Kelly Chen Wai-lam (born 13 September 1972 in Wan Chai) is a Hong Kong singer and actress. Born Chan Wai-man and of Shanghai descent, she was educated at Rosaryhill School and later studied graphic design at Parsons School of Design in New York, returning to Hong Kong in 1994. Her 1995 film and album debut made her a star at once, and she went on to become one of the leading Cantopop and Mandopop singers of her generation. The title track of her 1998 Mandarin album, The Notebook, won her a large following across the Chinese-speaking world, and her 1999 albums plus the gold prize for female singer at the Ultimate Song Chart Awards consolidated her standing; from 1999 to 2000 she was named Most Popular Female Singer at the Jade Solid Gold Awards, and from 2001 to 2006 she took the Asia-Pacific Most Popular Female Singer award six years running. In 1997 she won the Hong Kong Film Award for Best Original Film Song for the theme of Lost and Found. Besides music, she appeared in films such as Lavender, Infernal Affairs and Breaking News, balancing commercial and art-house roles. She was named one of Hong Kong's Ten Outstanding Young Persons in 2002 and one of the Ten Outstanding Young Persons of the World in 2004, and in 2009 was chosen as a Young Global Leader by the World Economic Forum. After marrying Alex Lau in 2008 and raising two sons, she scaled back her public appearances but still releases songs and performs from time to time.
Kelly Chen brought a fresh, wholesome image to Hong Kong pop in the mid-to-late 1990s, working across both Cantonese and Mandarin markets and combining a singing career with charity work and brand endorsements. Named an outstanding young person twice over, she stands as a representative local female entertainer around the turn of the millennium.
Achievements
- 1995 · Starred in her debut film and released its album, launching her career with the song Everything Is Beautiful Because of You.
- 1997 · Won the Hong Kong Film Award for Best Original Film Song for the theme of Lost and Found.
- 1999 · Won the gold prize for female singer at the Ultimate Song Chart Awards and began two years as Most Popular Female Singer at the Jade Solid Gold Awards.