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 Wai 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.
+ Table key Indicates the winner
1982–2019 Year Actress Film Role(s) 1981(1st)Kara Wai ‡My Young AuntieCheng Tai-Nan 1982(2nd)Becky Lam ‡Lonely FifteenBik-Kei Lam Cherie ChungEclipseFu MinSeason MaBoat PeopleCam NuongCora MiaoBoat PeopleNguyen's MistressSylvia Chang Aces Go PlacesSupt. Nancy Ho 1983(3rd)Cecilia Yip ‡ Let's Make LaughYeung Noi-dong So-ying Hui Ah YingAh YingLiu XiaoqingReign Behind a CurtainDowager EmpressCherie ChungHong Kong, Hong KongMan Si SunBrigitte LinZu Warriors from the Magic Mountain Countess 1984(4th)Siqin Gaowa ‡HomecomingPearl Cecilia YipHong Kong 1941Han Yuk NamDeanie IpWrong Wedding TrailMiss ChengSylvia ChangShanghai BluesShu-ShuJosephine KooHomecomingCoral Zhang 1985(5th)Pauline Wong ‡Love with the Perfect StrangerWong Gam Gam Pat HaMy Name Ain't SuzieMary Lai Shui MeiDeanie IpLau Wai LanBrigitte LinPolice Story Selina FongCora MiaoWomenBao-er 1986(6th)Sylvia Chang ‡ PassionWendy Pai Sally YehPeking Opera BluesPat NeilPan HongLi ShuxianYuk Guen LeeJust Like WeatherChristineSeason MaSilent LoveHeung Gite 1987(7th)Josephine Siao ‡Wong Mui Cherie Chung JenniferCarol ChengWonder WomenLeung Ho KauJoey Wang Lit Sin SeenDin Long LeeFinal VictoryPingLoletta LeeFinal VictoryMimi 1988(8th)Anita Mui ‡RougeFleur Cora MiaoKeep on DancingChieh Chang ChangCarol ChengHeart to HeartsChu Lai NgorNiu TienJune LeeMaggie CheungAs Tears Go ByNgor 1989(9th)Maggie Cheung ‡A Fishy StoryHuang Sylvia ChangAll About Ah-LongSylvia PoonSylvia ChangEight Taels of GoldOdds and EndsCarrie NgWinnie WongBo-Bo FungBeyond the SunsetMayCarina LauHer Beautiful Life LiesCarole Chang 1990(10th)Carol Cheng ‡Her Fatal WaysCheng Shih-Nan Carina LauDays of Being WildLeung Fung-yingMaggie CheungFarewell ChinaLi HungSylvia ChangQueen of Temple StreetBig Sis WahGong Li Dong Er/ Zhu Lili 1991(11th)Cecilia Yip ‡This Thing Called LoveYee Carol ChengHer Fatal Ways 2Cheng Shih-NanAnita MuiAu Revoir, Mon AmourMui YeCarina LauGigolo and WhoreChung Siu-HungSharla CheungDances with DragonMoon Chan 1992(12th)Maggie Cheung ‡Center StageRuan Ling-yu Chingmy YauNaked KillerKitty / Vivian ShangBrigitte LinHandsome SiblingsEva Mor, daughter of EvaAnita MuiJustice, My Foot!Madam SungMaggie CheungNew Dragon Gate InnJade KingBrigitte LinSwordsman IIAsia the Invincible 1993(13th)Anita Yuen ‡C'est La Vie Mon CheriMin Josephine SiaoAlways on My Mind Yin Tseung's wifeJosephine SiaoMiu Chui-FaCarrie NgRemains of a WomanJudy YuVeronica Yip Yip Hiu-Tung 1994(14th)Anita Yuen ‡He's a Woman, She's a ManLam Chi Wing Hui FanOne of the Lucky OnesMaid WoFaye Wong Chungking ExpressFayeChien-lien WuElaineJoan ChenRed Rose White RoseWang Jiao-RuiAlice LauI Have a Date with SpringButterfly Yiu 1995(15th)Josephine Siao ‡Summer SnowMay Sun Chingmy YauI'm Your Birthday Cake!CherBo-Bo FungMother of a Different KindNurse LamAnita MuiRumble in the BronxElaineCecilia YipPeace HotelOman 1996(16th)Maggie Cheung ‡Comrades: Almost a Love StoryQiao Li Gong LiTemptress MoonPang RuyiJosephine SiaoHu Du MenLang Kim-SumSandra Ng4 Faces of EveGam