Karen Mok
Karen Mok (born Karen Joy Morris (Chinese: 莫文蔚); 2 June 1970) is one of the leading Chinese actresses and pop singers.[1] She has won the Golden Melody Award three times, has released over 20 solo CDs, acted in over 40 movies and has over 15 million followers on Chinese microblogging site Weibo.[2]
Karen Mok | |||||||||||
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莫文蔚 | |||||||||||
Karen Mok at the TV show "The Next (天籁之战)", Oct 2016 | |||||||||||
Born | Karen Joy Morris 2 June 1970 Hong Kong | ||||||||||
Occupation |
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Years active | 1993–present | ||||||||||
Spouse(s) | Johannes Natterer ( m. 2011) | ||||||||||
Awards | Hong Kong Film Awards – Best Supporting Actress 1996 Fallen Angels Golden Bauhinia Awards – Best Supporting Actress 1996 Fallen Angels Golden Melody Awards – Best Female Mandarin Artist 2003 [i] Best Mandarin Album of The Year 2008 L!VE is... KAREN MOK Best Female Mandarin Artist 2011 Precious MTV Asia Awards – Inspiration Award 2008 | ||||||||||
Musical career | |||||||||||
Genres | |||||||||||
Instruments |
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Labels | Star Records (1993–1995) Rock Records (1996–2001) Sony BMG (2002–2008) Universal Music (2009–2017) Sony Music (2018–present) | ||||||||||
Chinese name | |||||||||||
Chinese | 莫文蔚 | ||||||||||
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Website | karenmok |
Biography
She was born on 2 June 1970 as Karen Joy Morris in Hong Kong and is the sister of Dr. Trevor Morris, and a granddaughter of Alfred Morris, the first principal of King's College, Hong Kong. She speaks English, Cantonese, Mandarin, Italian, German and French.[3]
She is of mixed ancestry: her father is half-Chinese and half-Welsh, while her mother is half-Chinese, quarter-Persian, and quarter-German.[4][5] Mok attended Diocesan Girls' School from primary to secondary grade in Hong Kong. When she was a F.5 student, she received the 1st Hong Kong Outstanding Students Awards. In 1987 she won a scholarship for the United World College of the Adriatic near Trieste from which she graduated in 1989 with the International Baccalaureate.[6] She subsequently studied Italian Literature at Royal Holloway, University of London.[7]
In her initial Hollywood productions such as Around the World in 80 Days (2004) Mok used her birth name Karen Joy Morris, but went to using her stage name Karen Mok for all subsequent productions such as the directorial debut of Keanu Reeves, Man of Tai Chi (2013) . She also supplied the voice of Princess Kida for the Cantonese dub of Walt Disney's Atlantis: The Lost Empire (2001). Mok played the female lead in the 10th anniversary Asian tour of the hit Broadway musical Rent in the lead role of Mimi in 2005 and 2006.
Mok carried the torch at the 2008 Summer Olympics held in Beijing[8] and performed at the opening and closing ceremonies.[9] In October 2008, she launched her own brand of perfume in Hong Kong.[10]
Mok conducted a number of international concert tours, the most recent ones being The Original Karen Mok Show (2011/2012),[11] The Age of MOKnificence (2014/2015)[12][13] and the world tour Regardez (2015/2016).[14] She was the first Chinese pop artist to give solo concerts in Madrid and Milan.[15] For her tour Regardez, she also acted as concert director.[16] In June 2018, she started her Ultimate tour in Shanghai, celebrating her 25th anniversary in show business.[17]. In May 2019, she announced that the Ultimate tour would be her last major concert tour as she wants to focus on other artistic activities going forward.[18] As part of this concert tour, she also performed in Lhasa (Tibet) at an altitude of 3650m, which brought her the Guinness World Record for the concert performed at the highest altitude ever.[19]
Mok has completed endorsement agreements with leading brands such as Canon,[20] Kappa,[21] Cadillac,[22] Clear,[23] Chow Tai Fook,[24] Lux,[25] Titus,[26]Mandarin Oriental,[27][28] and Cartier.[29]
In 2016 and 2017, she starred in the two reality TV productions "Up Idol" (我们来了), of Hunan Television[30] and "The Next" (天籁之战), season 1 and season 2 (天籁之战 and 天籁之战 (第二季)), of Dragon Television.[31]
In 2018, she signed a music deal with Sony Music, also launching her own music label, Mok-A-Bye Baby Records.[32][33]
Mok married her first boyfriend, German-born Johannes Natterer, at a church near Florence, Italy, on 1 October 2011.[34] Mok has 3 step-children and spends her time between London and her international engagements.
