Katie Leung
Encyclopedia
Katie Leung is a Scottish actress, best known for playing Cho Chang in the Harry Potter film series
. She returned for a brief role in the video game Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince
.
to Peter, who was a businessman, and Kar Wai Li Leung, who works in a law firm. Her parents are now divorced. An immigrant from Hong Kong, her father owns a Chinese restaurant named Regent in Glasgow and a Chinese wholesale firm named Jade Palace Trading. She attended secondary school at Hamilton College
.
casting call, and suggested she should try out. She waited four hours in line for a five-minute audition, and said that she would rather be shopping than stand in line for a role she was almost certain she wouldn't get. Two weeks later, she was called back for a workshop and was cast as Cho Chang, in the process beating out over 3,000 other girls for the part. She stated in an interview with the Daily Record
that her Scottish accent probably gave her an edge in the casting. At the start of the auditions, the casting director asked, "Is there anyone here from Scotland?" Only Leung raised her hand. In a 2011 interview Leung said her fondest memory of the Harry Potter experience was the first audition, because both her parents, who were separated at the time, went with her. “It was a really nice moment because my parents hadn’t seen each other for a long, long time," Leung said.
She appeared in Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix in which she and Daniel Radcliffe
(Harry) shared an on-screen kiss that received much media coverage.
Leung has contributed her voice to the video games Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix
and Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince
. In July 2009, Leung confirmed that she would return as Cho Chang in Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows – Part 1 and Part 2
. She appeared in part II of the final film.
, a subsidiary of EMI
in Hong Kong, to be the female lead in the music video Love Coming Home by Leo Ku
. Leung filmed the video in London while promoting the new Harry Potter film. Ku described Leung's acting as "professional" and "mature."
Leung played Hsui Tai in the episode "Cat Among the Pigeons" of ITV1
's Agatha Christie's Poirot
, which premiered on ITV on 21 September 2008.
Leung has been named as Scotland's most stylish
female and as the hottest Scotswoman by The Scotsman
. She has also been featured in Teen Vogue
and in Evening Standard
.
and university in order to film Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix. Leung has said she is undecided about pursuing an acting career after Harry Potter and wishes to attend university to study art and design. In 2007, she helped The Prince's Trust
charity of Scotland raise £100,000 by launching a children's art competition and also donated one of her own paintings which was auctioned for £960. In 2008, she attended University of the Arts London
. Leung has expressed a passion for photography. In 2009, she was one of two celebrities who donated a photo to Sightsavers International's i:click 2009 competition. Sightsavers International is a charitable organisation to combat blindness in poor countries.
Despite having experienced a great deal of international influence, traveling to promote Harry Potter and visiting relatives in Hong Kong, Leung has said “I feel very Scottish." Leung still lives in Motherwell where she was born.
2007
2006
Harry Potter (film series)
The Harry Potter film series is a British-American film series based on the Harry Potter novels by the British author J. K. Rowling...
. She returned for a brief role in the video game Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince
Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince (video game)
Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince is a video game, developed by EA's Bright Light Studio and published by Electronic Arts. The game was released on June 30, 2009 to coincide with the film's new mid-2009 release date. The game was released on the, Microsoft Windows, Nintendo DS, Wii,...
.
Early life
Leung was born in Motherwell, LanarkshireLanarkshire
Lanarkshire or the County of Lanark ) is a Lieutenancy area, registration county and former local government county in the central Lowlands of Scotland...
to Peter, who was a businessman, and Kar Wai Li Leung, who works in a law firm. Her parents are now divorced. An immigrant from Hong Kong, her father owns a Chinese restaurant named Regent in Glasgow and a Chinese wholesale firm named Jade Palace Trading. She attended secondary school at Hamilton College
Hamilton College (Scotland)
Hamilton College is a Co-educational Private School located in Hamilton South Lanarkshire, Scotland, it provides education from Nursery age through the full 7 years of primary education and 6 years of high school...
.
Harry Potter
Leung's father saw an advertisement for a Harry Potter and the Goblet of FireHarry Potter and the Goblet of Fire (film)
Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire is a 2005 fantasy film directed by Mike Newell and based on the novel of the same name by J. K. Rowling. It is the fourth instalment in the Harry Potter film series, written by Steve Kloves and produced by David Heyman...
casting call, and suggested she should try out. She waited four hours in line for a five-minute audition, and said that she would rather be shopping than stand in line for a role she was almost certain she wouldn't get. Two weeks later, she was called back for a workshop and was cast as Cho Chang, in the process beating out over 3,000 other girls for the part. She stated in an interview with the Daily Record
Daily Record (Scotland)
The Daily Record is a Scottish tabloid newspaper based in Glasgow. It had been the best-selling daily paper in Scotland for many years with a paid circulation in August 2011 of 307,794 . It is now outsold by its arch-rival the Scottish Sun which in September 2010 had a circulation of 339,586 in...
that her Scottish accent probably gave her an edge in the casting. At the start of the auditions, the casting director asked, "Is there anyone here from Scotland?" Only Leung raised her hand. In a 2011 interview Leung said her fondest memory of the Harry Potter experience was the first audition, because both her parents, who were separated at the time, went with her. “It was a really nice moment because my parents hadn’t seen each other for a long, long time," Leung said.