Mo/Chan Giu/Miu Si/Mei MeiKaren MokTurkey 1997(17th)Maggie Cheung ‡Soong Ching-ling Chien-lien WuEighteen SpringsGu ManzhenShu QiLove Is Not a Game, But a JokeLee Lai-shanPaulyn SunIsland of GreedMiu-HeungCarina LauIntimatesWan 1998(18th)Sandra Ng ‡Portland Street BluesSister Thirteen Shu QiCity of GlassVivianFiona Leung FionaAnita YuenTill Death Do Us PartBoBoChingmy YauHold You TightAh Moon 1999(19th)Law Lan ‡Bullets Over SummerGranny Deanie IpCrying HeartMrs. FatLoletta LeeOrdinary HeroesSowGigi LeungTempting HeartSheo-rouCecilia CheungFly Me to PolarisAutumn 2000(20th)Maggie Cheung ‡In the Mood for LoveSu Li-zhen Sammi ChengNeeding You...Kinki KwokQin HailuDurian DurianQin YanMichelle YeohCrouching Tiger, Hidden DragonYu Shu LienZhang ZiyiCrouching Tiger, Hidden DragonJen Yu 2001(21st)Sylvia Chang ‡Forever and EverChi Mo's mom Sammi ChengWu yenChung Wu YenAnita MuiJuly RhapsodyLam Man-ChingSammi ChengLove on a DietMini MoSammi ChengFighting for LoveSiu Tong 2002(22nd)Angelica Lee ‡Man Sandra NgGolden ChickenKamFaye WongChinese Odyssey 2002Princess WushuangKarena LamInner SensesCheung YanMaggie CheungHeroFlying Snow 2003(23rd)Cecilia Cheung ‡Lost in TimeSiu Wai Cecilia CheungRunning on KarmaLee Fung YeeSandra NgGolden Chicken 2KamKarena LamMaanCarina LauInfernal Affairs IIMary Hon 2004(24th)Zhang Ziyi ‡2046Bai Ling Sylvia Chang20 30 40LilyKarena LamKomaLingYuen QiuKung Fu HustleLandladyCecilia CheungOne Nite in MongkokDandan 2005(25th)Zhou Xun ‡Perhaps LoveSun Na Sammi ChengEverlasting RegretWang QiyaoKarena LamHome Sweet HomeYan HongSylvia ChangRice RhapsodyJenKaren MokWait 'Til You're OlderTsui Man 2006(26th)Gong Li ‡Curse of the Golden FlowerEmpress Phoenix Teresa MoMen Suddenly in Black 2Chang Wai-YeeAngelica LeeRe-cycleTing-YinRene LiuHappy BirthdayMiIsabella LeongIsabellaBik-Yan Cheung 2007(27th)Siqin Gaowa ‡Ye Rutang Teresa MoMr. Cinema Chan Sau YingZhang JingchuProtégéJaneRene LiuKidnapHe WanzhenCharlene ChoiSimply ActorsDani Dan 2008(28th)Paw Hee-Ching ‡Mrs. Cheung Prudence LiewTrue Women For SaleLai Chung-chungBarbie ShuConnectedGrace WongZhou XunPainted SkinXiao WeiKarena LamClaustrophobiaPearl 2009(29th)Kara Wai ‡ At the End of DaybreakTak's mother Zhang JingchuNight and FogWong Hiu LingZhao WeiMulanHua MulanShu QiLook for a StarMilan SitSandra NgEchoes of the RainbowMrs. Law 2010(30th)Carina Lau ‡Detective Dee and the Mystery of the Phantom FlameWu Zetian Josie HoDream HomeCheng Lai-SheungFiona SitBreak Up ClubFloraMiriam YeungLove in a PuffCherieTang WeiCrossing HennessyOi-lin 2011(31st)Deanie Ip ‡Sister Peach Shu QiA Beautiful LifeLi Pei-ruTang WeiDragonYuGao YuanyuanDon't Go Breaking My HeartZixinZhou XunFlying Swords of Dragon GateLing Yan-qiu 2012(32nd)Miriam Yeung ‡Love in the BuffCherie Sammi ChengRomancing in Thin AirSueElanne KongLove LiftingLi LiZhou XunLiu YinZhou XunXue Ning 2013(33rd)Zhang Ziyi ‡Gong Er Tang WeiFinding Mr. RightWen Jia-jiaSammi ChengBlind DetectiveGoldie HoHee Ching PawRigor MortisMuiCherry NganLam Fa/ Fleur 2014(34th)Zhao Wei ‡DearestLi Hongqin Sandra NgGolden ChickensssKamTang WeiZhang NaiyingZhou XunWomen Who FlirtZhang HuiCharlene ChoiSaraSara 