Activism
Mok is a strong advocate for animals and animals rights and has been involved in numerous campaigns for this purpose. Amongst others, she has joined efforts to help bears in China whose bile is used for medicinal purposes[35][36] and has been on an expedition with Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (Hong Kong) to demonstrate against culling of baby seals.[37] She has also been involved with the People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals Asia-Pacific's (PETA).[38]
In 2007, Mok was involved with MTV EXIT, a campaign against human trafficking in Asia. She presented Traffic: An MTV EXIT Special, a documentary on trafficking.[39] Karen currently serves as ambassador for UNICEF, SPCA, Animals Asia Foundation,[40][41] Enlighten-Action for Epilepsy,[42] Care for Children,[43] and Roll Back Malaria (RBM).[44]
In 2016, she was awarded the title of the cultural ambassador of the Italian city of Bergamo, being the first Chinese artist to be awarded this title.[45][46]
In 2017, she announced the creation of the Morris Charity Initiative with the initial goal to raise money to provide scholarships for students at the United World College Changshu.[47]
Filmography
Year | English title | Chinese title | Role |
---|---|---|---|
1993 | The Tigers – The Legend of Canton | 廣東五虎之鐵拳無敵孫中山 | Feminist |
1994 | Family Affair | 清官難審 | |
1995 | Fallen Angels | 墮落天使 | Blondie |
1995 | Out of the Dark | 回魂夜 | Kwan |
1995 | Heaven Can't Wait | 救世神棍 | Joan |
1995 | A Chinese Odyssey Part One: Pandora's Box | 西遊記之月光寶盒 | Pak Jing-jing |
1995 | A Chinese Odyssey Part Two: Cinderella | 西遊記2之仙履奇緣 | Pak Jing-jing |
1996 | The God of Cookery | 食神 | Twin Dagger Turkey |
1996 | Viva Erotica | 色情男女 | May |
1996 | Black Mask | 黑俠 | Tracy Lee |
1996 | Best of the Best | 飛虎II之傲氣比天高 | Karen Kook |
1996 | Kitchen | 我愛廚房 | Jenny |
1996 | Four Faces of Eve | 四面夏娃 | Mistress of Chan Giu's husband |
1996 | Young and Dangerous 3 | 古惑仔III之隻手遮天 | Lam Shuk-fan |
1996 | Sexy and Dangerous | 古惑女 | Van Chai / Chan Lai-wan |
1996 | Those Were the Days | 4個32A和一個香蕉少年 | Patricia (adult) |
1996 | wkw/tk/1996@7'55"hk.net | ||
1997 | Task Force | 熱面最強 | Shirley Lau |
1997 | Lawyer Lawyer | 算死草 | Wu Man |
1997 | First Love: The Litter on the Breeze | 初纏戀後之二人世界 | |
1997 | Young and Dangerous 4 | 97古惑仔之战无不胜 | Wasabi / Lam Shuk-fan |
1999 | King of Comedy | 喜劇之王 | Sister Cuckoo |
1999 | Tempting Heart | 心動 | Chen Li |
2000 | Dragon Heat | 龍火 | |
2000 | The Teacher Without Chalk | 流氓師表 | Sister Teresa |
2000 | Roaring Wheels | 車神傳說 | Suki Fung |
2000 | Bruce Law Stunts | 特技猛龍 | (herself) |
2001 | Goodbye, Mr. Cool | 九龍冰室 | Helen Poon / Macau Hung |
2001 | Shaolin Soccer | 少林足球 | Dragon Twin |
2001 | La Brassiere | 絕世好bra | Shirley |
2002 | Haunted Office | Office有鬼 | Pat |
2002 | The Irresistible Piggies | 豬扒大聯盟 | So Mei |
2002 | So Close | 夕陽天使 | Kong Yat-hung |
2002 | Red Snow | 極地營救 | |
2003 | The Twins Effect | 千機變 | Ivy |
2003 | Love Under the Sun | 愛在陽光下 | |
2004 | Enter the Phoenix | 大佬愛美麗 | Julie Lui |
2004 | Around the World in 80 Days | 環遊世界80天 | General Fang |