She appeared in Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix in which she and Daniel Radcliffe
Daniel Radcliffe
Daniel Jacob Radcliffe is an English actor who rose to prominence playing the titular character in the Harry Potter film series....
(Harry) shared an on-screen kiss that received much media coverage.
Leung has contributed her voice to the video games Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix
Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix (video game)
Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix is a video game that is based on the fifth instalment of the popular Harry Potter series by J. K. Rowling and the film of the same name, for Microsoft Windows, PlayStation 2, PlayStation 3, Xbox 360, PSP, Nintendo DS, Wii, Game Boy Advance and Mac OS X...
and Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince
Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince (video game)
Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince is a video game, developed by EA's Bright Light Studio and published by Electronic Arts. The game was released on June 30, 2009 to coincide with the film's new mid-2009 release date. The game was released on the, Microsoft Windows, Nintendo DS, Wii,...
. In July 2009, Leung confirmed that she would return as Cho Chang in Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows – Part 1 and Part 2
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows – Part 2
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows – Part 2 is a 2011 epic fantasy film directed by David Yates and the second of two films based on the novel of the same name by J. K. Rowling. It is the eighth and final instalment in the Harry Potter film series, written by Steve Kloves and produced by David...
. She appeared in part II of the final film.
Other work
In July 2007, Leung was cast by Gold Label RecordsGold Label Records
Gold Label is an independent, Hong Kong-based entertainment company launched with the support of EMI, and acquired EMI Music Taiwan / EMI Music China in 2008, reforming to Gold Typhoon....
, a subsidiary of EMI
EMI
The EMI Group, also known as EMI Music or simply EMI, is a multinational music company headquartered in London, United Kingdom. It is the fourth-largest business group and family of record labels in the recording industry and one of the "big four" record companies. EMI Group also has a major...
in Hong Kong, to be the female lead in the music video Love Coming Home by Leo Ku
Leo Ku
Leo Ku Kui Kei is a famous China and Hong Kong artist, Cantonese and Mandarin pop singer, actor, host, cartoonist, MV Director and Producer, and designer; he is one of the highest visibility and Greater China Pop Male Artist, a major figure in popular music culture. Leo had earned the "Ten...
. Leung filmed the video in London while promoting the new Harry Potter film. Ku described Leung's acting as "professional" and "mature."
Leung played Hsui Tai in the episode "Cat Among the Pigeons" of ITV1
ITV1
ITV1 is a generic brand that is used by twelve franchises of the British ITV Network in the English regions, Wales, southern Scotland , the Isle of Man and the Bailiwicks of Jersey and Guernsey. The ITV1 brand was introduced by Carlton and Granada in 2001, alongside the regional identities of their...
's Agatha Christie's Poirot
Agatha Christie's Poirot
Agatha Christie's Poirot is a British television drama that has aired on ITV since 1989. It stars David Suchet as Agatha Christie's fictional detective Hercule Poirot. It was originally made by LWT and is now made by ITV Studios...
, which premiered on ITV on 21 September 2008.
Leung has been named as Scotland's most stylish
Fashion
Fashion, a general term for a currently popular style or practice, especially in clothing, foot wear, or accessories. Fashion references to anything that is the current trend in look and dress up of a person...
female and as the hottest Scotswoman by The Scotsman
The Scotsman
The Scotsman is a British newspaper, published in Edinburgh.As of August 2011 it had an audited circulation of 38,423, down from about 100,000 in the 1980s....
. She has also been featured in Teen Vogue
Teen Vogue
Teen Vogue magazine began as a version of Vogue magazine for teenage girls. This US magazine focuses on fashion and celebrities and offers information about the latest entertainment and feature stories on current issues and events.- Description :...
and in Evening Standard
Evening Standard
The Evening Standard, now styled the London Evening Standard, is a free local daily newspaper, published Monday–Friday in tabloid format in London. It is the dominant regional evening paper for London and the surrounding area, with coverage of national and international news and City of London...
.
