Valerie Chow
Encyclopedia
Valerie Chow, aka Rachel Shane in the US, (born 16 December 1970 in Vancouver
, British Columbia
) is a Hong Kong
actress.
She has starred in numerous films and several television series, most memorably in Wong Kar-wai
's internationally acclaimed 1994 feature, Chungking Express
, which earned her a nomination for Best Supporting Actress at the 14th Hong Kong Film Awards
. A former Miss Hong Kong
runner-up (1991), she is also the first Chinese model to be signed by US cosmetics company Revlon
in 1998.
, following a brief study break where she completed her degree in Law at the University of Hong Kong (1993). She went onto begin her film carer with a cameo in Peter Chan's He Ain't Heavy, He's My Father released in late 1993.
also made an impression, which garnered her critical attention and an award nomination. Her career would take a sharp turn months later after appearing in a television series as the extramarital interest of a family man. The series was a success but her character was ill-received by the public. The antagonistic image of seductress came to be closely identified with Chow, further cemented by rumours of her alleged affair with Tony Leung Chiu Wai
(then already dating long-time partner Carina Lau
), whose music videos she also featured in. In the subsequent period between 1995–97, she was cast in a string of B-movies, usually in the role of a villain. The more notable of these were that of the female terrorist in Jing Wong's High Risk
, a commercial hit, and a guest appearance in Tsui Hark
's acclaimed wu-xia feature The Blade.
which starred Peter O'Toole
and Ben Affleck
. More substantially in 1998, she became the first Chinese spokesmodel for Revlon US, appearing in national print and television campaigns alongside Halle Barry, Salma Hayek
, and Melanie Griffith
. She is to be followed by Lucy Liu
.
series, Healing Hearts, with greater success. Her role as a smart and sophisticated lawyer was much better received and made her recognised by audiences as emblematic of the 'perfect modern woman.' The role briefly revived her career, leading to many magazine covers, and an ad campaign with Neutrogena Hong Kong. She also appeared alongside co-star Leslie Cheung
in Inner Senses
(2002), which was to be Cheung's last film.
. She took a short break in mid-2004 when she was offered a part in a television series which never made it to air until Dec. of 2010, after more than six years since filming completed. She made periodical appearances in the press throughout these years as a senior executive during her company's seasonal showcases. She left her job in 2009 to become a full-time mother and in September 2010 opened Mama Kid, a children's clothing boutique in Hong Kong's Central District, with plans to opening additional branches in 2011.
Vancouver
Vancouver is a coastal seaport city on the mainland of British Columbia, Canada. It is the hub of Greater Vancouver, which, with over 2.3 million residents, is the third most populous metropolitan area in the country,...
, British Columbia
British Columbia
British Columbia is the westernmost of Canada's provinces and is known for its natural beauty, as reflected in its Latin motto, Splendor sine occasu . Its name was chosen by Queen Victoria in 1858...
) is a Hong Kong
Hong Kong
Hong Kong is one of two Special Administrative Regions of the People's Republic of China , the other being Macau. A city-state situated on China's south coast and enclosed by the Pearl River Delta and South China Sea, it is renowned for its expansive skyline and deep natural harbour...
actress.
She has starred in numerous films and several television series, most memorably in Wong Kar-wai
Wong Kar-wai
Wong Kar-wai BBS is a Hong Kong Second Wave filmmaker, internationally renowned as an auteur for his visually unique, highly stylized, emotionally resonant work, including Days of Being Wild , Ashes of Time , Chungking Express , Fallen Angels , Happy Together and 2046...
's internationally acclaimed 1994 feature, Chungking Express
Chungking Express
Chungking Express is a 1994 Hong Kong film written and directed by Wong Kar-wai. The film consists of two stories told in sequence, each about a lovesick Hong Kong policeman mulling over his relationship with a woman...
