Warrior 1982 You Only Live Twice 1983 The Return of the Condor Heroes Kau Chin-chak 1985 The Flying Fox of Snowy Mountain Old Mrs Seung Take Care, Your Highness! Granny 1988 Two Most Honorable Knights Granny Fa 1993 The Buddhism Palm Strikes Back Tin-yan 1995 The Condor Heroes 95 Kau Chin-chak 1996 Journey to the West Spider Demon (Shishi and En'en's mother) 1997 Drunken Angels Law Siu Lan 1998 Journey to the West II Spider Demon (En'en), Golden and Silver Horned Kings' mother State of Divinity Ting-yat The Duke of Mount Deer Kwai Yee-neung 2000 Crimson Sabre Wan Fong-san's wife 2001 Gods of Honour Yiu Tin-heung Colourful Life Aunt Lau Yi 2003 The 'W' Files Mrs Cheng Ups and Downs in the Sea of Love Grandmother Wah Triumph in the Skies 2004 Angels of Mission The Last Breakthrough Chow Kuk Summer Heat Mo Ah-Lui 2005 Wong Fei Hung - Master of Kung Fu The Academy Just Love Central Affairs 2008 When East Meets West 2011 Police Station No.7 2012 The Hippocratic Crush Ho Dai Tai The Last Steep Aliment Leung Mei Kuen Nominated – TVB Anniversary Award for Best Supporting Actress The Stamp of Love Missing You Hui Yuk Mui 2013 Inbound Troubles Lai Hiu Lan Awfully Lawful Lady Lauren Karma Rider Lang-Nu aka Pretty 2014 Come On, Cousin Fong Gwai Lan Tiger Cubs II Tin Po Po 2014–2015 Officer Geomancer 2015 Eye in the Sky Ho Ye-gu Brick Slaves Kimchi Wong Kam-hei 2016 The Last Healer in Forbidden City Empress Dowager CixiBlue Veins Lam Wong Chi-hung House of Spirits Mrs. Bak – Yi Lan No Reserve a village old lady Come with Me Lee Ho 2017 The Exorcist's Meter Lung Por Guest Appearance in Ep. 1 2018 Life on the Line Lee Ying-oi 2020 Forensic Heroes IV Chiu Shuk-kuen The Exorcist's 2nd Meter Lung Por Guest Appearance in Ep. 10, 25 Death By Zero Sophia Legal Mavericks 2020 Kam Lan 2021 Sinister Beings Sung Tat’s grandmother Special Appearance Battle of the Seven Sisters as themself Cameo ep. 7 2021–2022 Hello Missfortune Lam Sze-mei 2023 Speakers of Law Special Appearance 2025 The Fading Gold Fong Luk-siu-kwan
Film The Kid (1950) Story of the White-Haired Demon Girl (1959) Les Belles (1961) Young, Pregnant and Unmarried (1968) Lucky Seven (1970) The House of 72 Tenants (1972) Police Woman (1973) Games Gamblers Play (1974) Aces Go Places 3 (1984) The Greatest Lover (1988) The Bride with White Hair 2 (1993) Troublesome Night (1997) Haunted Mansion (1998) Troublesome Night 3 (1998) Bullets Over Summer (1999) Troublesome Night 5 (1999) Troublesome Night 6 (1999) Troublesome Night 7 (2000) Troublesome Night 8 (2000) Troublesome Night 9 (2001) Troublesome Night 10 (2001) Troublesome Night 11 (2001) Troublesome Night 12 (2001) Troublesome Night 13 (2002) Troublesome Night 14 (2002) Troublesome Night 15 (2002) Troublesome Night 16 (2002) Troublesome Night 17 (2002) Troublesome Night 18 (2003) Troublesome Night 19 (2003) The Unusual Youth (2005) Don't Open Your Eyes (2006) Flash Point (2007) The Haunting Lover (2010) A Simple Life (2011) Blue Magic (2013) The White Storm (2013) Overheard 3 (2014) Flirting in the Air (2014) Tales of Mystery (2015) An Inspector Calls (2015) Are You Here (2015) Big Fortune Hotel (2015) Heaven in the Dark (2016) Cook Up a Storm (2017) Always Be With You (2017) Agent Mr Chan (2018) A Beautiful Moment (2018) Hotel Soul Good (2018) I Love You, You're Perfect, Now Change! (2019) Girl Dorm (2019)
Honours and awards Medal of Honour (2002)
Hong Kong Film Critics Society Awards Best Actress for Bullets Over Summer (2000)
Hong Kong Film Awards Best Supporting Actress Nomination for Thou Shalt Not Swear (1994) Best Supporting Actress Nomination for 13 July (1997) Best Actress for Bullets Over Summer (2000)
Golden Bauhinia Awards Best Supporting Actress for Bullets Over Summer (2000)
TVB Anniversary Awards Life Achievement Award (2002)
References
External links