2015(35th)Jessie Li ‡Port of CallWang Jiamei Miriam YeungLittle Big MasterLui Wai-hungTang WeiChen YuerongSylvia ChangOfficeWinnie ChangKarena LamHeaven in the DarkMichelle 2016(36th)Kara Wai ‡HappinessAunt Fanny Zhou DongyuSoul MateAnshengMa SichunSoul MateQiyueNina PawShow Me Your Love Yau NganTang WeiBook of LoveJiao 2017(37th)Teresa Mo ‡Tomorrow Is Another DayMrs WongSylvia ChangLove EducationYue HuiyingZhou XunOur Time Will ComeLanStephy TangThe Empty HandsMari HirakawaChrissie Chau29+1Christy Lam 2018(38th)Chloe Maayan ‡Three HusbandsAh MuiCharlene ChoiThe Lady Improper Siu ManZhang JingchuProject GutenbergYuen ManJennifer YuDistinction Qian SiyingCrisel ConsunjiStill HumanEvelyn Santos
2020s Year Actress Film Role(s) 2019(39th)Zhou Dongyu ‡Better Days Chen NianSammi ChengFagara Acacia HaSammi ChengFatal Visit LingCecilia ChoiBeyond The Dream Yan / Yip LamStephy TangMy Prince Edward Fong 2020-21(40th)Cya Liu ‡Limbo Wong ToChrissie ChauMadalena LenaLouise WongAnita Anita MuiSandra NgZero to Hero So's motherGong LiLeap Coach Lang Ping 2023(41st)Sammi Cheng ‡Lost Love Tin MeiLouisa SoThe Sparring Partner Carrie YauTeresa MoMama's Affair Mei FungAngela YuenThe Narrow Road CandySylvia ChangA Light Never Goes Out Mei Hsiang 2024(42nd)Jennifer Yu ‡In Broad Daylight KayKay TseBand Four CatMichelle WaiReady O/R Rot HeidiLouise WongA Guilty Conscience Jolene TsangChung Suet YingThe Lyricist Wannabe Law Wing Sze 2025(43rd)Michelle Wai ‡The Last Dance Yuet Patra AuAll Shall Be Well AngieNatalie HsuLast Song for You SummerChung Suet YingThe Way We Talk Sophie FongHedwig TamMontages of a Modern Motherhood Jing 2026(44th) Fish Liew ‡ Someone Like Me Mui Natalie Hsu My First of May Tang Chi Ma Li The Dumpling Queen Chong Kin-wo Zhang Ziyi She's Got No Name Zhan Zhou Fala Chen Peg O' My Heart Fiona
Multiple wins and nominations
The following individuals received two or more Best Actress awards: Wins Actress Years 5 Maggie Cheung 1990, 1993, 1997, 1998, 2001 3 Kara Wai 1982, 2010, 2017 2 Anita Yuen 1994, 1995 Cecilia Yip 1984, 1992 Josephine Siao 1988, 1996Siqin Gaowa 1985, 2008Sylvia Chang 1987, 2002Zhang Ziyi 2005, 2014
The following individuals received five or more Best Actress nominations: Nominations Actress 12 Sylvia Chang 10 Sammi Cheng 9 Maggie Cheung 7 Sandra Ng Zhou Xun 6 Carina Lau Karena Lam Tang Wei 5 Anita Mui Josephine Siao
Age superlatives Record Actress Film Age (in years) Oldest winnerLaw LanBullets Over Summer66Oldest nomineeSylvia ChangA Light Never Goes Out69Youngest winnerBecky LamLonely Fifteen17Youngest nomineeBecky LamLonely Fifteen17
Notes A film is considered to be a "Hong Kong film" by meeting at least 2 of the following criteria: The film's director is a Hong Kong resident that holds a Hong Kong Identity Card At least one of the film's production companies are legally registered in Hong Kong SAR. At least one person involved in the film's production from any six separate award categories who are Hong Kong resident holding a Hong Kong Identity Card.
See also Asian Film Award for Best Actress Golden Horse Award for Best Leading Actress
References
Bibliography
External links