Helena Law Lan

Biography

Law Lan is a Hong Kong actress and TV host, originally named Lo Ying-ying. She was born in Yau Ma Tei, Hong Kong, and is of mixed Indian descent, with her maternal grandfather being Indian and her mother also Indian. Her Chinese father was a lawyer who ran a soap and floor wax business, but the business collapsed after the fall of Hong Kong and he passed away when she was nine years old. She began her artistic career at an early age as a child actress to fund her studies. She attended Fong's English School on Nathan Road, and in 1950 she was discovered by Ling Guang film company director Huang Zhuohan, who signed her and gave her the stage name "Law Lan." She appeared in over a hundred films during the Cantonese cinema era, often playing villainous roles such as cruel wives, mistresses, and dancers. She joined the program "Enjoy Yourself Tonight" when TVB launched in 1967, and became famous for her character "Miss 701" in the 701 Service Company segment. She starred in many classic TV series including "Hotel," "A House Is Not a Home," "The Good, the Bad and the Ugly," and "The Link," often playing motherly roles. In 1993 she played the spirit medium "Granny Lung" in "July 14th," which made her an icon in horror films. In 1999 she won the Best Actress award at the 19th Hong Kong Film Awards for her role in "Bullets Over Summer," becoming the oldest actress to win the award. She was also the spokesperson for Hong Kong Ocean Park's Halloween events for many years. Her godson is producer Xiao Jiankeng.