, which earned her a nomination for Best Supporting Actress at the 14th Hong Kong Film Awards
14th Hong Kong Film Awards
Ceremony for the 14th Hong Kong Film Awards was held in 1995.-Best Film:-Best Director:-Best Screenplay:-Best Actor:-Best Actress:-Best Supporting Actor:-Best Supporting Actress:-Best New Performer:-Best Cinematography:...
. A former Miss Hong Kong
Miss Hong Kong Pageant
The Miss Hong Kong Pageant , or MSHK for short, is a beauty pageant organized by the leading Hong Kong television station, Television Broadcasts ....
runner-up (1991), she is also the first Chinese model to be signed by US cosmetics company Revlon
Revlon
Revlon is an American cosmetics, skin care, fragrance, and personal care company founded in 1932.-History:Revlon was founded in the midst of the Great Depression, 1932, by Charles Revson and his brother Joseph, along with a chemist, Charles Lachman, who contributed the "L" in the Revlon name...
in 1998.
1991-93: Early Career
After winning the first-runner up award at the 1991 Miss Hong Kong Pageant, Chow began her career in television as a host on TVB PearlTVB Pearl
TVB Pearl is one of the two free television services in Hong Kong that mainly broadcast in the English language, the other being ATV World. It is owned and operated by Television Broadcasts Limited, and together with its sister Cantonese language station TVB Jade, is broadcast from TVB City at 77...
, following a brief study break where she completed her degree in Law at the University of Hong Kong (1993). She went onto begin her film carer with a cameo in Peter Chan's He Ain't Heavy, He's My Father released in late 1993.
1994-96: Hong Kong Films
She received some media attention early on in 1994 for her role in the box office hit Twenty Something, which dealt explicitly with themes of sexuality. It remains the only film from the Hong Kong movie production house UFO (United Filmmakers Organisation) to be given a Category-III rating. Her following role in Wong Kar-Wai's widely acclaimed Chungking ExpressChungking Express
Chungking Express is a 1994 Hong Kong film written and directed by Wong Kar-wai. The film consists of two stories told in sequence, each about a lovesick Hong Kong policeman mulling over his relationship with a woman...
also made an impression, which garnered her critical attention and an award nomination. Her career would take a sharp turn months later after appearing in a television series as the extramarital interest of a family man. The series was a success but her character was ill-received by the public. The antagonistic image of seductress came to be closely identified with Chow, further cemented by rumours of her alleged affair with Tony Leung Chiu Wai
Tony Leung Chiu Wai
Tony Leung Chiu-Wai is a Hong Kong film actor and former TVB actor. A major film star since the 1990s, Leung has won nine Hong Kong Film Awards and three Golden Horse Best Actor awards...
(then already dating long-time partner Carina Lau
Carina Lau
Carina Lau Kar-ling is a Hong Kong actress. She was especially notable in the 1980s for her girl-next-door type roles in films....
), whose music videos she also featured in. In the subsequent period between 1995–97, she was cast in a string of B-movies, usually in the role of a villain. The more notable of these were that of the female terrorist in Jing Wong's High Risk
Meltdown (film)
High Risk , is a 1995 Hong Kong action film written, produced and directed by Wong Jing, starring Jet Li, Jacky Cheung, Chingmy Yau, Charlie Yeung, Billy Chow, Kelvin Wong and Valerie Chow. Corey Yuen serves as the film's fight choreographer...
, a commercial hit, and a guest appearance in Tsui Hark
Tsui Hark
Tsui Hark , born Tsui Man-kong, is a Hong Kong New Wave film director and producer. He is viewed as a major figure in the Golden Age of Hong Kong cinema .-Early life:...
's acclaimed wu-xia feature The Blade.