2005 | DragonBlade: The Legend of Lang | 龍刀奇緣 | Ying Ying (voice) |
2005 | Wait 'til You're Older | 童夢奇緣 | Tsui Man |
2006 | The Heavenly Kings | 四大天王 | (herself) |
2006 | Magic & Me | 千變魔手 | (herself) |
2007 | Mr. Cinema | 老港正傳 | Luk Min |
2008 | Lost Indulgence | 迷果 | Su Dan |
2008 | The Coffin | Zoe | |
2010 | Go Lala Go! | 杜拉拉升职记 | Rose |
2010 | The Road Less Traveled | 一路有你 | Susan |
2011 | The Law of Attraction | 万有引力 | Mei |
2011 | East Meets West | 東成西就2011 | Chung Siu-ming / Sammi |
2013 | Man of Tai Chi | 太極俠 | Sun Jing Shi |
2013 | Better and Better | 越來越好·村晚 | |
2014 | The Great Hypnotist | 催眠大師 | Ren Xiaoyan |
2016 | A Chinese Odyssey Part Three |
Discography
Albums
No. | Album title | Language | Year of release |
---|---|---|---|
1st | 同名專輯 Karen | Cantonese | 1993 |
2nd | 全身莫文蔚 Karen Mok in Totality | Cantonese | 1996 |
3rd | 做自己 To Be | Mandarin | 1997 |
4th | 我要說 I Say | Mandarin | 1998 |
5th | 就是莫文蔚 This Is Karen Mok | Mandarin | 1999 |
6th | 你可以 You Can | Mandarin | 1999 |
7th | 十二樓的莫文蔚 Karen Mok on the Twelfth Floor | Mandarin | 2000 |
8th | 一朵金花 Golden Flower | Cantonese | 2001 |
9th | [i] | Mandarin | 2002 |
10th | X | Mandarin | 2003 |
11th | 如果沒有你 Without You | Mandarin | 2006 |
12th | 拉活...莫文蔚 L!VE is... KAREN MOK | Mandarin | 2007 |
13th | 回蔚 Hui Wei | Mandarin | 2009 |
14th | 寶貝 Precious | Mandarin | 2010 |
15th | Somewhere I Belong | English | 2013 |
16th | 不散,不見 Departures | Mandarin | 2014 |
17th | HALF TIME | Mandarin | 2018 |
EPs
No. | Album title | Language | Year of release |
---|---|---|---|
1st | 我愛你 I Love You | Mandarin | 1998 |
2nd | 回家 Back | Cantonese | 1999 |
3rd | Karen Mok | Cantonese | 2000 |
4th | 再生 Live Show | Cantonese | 2000 |
5th | 天籟 The Sound Of Heaven | Mandarin / Cantonese / English | 2017 |
Singles
No. | Album title | Language | Year of release |
---|---|---|---|
1st | 愛自己 Love Yourself | English / Mandarin / Cantonese | 1997 |
2nd | Silently | English | 1998 |
3rd | 實況轉播 Live Show | Mandarin | 1999 |
4th | 看看 Regardez | Mandarin | 2014 |
5th | 當你老了 When You Are Old(Digital single) | Mandarin | 2015 |
6th | 扶搖 Legend of Fuyao(Digital single) | Mandarin | 2018 |
Compilations
No. | Album title | Language | Year of release |
---|---|---|---|
1st | 莫文蔚NO.1新曲+精選 Karen More | Mandarin | 2000 |
2nd | 戀上莫文蔚 Love Karen | Cantonese | 2000 |
3rd | 莫文蔚 & Friends Karen Mok & Friends | Mandarin & Cantonese | 2001 |
4th | 含情莫莫 全精選 Greatest Hits | Mandarin | 2002 |
5th | 就i Karen 莫文蔚精選 I Love Karen Mok Best Collection | Mandarin | 2008 |
6th | 超級金曲精選 The Ultimate Collection | Mandarin | 2011 |
7th | 我的.莫文蔚五光十色最精彩選輯 My.Way Best Collection | Mandarin | 2011 |
8th | 最愛回味 影音典藏精選 Ultimate Karen Mok | Mandarin | 2012 |
9th | 莫后年代 莫文蔚20週年世紀典藏 The Age Of Moknificence 20th Anniversary Compilation | Mandarin & Cantonese | 2013 |
Soundtracks
No. | Album title | Year of release |
---|---|---|
1st | 喜劇之王 電影原聲大碟 King of Comedy | 1999 |
2nd | 夕陽天使 電影原聲大碟 So Close | 2002 |
3rd | 扶摇 原聲大碟 Fuyao | 2018 |
Awards and nominations
Year | Award | Nominated work | Category | Result |
---|---|---|---|---|
