Selena Lee (actor)
Selena Lee | |
|---|---|
| Born | Selena Lee Sze-wa February 12, 1981 Hong Kong |
| Occupation | Actress |
| Years active | 2003–present |
| Known for | Barrack O'Karma, Spouse for House, Blood and Water |
Selena Lee Sze-wa (, born 12 February 1981), previously known as Selena Lee Sze-Wan (), is an actress originally from Hong Kong and a former beauty pageant participant.
Following her participation in the 2003 Miss Hong Kong Pageant, Lee joined TVB and featured in a variety of TVB television series. She departed from TVB in 2019 and revealed her representation by the American talent agency Authentic, aiming to broaden her career scope into North America. In September 2019, Lee earned widespread praise for portraying two characters in the supernatural romance series Barrack O'Karma, receiving the Most Popular Female Character accolade at the TVB Anniversary Awards. In June 2020, she signed with Shaw Brothers Pictures to concentrate on projects based in Hong Kong and Southeast Asia.
Early life
Selena Lee was born in Hong Kong and relocated with her family to Toronto in 1988. She graduated from the University of Toronto in 2010 with a Bachelor of Business Commerce degree, specializing in Accounting.
Career
Entering the 2003 Miss Hong Kong Pageant as an overseas contestant, Selena Lee secured the titles of Miss Photogenic and Miss Talent. Subsequently, she signed with the major broadcaster TVB, making her acting debut in the drama The Last Breakthrough ().
In 2014, Lee portrayed Jessica Tan in the Singaporean comedy series Spouse for House, earning the Best Actress in Comedy award at the Asian Television Awards.
Her performance in the American short film Once More (2017) garnered her Best Actress honors at both the European Cinematography Awards and Los Angeles Film Awards.
In 2018, Lee appeared in the Canadian crime drama Blood and Water, which led to a nomination for Best Supporting Actress at the 7th Canadian Screen Awards.
By April 2019, Lee announced she would not renew her contract with TVB to explore international career opportunities. The following month, she became represented by American talent agency Authentic for engagements across North America.
Lee's dual roles as flight attendant Alex Cheung and hostess Coco Yeung in TVB’s supernatural drama Barrack O'Karma () premiered in September 2019 to critical acclaim. At that year’s TVB Anniversary Awards, she won Most Popular Onscreen Partnership alongside co-star Joel Chan, shared the Most Popular Female Character award with Miriam Yeung, and was among the top five contenders for Best Actress.
Her last TVB drama, Forensic Heroes IV (), was broadcast in February 2020. Alongside co-actor Gabriel Harrison, Lee released her debut single "Second Love," which received music accolades. She later signed an artiste contract with Shaw Brothers Pictures to focus on work within Hong Kong and Southeast Asia. Returning to TVB in August 2020, she filmed Barrack O'Karma 1968 (), which aired in April 2022. At the TVB Anniversary Awards 2022, she was uniquely placed among the top five nominees for both Best Actress and Most Favorite Best Actress categories in Malaysia. Both installments of Barrack O'Karma were finalists for Best Actress in a Leading Role at the Asian Television Awards and People's Choice Television Award ceremonies held in 2020 and 2022 respectively.
In September 2022, Lee debuted her first album and completed filming for the international adaptation of Tape.
During 2023, she starred in The Queen of News, securing top-five nominations for Best Actress and Most Favorite Best Actress across Malaysia and Greater Bay Area categories at the TVB Anniversary Awards. Additionally, she earned a People's Choice Television Award nomination for Best Actress.
Personal life
In 2015, Lee revealed on her Weibo blog that she had reverted her Chinese stage name from Lee Sze Wan (李詩韻) to her original birth name, Lee Sze Wa (李施嬅), as a tribute to her late grandmother.
Selena Lee maintains strong ties with fellow entertainers Myolie Wu, Nancy Wu, Paisley Wu, Elaine Yiu, and Mandy Wong, together forming the friendship circle known as “胡說八道會” and jointly participating in a travel program. United by their enthusiasm for long-distance running, Lee and several colleagues, including Benjamin Yuen and Joel Chan, established the "Crazy Runner" group.