Personal life
Leung delayed plans to go to art collegeArt school
Art school is a general term for any educational institution with a primary focus on the visual arts, especially illustration, painting, photography, sculpture, and graphic design. The term applies to institutions with elementary, secondary, post-secondary or undergraduate, or graduate or...
and university in order to film Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix. Leung has said she is undecided about pursuing an acting career after Harry Potter and wishes to attend university to study art and design. In 2007, she helped The Prince's Trust
The Prince's Trust
The Prince's Trust is a charity in the United Kingdom founded in 1976 by Charles, Prince of Wales to help young people. They run a range of training programmes, provide mentoring support and offer financial grants to build the confidence and motivation of disadvantaged young people...
charity of Scotland raise £100,000 by launching a children's art competition and also donated one of her own paintings which was auctioned for £960. In 2008, she attended University of the Arts London
University of the Arts London
The University of the Arts London, formerly known as the London Institute, is a collegiate university comprising six internationally recognised art, design, fashion and media colleges in London, England...
. Leung has expressed a passion for photography. In 2009, she was one of two celebrities who donated a photo to Sightsavers International's i:click 2009 competition. Sightsavers International is a charitable organisation to combat blindness in poor countries.
Despite having experienced a great deal of international influence, traveling to promote Harry Potter and visiting relatives in Hong Kong, Leung has said “I feel very Scottish." Leung still lives in Motherwell where she was born.
Filmography
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2005 | Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire (film) Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire is a 2005 fantasy film directed by Mike Newell and based on the novel of the same name by J. K. Rowling. It is the fourth instalment in the Harry Potter film series, written by Steve Kloves and produced by David Heyman... |
Cho Chang | |
| 2007 | Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix (film) Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix is a 2007 fantasy film directed by David Yates and based on the novel of the same name by J. K. Rowling. It is the fifth instalment in the Harry Potter film series, written by Michael Goldenberg and produced by David Heyman and David Barron... |
Cho Chang | Film |
| 2007 | Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix (video game) Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix is a video game that is based on the fifth instalment of the popular Harry Potter series by J. K. Rowling and the film of the same name, for Microsoft Windows, PlayStation 2, PlayStation 3, Xbox 360, PSP, Nintendo DS, Wii, Game Boy Advance and Mac OS X... |
Cho Chang | Video game voiceover |
| 2009 | Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince (film) Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince is a 2009 fantasy film directed by David Yates and based on the novel of the same name by J. K. Rowling. It is the sixth instalment in the Harry Potter film series, written by Steve Kloves and produced by David Heyman and David Barron... |
Cho Chang | Film |
| 2009 | Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince (video game) Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince is a video game, developed by EA's Bright Light Studio and published by Electronic Arts. The game was released on June 30, 2009 to coincide with the film's new mid-2009 release date. The game was released on the, Microsoft Windows, Nintendo DS, Wii,... |
Cho Chang | Video game voiceover |
| 2010 | Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows - Part 1 | Cho Chang | Film |
| 2011 | Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows – Part 2 Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows – Part 2 Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows – Part 2 is a 2011 epic fantasy film directed by David Yates and the second of two films based on the novel of the same name by J. K. Rowling. It is the eighth and final instalment in the Harry Potter film series, written by Steve Kloves and produced by David... |
Cho Chang |
Television
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2008 | Agatha Christie's Poirot Agatha Christie's Poirot Agatha Christie's Poirot is a British television drama that has aired on ITV since 1989. It stars David Suchet as Agatha Christie's fictional detective Hercule Poirot. It was originally made by LWT and is now made by ITV Studios... |
Hsui Tai | (TV) Episode "Cat Amongst the Pigeons". ITV1 ITV1 ITV1 is a generic brand that is used by twelve franchises of the British ITV Network in the English regions, Wales, southern Scotland , the Isle of Man and the Bailiwicks of Jersey and Guernsey. The ITV1 brand was introduced by Carlton and Granada in 2001, alongside the regional identities of their... production |
Music Video
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2007 | Love Coming Home (愛回家) (Music Video) - Leo Ku Leo Ku Leo Ku Kui Kei is a famous China and Hong Kong artist, Cantonese and Mandarin pop singer, actor, host, cartoonist, MV Director and Producer, and designer; he is one of the highest visibility and Greater China Pop Male Artist, a major figure in popular music culture. Leo had earned the "Ten... |
Girlfriend |
Achievements
2008- Best Kiss Nominee 2008 MTV Movie Awards U.S. (alongside Daniel RadcliffeDaniel RadcliffeDaniel Jacob Radcliffe is an English actor who rose to prominence playing the titular character in the Harry Potter film series....
)
2007
- Scotland's Most Stylish Female
- #80 on the Cosmogirl's Hot 100 List.
2006
- Outstanding Newcomer Award (Top 4)
- Young Scots Award