1996 | Hong Kong Film Award | Fallen Angels | Best Supporting Actress | Won |
Golden Bauhinia Awards | Won | |||
1997 | Hong Kong Film Award | Viva Erotica | Best Song "Sik Ching Nam Nui" performed with Jordan Chan | Nominated |
God of Cookery | Best Actress | Nominated | ||
Best Original Film Song | Nominated | |||
Golden Horse Award | Best Actress | Nominated | ||
2000 | Golden Bauhinia Awards | Tempting Heart | Best Supporting Actress | Nominated |
2003 | Golden Melody Awards | Best Female Mandarin Artist | Won | |
2006 | Hong Kong Film Award | Wait 'Til You're Older | Best Actress | Nominated |
Hong Kong Film Critics Society Award | Nominated | |||
2007 | Golden Rooster Awards | Mr.Cinema | Best Supporting Actress | Nominated |
2008 | Hong Kong Film Award | Mr.Cinema | Best Supporting Actress | Nominated |
Golden Melody Awards | Best Mandarin Album | Won | ||
Best Female Mandarin Artist | Nominated | |||
MTV Asia Awards | Inspiration Awards | Won | ||
2011 | Golden Melody Awards | Best Female Mandarin Artist | Won | |
Best Mandarin Female Singer | Won | |||
Best Mandarin Album | Won | |||
2012 | 31st Hundred Flowers Awards | Go Lala Go! | Best Supporting Actress | Nominated |
2015 | China Music Media Awards | Best Album "Departures", | Won | |
Best Female Mandarin Singer, | Won | |||
Chinese Media Most Popular Singer | Won | |||
Best Cantonese Song | Won | |||
China Music Awards | Asia Most Popular Singer | Won | ||
V All-round Singer | Won | |||
2016 | Huading Awards | Best Chinese Female Singer | Won | |
China Music Awards | Best Female Singer | Won | ||
2017 | Mnet Asian Music Awards | Best Asian Artist:Mandarin Artist | Won | |
References
- "Karen Mok: Hong Kong's unstoppable queen of music and movies sets". The Independent. 31 May 2013. Retrieved 24 September 2016.
- "莫文蔚". weibo.com. Retrieved 28 April 2020.
- "Karen Mok Man-Wai". Hkmdb.com. Retrieved 24 September 2016.
- "ASIANOW – TIME Asia – Web-Only Feature – Karen Mok: 'My Best is Yet to Come' – 3/13/2000". CNN. Archived from the original on 6 September 2014. Retrieved 24 September 2016.
- Beech, Hannah (23 April 2001) "Eurasian invasion", Time Asia.
- Episode 44, 19 April 2008 – Be My Guest
- "Actress Karen Mok hopes to bring Broadway to China". Reuters. Retrieved 28 April 2020.
- "HK star Karen Mok: Olympic torch is my best birthday gift_English_Xinhua". Xinhua News Agency. 1 June 2008. Archived from the original on 6 September 2008. Retrieved 24 September 2016.
- "Karen Mok Pictures 2008 China Mobile Wireless Music Awards". Zimbio.com. 28 December 2008. Retrieved 24 September 2016.
- "HK actress Karen Mok launches perfume". China Daily. 10 October 2008. Retrieved 10 January 2015.
- "The Original Karen Mok Show At Taipei Arena « Albums « Universal Music – Your Music Ondemand". Universalmusic.nl. Archived from the original on 18 August 2016. Retrieved 24 September 2016.
- "莫文蔚 – 愛+愛情+忽然之間+廣島之戀". Retrieved 24 September 2016 – via YouTube.
- "KRYSTAL Nature's Alkaline Water – Press Conference – KAREN MOK 20TH ANNIVERSARY CONCERT TOUR". Krystal-water.com. Retrieved 24 September 2016.