In February 2021, Lee made public her engagement to Anson Cha, a fitness expert and personal trainer with a distinguished clientele. On 31 March 2022, she disclosed that she was diagnosed with an autoimmune disorder, which caused her to pause her professional activities since late 2021 while receiving treatment.
Television and Film
| Title | Year | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| The Last Breakthrough | 2004 | Shirley Fong Suet-yee (方雪兒) | Supporting Role |
| Just Love | 2005 | Yoyo Leung Yan-yan (梁昕昕) | Supporting Role; Nominated TVB Best Supporting Actress & 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; Nominated TVB Best Supporting Actress & Most Improved Female Artiste | |
| The Herbalist's Manual | Ng Mo-yung (吳慕榕) | Secondary Lead; Nominated TVB Most Improved Female Artiste | |
| Face to Fate | 2006 | Yin Ye-loi (嫣夜來) | Secondary Lead |
| To Grow with Love | Maggie Kwok Bo-lok (郭寶樂) | Supporting Role; Nominated TVB Most Improved Female Artiste | |
| A Change of Destiny | 2007 | Sum-yee (心怡) | Supporting Role; Nominated TVB Most Improved Female Artiste |
| 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 TVB Most Improved Female Artiste | |
| The Master of Tai Chi | 2008 | Yin Chui-kiu (言翠翹) | Supporting Role; Nominated TVB Most Improved Female Artiste |
| The Seventh Day | Miko Yuen Ching (阮靜) | Supporting Role; Nominated TVB Most Improved Female Artiste | |
| Forensic Heroes II | "Cat" Lee Kiu (李蕎) | Episodes 25–28; Nominated TVB Most Improved Female Artiste | |
| The Four | Lam Yeuk-fei (藍若飛) | Secondary Lead; Nominated TVB Most Improved Female Artiste | |
| 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) | Prominent Supporting Role; Nominated TVB Best Supporting Actress & Most Improved Female Artiste | |
| A Fistful of Stances | 2010 | Angel Wing Tsz-ching (榮芷晴) | Major Supporting Role; Nominated TVB Most Improved Female Artiste |
| Can't Buy Me Love | Yuen Siu-yuk (阮小玉) | Supporting Role; Nominated TVB Most Improved Female Artiste | |
| The Life and Times of a Sentinel | 2011 | Cheuk Chi-ying / Princess Duen-man (卓紫凝 / 愛新覺羅·端敏 – 格格) | Lead Role; Nominated TVB Best Actress & MY AOD Favorite Awards Best Supporting Actress |
| Wish and Switch | 2012 | Hailey Hou Yurk-hoi (侯若海) | Secondary Lead; Awarded StarHub TVB Award for Most Improved Female Artiste |
| Gloves Come Off | Donna Chai Pak-fai (齊柏暉) | Lead Role; Received StarHub TVB Award for Most Improved Female Artiste | |
| The Confidant | Imperial Consort Yuen (索綽絡•婉 – 婉太嬪) | Guest Star in 5 episodes | |
| Slow Boat Home | 2013 | Heidi Hei-man Kwok (郭希雯) | Secondary Lead; Nominated StarHub TVB Awards for Favourite Female Characters & Artiste |
| Awfully Lawful | Elsa Chung Lai-sa (鍾麗莎) | Secondary Lead | |
| Spouse for House | 2014 | Jessica Tan | Lead Role; Singapore Mediacorp Channel 5 sitcom; Earned Highly Commended at 19th Asian Television Awards for Best Comedy Performance |
| Ghost Dragon of Cold Mountain | To Fa / Yan Mei-leung (桃花 / 殷媚娘) | Lead Role; Won TVB Star Award Malaysia Top 15 Favourite Drama Characters; Multiple Best Actress nominations | |