1997-99: Hollywood and Revlon
In 1997, she left the Hong Kong film industry to pursue a career in Hollylwood, adopting the new screen name, Rachel Shane. She had a small part in the film PhantomsPhantoms (film)
Phantoms is a 1998 American horror film adapted from the 1983 novel Phantoms by Dean Koontz. Joe Chappelle directed the film, and Koontz wrote the screenplay. The film takes place in the peaceful town of Snowfield, Colorado, where something evil has wiped out the community...
which starred Peter O'Toole
Peter O'Toole
Peter Seamus Lorcan O'Toole is an Irish actor of stage and screen. O'Toole achieved stardom in 1962 playing T. E. Lawrence in Lawrence of Arabia, and then went on to become a highly-honoured film and stage actor. He has been nominated for eight Academy Awards, and holds the record for most...
and Ben Affleck
Ben Affleck
Benjamin Géza Affleck-Boldt , better known as Ben Affleck, is an American actor, film director, writer, and producer. He became known with his performances in Kevin Smith's films such as Mallrats and Chasing Amy...
. More substantially in 1998, she became the first Chinese spokesmodel for Revlon US, appearing in national print and television campaigns alongside Halle Barry, Salma Hayek
Salma Hayek
Salma Valgarma Hayek Jiménez de Pinault is a Mexican film actress, director and producer. She received an Oscar nomination for Best Actress for her role as Frida Kahlo in the film Frida.-Early life:...
, and Melanie Griffith
Melanie Griffith
Melanie Richards Griffith is an American actress. She is an Academy Award nominee and Golden Globe winner for her performance in the 1988 film Working Girl...
. She is to be followed by Lucy Liu
Lucy Liu
Lucy Alexis Liu is an American actress and film producer. She became known for playing the role of the vicious and ill-mannered Ling Woo in the television series Ally McBeal , and has also appeared in several Hollywood films including Charlie's Angels, Chicago, Kill Bill, and Kung Fu Panda.-Early...
.
2000-02: Part-Time Actor
She returned to Hong Kong as a part-time actor in 2000. The following year saw her return to the small screen in the ATVAsia Television Limited
Asia Television Limited is one of the two free-to-air television broadcasters in Hong Kong, the other being rival Television Broadcasts Limited . It launched in 1957 under the name Rediffusion Television as the first television station in Hong Kong...
series, Healing Hearts, with greater success. Her role as a smart and sophisticated lawyer was much better received and made her recognised by audiences as emblematic of the 'perfect modern woman.' The role briefly revived her career, leading to many magazine covers, and an ad campaign with Neutrogena Hong Kong. She also appeared alongside co-star Leslie Cheung
Leslie Cheung
Leslie Cheung Kwok-Wing , nicknamed elder brother , was a film actor and musician from Hong Kong. Cheung was considered as "one of the founding fathers of Cantopop", and "combining a hugely successful film and music career".In 2000, Cheung was named Asian Biggest Superstar by China Central...
in Inner Senses
Inner Senses
Inner Senses is a 2002 Hong Kong psychological horror film directed by Law Chi-leung and starring Leslie Cheung and Karena Lam. The film explores themes on hallucination, clinical depression, psychological trauma and suicide. It is also the last film Leslie Cheung acted in before he committed...
(2002), which was to be Cheung's last film.
2003-present: Publicist, Entrepreneur
Since 2003, she has more or less decided to leave the entertainment industry and for the next six years continued to work as publicist for the Pedder Group, the shoes and accessories division of Lane CrawfordLane Crawford
Lane Crawford is a retailing company with specialty stores selling designer label luxury goods in Hong Kong and Beijing, China....
. She took a short break in mid-2004 when she was offered a part in a television series which never made it to air until Dec. of 2010, after more than six years since filming completed. She made periodical appearances in the press throughout these years as a senior executive during her company's seasonal showcases. She left her job in 2009 to become a full-time mother and in September 2010 opened Mama Kid, a children's clothing boutique in Hong Kong's Central District, with plans to opening additional branches in 2011.