- "Karen Mok Regardez World Tour". Chinese Portal. 3 February 2016. Archived from the original on 18 August 2016. Retrieved 24 September 2016.
- "MIKA on Twitter". Retrieved 4 June 2016.
- "Karen Mok Regardez World Tour 莫文蔚 看看世界巡迴演唱会2015–2016 – The Star PAC". Thestar.sg. Retrieved 24 September 2016.
- "Hong Kong singer-actress Karen Mok to hold Taiwan concert in December". tainwannews.com.tw. Retrieved 2 November 2018.
- "Hong Kong singer-actress Karen Mok announces retirement from concert touring". Channel NewsAsia. Retrieved 30 May 2019.
- "Karen Mok Breaks Guiness World Records At Her Latest Concert!". hotpot.tv. Retrieved 22 October 2019.
- "莫文蔚 Canon 2009 TVC (Mainland China)". 29 March 2009. Retrieved 24 September 2016 – via YouTube.
- "Press Release – China Dongxiang (Group) Co., Ltd". Dxsport.com. Retrieved 24 September 2016.
- "Chinese Cadillac SRX ad with Karen Mok captures romance of Route 66". Autoblog. 1 June 2011. Retrieved 24 September 2016.
- ">China Jewelry Market Leading Brands: Chow Tai Fook, Chow Sang Sang & Luk Fook 2016 ... - Worldnews.com". Article.wn.com. Retrieved 24 September 2016.
- "Lux "Exhibition" Karen Mok TVC". 7 May 2013. Retrieved 24 September 2016 – via YouTube.
- "Solvil et Titus Ladies Watch Collection". ButterBoom.com. 11 September 2008. Retrieved 24 September 2016.
- "Celebrity Fans | Mandarin Oriental Hotel Group". Mandarinoriental.com. Retrieved 24 September 2016.
- "Karen Mok joins Mandarin Oriental's celebrity fan campaign". News.asiaone.com. 26 April 2012.
- "Karen Mok in Panthere campaign". News.asiaone.com. 14 August 2020.
- "Up Idol". Retrieved 28 April 2020 – via YouTube.
- "天籁之战 (第二季)". Retrieved 20 March 2018 – via YouTube.
- "Karen Mok signs deal with Sony Music; also launches music label". Chinadaily.com. Retrieved 2 November 2018.
- "Karen Mok signs deal with Sony Music; also launches music label". Chinadaily.com. Retrieved 3 November 2018.
- "Celebrity Weddings: Karen Mok and Johannes". Jaynestars.com. 1 October 2011. Retrieved 24 September 2016.
- "AAF – China Bear Rescue". Animalliberationfront.com. Retrieved 24 September 2016.
- "The GrowlersWorld Interviews featuring Karen Mok". Growlersworld.com. 2 September 2006. Retrieved 24 September 2016.
- "Karen Mok vs. Canadian Sealers". Animalliberationfront.com. 6 March 2009. Retrieved 24 September 2016.
- "Maggie Q, Karen Mok, And Sun Li Make Peta'S Exclusive Best-Dressed List". Petaasiapacific.com. 4 December 2008. Archived from the original on 10 January 2015. Retrieved 26 August 2014.
- "Traffic: Karen Mok (Mandarin) on Vimeo". 13 May 2011. Retrieved 24 September 2016 – via Vimeo.
- "Karen Mok – more than magnificent". Animalsasia.org. 2 October 2013. Retrieved 24 September 2016.
- "Habitat for Humanity China". Habitatchina.org.
- "Enlighten – Action for Epilepsy. :: People". Enlightenhk.org. Retrieved 24 September 2016.
- "Patrons & Ambassadors – Who We Are – Care For Children – Family First In Asia". Care For Children. Archived from the original on 18 October 2016. Retrieved 24 September 2016.
- "Karen Mok awarded cultural ambassador in Bergamo". Yahoo!. 5 May 2016. Retrieved 24 September 2016.
- "Pop Icon Named China's 1st Cultural Ambassador to Italy – All China Women's Federation". Womenofchina.cn. Retrieved 24 September 2016.
- "Karen Mok establishes new charity fund with hubby". Retrieved 2 November 2018.
External links
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Karen Mok. |
- Official website (in English)
- Karen Mok on IMDb
- Karen Mok at the Hong Kong Movie DataBase