| Master of Destiny | 2015 | young Kwan Yeuk-nam | Guest Appearance |
| Brick Slaves | Choi Kin-ching (蔡堅菁) | Lead Role; Won StarHub TVB Award for Favourite Female Characters; Several Best Actress nominations | |
| Spouse for House 2, Jessica Tan | Singapore Mediacorp Channel 5 sitcom | ||
| 'Presumed Accidents' | 2016 | Faye Lin Yeuk-fei / Chong Wing-yee / Princess Yuet Ngar | (Guest); Won StarHub TVB Award for Favourite Female Characters; Best Actress nomination |
| 'Succession War' | 2018 | Empress Xiaoherui | (Lead Role); Multiple Best Actress nominations including People's Choice Award Top 5 |
| 'Blood and Water' | Michelle Chang | (Supporting); Top 5 Canadian Screen Award Best Supporting Actress | |
| 'I Bet Your Pardon' | 2019 | Marilyn Ma Lai-lin | (Secondary Lead) |
| 'Barrack O'Karma' | Alex Cheung Wai / Coco Yeung Yuk-wah | (Lead Role); Received TVB Anniversary Award for Most Popular Female Character, Most Popular Onscreen Partnership, and People's Choice Award for Best Actress | |
| 'Forensic Heroes IV' | 2020 | Dr. Man Ka-hei | (Lead Role); Multiple nominations including Asian Television Award Top 5 Best Actress |
| 'Blood and Water Season 3: Fire and Ice' | Michelle Chang | (Lead Role) | |
| 'Barrack O'Karma 1968' | 2022 | Ella / Lydia / Psychiatrist | (Lead Role); Received VIP Music Chart Hits Awards Gold and Creative Song Awards; Multiple nominations including Asian Television Award Top 8 Best Actress and People's Choice Awards |
| 'The QUEEN of News' | 2023 | Cheung Ka-yin | (Secondary Lead); Multiple nominations including TVB Anniversary Awards Top 5 Best Actress and People's Choice Awards; Won Youku Entertainment Queen's Award |
| Film | Year | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 'Love Is...' | 2007 | Vivian | (Lead Role) |
| 'Murderer' | 2009 | Hazel | (Cantonese Voice) |
| 'Don't Go Breaking My Heart' | 2011 | Pregnant Woman | (Cameo) |
| 'Once More' | 2016 | Selina | (Lead Role); Recipient of European Cinematography Awards & Los Angeles Film Awards Best Actress for Hollywood Short Film |
| 'Tape' | 2024 (expected) | Amy | (Lead Role) |
Variety programmes
As Host
| Year | Programme Title | Number of Episodes | Featured Guests |
| 2008 | Living Up Season 6 | Complete series | Suki Chui, Maggie Cheung, Leanne Li |
| 2010 | Enoch's Footprint | 3 episodes | |
| 2011 | Enoch's Footprint | 6 episodes | |
| 2014 | Macao International Parade | ||
| 2016 | A Starry Home Coming | ||
| 2016 | Three Hungry Sisters | All 8 episodes | Paisley Wu, Samantha Ko |
| 2017 | Wellness On The Go | 4 episodes | |
| 2017 | The Sisterhood Traveling Gang | Episodes 1 to 6 | |
| 2017 | Shall We Run | ||
| 2018 | Miss Hong Kong 2018 (Judges Panel for Miss Photogenic) |
||
| 2019 | All Things Girl - Malaysia Edition | 4 episodes |
As Guest
| Year | Programme Title | Episodes Appeared | Other Participants |
| 2006 | 15/16 | Francois Huynh, Otto Chan | |
| 2008 | Fan and Kam 《范後感》 | 18 October 2008 Appearance | Raymond Lam, Ron Ng, Kate Tsui, Kenneth Ma |
| Lady's Talk 《三個女人一個墟》 | Mandy Cho, Leanne Li | ||
| 2009 | Boom Boom Ba 《耳分高下》 | Episodes 15–16 | Michael Tse, Bosco Wong, Kate Tsui |