Filmography
- He Ain't Heavy, He's My FatherHe Ain't Heavy, He's My FatherHe Ain't Heavy, He's My Father aka. He Ain't Heavy, He's My Brother is a 1993 Hong Kong film directed by Peter Chan. The title is a pun of "He Ain't Heavy, He's My Brother" , a hit single for The Hollies in 1969 and for Neil Diamond in 1970.-Plot:Yuan scorns his father, who he thinks is too...
(新難兄難弟) (1993) - TwentysomethingTwentysomething (film)Twenty Something is a 1994 Hong Kong film directed by Teddy Chan Tak-Sum and presented by Eric Tsang. It is the sole Category-III film in UFO's list of credits, and features a popular theme song "Wish" sung by Sandy Lam...
(晚九朝五) (1994) - Chungking ExpressChungking ExpressChungking Express is a 1994 Hong Kong film written and directed by Wong Kar-wai. The film consists of two stories told in sequence, each about a lovesick Hong Kong policeman mulling over his relationship with a woman...
(重慶森林) (1994) - Lover of the Last Empress (慈禧秘密生活) (1995)
- Dream Killer (野性的邂逅) (1995)
- The Case of the Cold Fish (月黑風高) (1995)
- Ghostly Bus (鬼巴士) (1995)
- Spider Woman (蜘蛛女) (1995)
- Wind Beneath My Wings (空中小姐) (1995)
- High Risk (鼠膽龍威) (1995)
- The Armed Policewoman (95陀槍女警) (1995)
- Red Zone (爆炸令) (1995)
- The Blade (刀) (1995)
- Street AngelsStreet Angels (1996 film)Street Angels is a 1996 Hong Kong film directed by Billy Tang Hin-Shing.-Cast and roles:* Linda Cheung - Pidan / Black Beauty* Valerie Chow - Karen* Maria Cordero - Singer in Number One Club* Spencer Lam - Barrister Lam* Shu Qi - Ming-Ming...
(紅燈區) (1996) - Hero (馬永貞) (1997)
- PhantomsPhantoms (film)Phantoms is a 1998 American horror film adapted from the 1983 novel Phantoms by Dean Koontz. Joe Chappelle directed the film, and Koontz wrote the screenplay. The film takes place in the peaceful town of Snowfield, Colorado, where something evil has wiped out the community...
(1998) - FuturesportFuturesportFuturesport is a made-for-TV movie directed by Ernest Dickerson, starring Dean Cain, Vanessa Williams, and Wesley Snipes. It originally aired on ABC in October 1998, and released on DVD in March 1999....
(1998) - Bridge of DragonsBridge of DragonsBridge of Dragons is a 1999 American romantic action film directed by Isaac Florentine, and starring Dolph Lundgren as a cold and tough mercenary. It co-stars Cary-Hiroyuki Tagawa, who Lundgren had previously worked with in the 1991 film Showdown in Little Tokyo. It was the first Nu Image film to...
(1999) - SausalitoSausalito (film)Sausalito aka. Love at First Sight is a 2000 Hong Kong film directed by Andrew Lau.-Cast and roles:* Maggie Cheung - Ellen* Leon Lai - Mike* Scott Leong - Scott* Saisie M...
(一見鍾情) (2000) - Healing Hearts (俠骨仁心) (2000)
- The Vampire Combat (極速殭屍) (2001)
- Inner SensesInner SensesInner Senses is a 2002 Hong Kong psychological horror film directed by Law Chi-leung and starring Leslie Cheung and Karena Lam. The film explores themes on hallucination, clinical depression, psychological trauma and suicide. It is also the last film Leslie Cheung acted in before he committed...
(異度空間) (2002) - Freaky Story (不寒而慄) (2002)
TV series
- Fate of the Clairvoyant (再見亦是老婆 alt. 都市有情人) (1994)
- John Woo's Once A Thief (appears in one episode) (1997)
- Healing Hearts (俠骨仁心) (2001)
- Shanghai Legend (上海灘之俠醫傳奇) (2004, aired 2010)