| Outsmart 《財智達人》 | Episode 4 Appearance | Sammul Chan, Nancy Wu, Lee Lung Kei | |
| 2010 | Have Fun With Liza and Gods 《荃加福祿壽》 | Episode 6 Appearance | Angel Chiang, Denise Ho, Lee Yee Man, Benji Chiang |
| Super Trio Game Master | Episode 20 Appearance | Charmaine Sheh, Moses Chan, Kenneth Ma | |
| 2015 | The Million Dollar Minute《超強選擇1分鐘》 | Episode 12 Appearance | Vincent Wong Ho Shun, Evergreen Mak Cheung-ching |
| 2018 | Cooking Beauties《美女廚房(第三輯)》 | Episode 3 Appearance | Nancy Wu, Venus Wong |
| 2019 | Liza's Online《娛樂大家 (無綫電視節目)》 | Episodes 1-4 Appearance | Nancy Wu, Mandy Wong, Paisley Hu |
| The Green Room《今日VIP》 | Episode 187 Interviewed by Luisa Maria Leitão | ||
| 2020 | Cantopop at 50《流行經典50年》 | Episodes 1-2 Appearance | Raymond Wong Ho-yin, Shaun Tam, Alice Chan, Roxanne Tong |
Advertisements
| Year | Advertisement Campaign |
| 2010 | Vaseline Skincare Educational Series |
| Ocean Park Sweet Reunion Celebration featuring 黄宗澤、李詩韻、游茛維 | |
| 2011 | Vaseline Skincare Educational Series |
| 2012 | Vaseline Aloe Vera Moisturizing Line |
| 2016 | Méthode SWISS Brand Campaign |
| 2017 | Méthode SWISS New Edelweiss Collection (Lakeside Edition) |
| 2019 | AXA 安盛智尊守慧 Medical Insurance Plan |
| 2021 | Eucerin Skincare Serum |
| Selena Lee X Thermage® FLX Skin Renewal Journey | |
| 2022 | Vita Green 維特健靈 "滋寶奇珍" |
Album
| Album No. | Title | Format | Label | Release Date | Tracks |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1st | 李施嬅 Selena Lee | EP | Sky Team Entertainment | 9 September 2022 |
|
Singles
| Highest Chart Rankings | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Title | 903 | RTHK | 997 | TVB | Fairchild Radio (Canada) | |
| 2020 | ||||||
| Second Love (二次緣) – Featuring Gabriel Harrison (海俊傑) | – | – | 14* | – | 9* | |
| 2022 | ||||||
| Love Forever (相愛萬年) – Theme song for TV drama 金宵大廈2 | - | 14 | 5 | 6 | 10 | |
Nominations and awards
| Year | Category | Outcome | Award |
| 2004 | Chik Chak TV Awards | Top 5 | Newcomer Award |
| 2005 | TVB Anniversary Awards | Template:Nom | Best Supporting Actress |
| Top 5 | Most Improved Female Artiste | ||
| 2006 | Next Magazine TV Awards | Template:Nom | Best New Actress |
| TVB Anniversary Awards | Template:Nom | Best Supporting Actress | |
| Top 5 | Most Improved Female Artiste | ||
| 2007 | Top 5 | ||
| 2008 | Top 5 | ||
| 2009 | Template:Nom | Best Supporting Actress | |
| Template:Nom | TVB.com Popularity Award | ||
| 2010 | Template:Nom | Best Supporting Actress | |
| Top 5 | Most Improved Female Artiste | ||
| Template:Nom | TVB.com Popularity Award | ||
| 2011 | TVB Star Awards Malaysia | Template:Nom | My Favourite Supporting Actress |
| Top 5 | Most Promising Female Artiste | ||
| TVB Anniversary Awards | Template:Nom | Best Actress | |
| 2012 | TVB Star Awards Malaysia | Template:Nom | Favourite Drama Characters |
| Template:Nom | Favourite Onscreen Couple (with Kevin Cheng) | ||
| StarHub TVB Awards | Template:Won | Most Improved TVB Artiste | |
| Template:Won | Favourite TVB Female Characters | ||
| 2014 | TVB Anniversary Awards | Template:Nom | Best Actress |
External links
|- ! colspan="3" style="background: #DAA520;" | Miss Hong Kong