The actor and director, a nominee for Best Actress at this year's Hong Kong Film Awards, talks exploring the world, stepping behind the scenes, and what her legacy on and off screen means to her.&nbsp;

PHOTOGRAPHY Walter Chin
STYLED BY Jungle Lin

To Western audiences, she may still register as an emerging Asian actress. To Hong Kong viewers, however, Fala Chen remains a familiar and warmly remembered presence. Since her debut in 2005, she rose swiftly to become one of television&rsquo;s leading figures. Yet in 2014, at the height of her local career, she made a deliberate decision to step away from the spotlight, relocating to New York to pursue a Master of Fine Arts in Drama at the prestigious Juilliard School&mdash;returning to the most rigorous and elemental form of actor training.
Since then, Chen has moved fluidly between Asia and Hollywood, appearing in a wide range of productions including Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings, Godzilla vs. Kong, Mad Fate, and Ballad of a Small Player. Navigating multiple languages and cultural contexts, she has continued to stretch the boundaries of her craft. A decade later, she returned to Hong Kong to film the local feature Peg O' My Heart, daring to break new ground with the role of a woman descending into madness. With a performance marked by emotional precision and intensity, she secured her first nomination for Best Actress at the Hong Kong Film Awards.
Nearly two decades into her acting journey, Chen now stands not only in front of the camera, but is also preparing to step behind it, embarking on a new creative chapter as a director. She reflects with us on her journey, her life, and her evolving understanding of love and creation.

Dress STELLA McCARTNEY; ring and earrings HARRY WINSTON.

L'OFFICIEL: Congratulations on your nomination for Best Actress at this year&rsquo;s Hong Kong Film Awards. Could you share the biggest challenge you faced while filming Peg O' My Heart?
FALA CHEN: The biggest challenge was the sheer emotional range of the character. We see her at her most glamorous and beautiful, and then eventually spiraling into collapse, even to the point of suicide. In between, we witness five distinct stages of her transformation.
Although the filming schedule jumped back and forth, the script very clearly mapped out her gradual evolution. The arc itself, however, was immense. From total breakdown, losing everything, bankruptcy, to retreating into hiding and beginning to live in her own world. A doctor comes to see her, and eventually her husband is taken away, leaving her alone in despair.
Director Nick Cheung wrote these five stages with great clarity. The styling helped tremendously as well. But in terms of performance, I had to calibrate everything very precisely and clearly, while still allowing a touch of the unrestrained&mdash;pushing that madness to its limits. Achieving the right emotional layers was definitely a challenge for me.
That said, I truly enjoyed it. I love playing roles with a wider emotional spectrum. It can&rsquo;t be exaggerated, yet it has to reach the extreme and carry that explosive force. Audiences don&rsquo;t often see me in roles like this.
I&rsquo;m very grateful to Director Cheung and to all the actors I worked with. He gave me a great deal of guidance in shaping the performance, and in our scenes together, he really drew me into the moment. He was deeply immersed in his own role while simultaneously directing, skillfully controlling the atmosphere on set and the emotional rhythm of the actors. He also made sure we felt safe and supported. I&rsquo;m truly thankful to him.

Jacket, vest, and skirt CHANEL Ring HARRY WINSTON

L'O: Ten years after your last Hong Kong production, you returned to film this local feature, and with it received your first nomination for Best Actress at the Hong Kong Film Awards. What does this recognition mean to you?
FC: This is my very first nomination. I&rsquo;ve been in the industry for twenty years, and this is also the first Hong Kong film I&rsquo;ve made in the past decade. I spent four years studying in the United States and didn&rsquo;t act at all during that time. After that, I developed my career elsewhere and took on new challenges.
Coming back this time, after such a long interval, I&rsquo;ve accumulated more experience and grown more mature. As an actress, the way I see and feel about things is very different from before.
Of course, being recognised by audiences makes me incredibly happy. But to be acknowledged by peers in the industry truly surprised me. I&rsquo;m deeply grateful that they haven&rsquo;t forgotten me, that they&rsquo;ve remained so open, welcoming, and generous in giving me opportunities.
My acting career began here. And now, exactly twenty years into it, to receive this kind of affirmation at this moment, it&rsquo;s truly unexpected and deeply moving.
L'O: Your career began in Hong Kong and has since expanded to Hollywood. Looking back, which phase would you consider the true turning point&mdash;both professionally and personally?
FC: For me, there were really two defining turning points. The first was when I initially discovered acting. It truly felt like falling in love. The second was when I left Hong Kong to study in New York. I spent four years completing my master&rsquo;s degree there, and that period allowed me to slow down, to reflect, and to grow. It wasn&rsquo;t just further education; it marked the beginning of an entirely new chapter in both my life and career. Those two moments were pivotal.

Jacket VERSACE; bra CALVIN KLEIN; necklace HARRY WINSTON.

L'O: You&rsquo;ve described falling in love with acting. What was it about that first moment that drew you in so completely?
FC: I knew it the first time I stepped onto a set. The scene had no dialogue, but the moment I stood there, ready to perform, I felt absolute clarity. Have you ever encountered a moment&mdash;an experience, a person, a place&mdash;where everything suddenly feels right? That was acting for me. It was 2005. My very first day on set, my first real performance, and it was love at first sight. Nearly twenty years later, that fire hasn&rsquo;t dimmed at all. I think that&rsquo;s what you&rsquo;d call true love.
L'O: When choosing scripts today, do you rely more on instinct, or do you have specific criteria?
FC: Story and character always come first. Storytelling is fundamental. It is how we connect as human beings. A script has to move me on that level. As for roles, I am especially drawn to characters I haven&rsquo;t explored before. Each role is a new experience, and when the challenge is greater, when it pushes me into unfamiliar territory, I feel truly excited.
L'O: Is there a project that remains particularly unforgettable for you?
FC: Ballad of a Small Player, which premiered on Netflix late last year. It was a uniquely comprehensive experience for me. I returned to Hong Kong to film, but worked with a Hollywood team for the first time. Switching between languages, cultures, and working styles was challenging, but also liberating. It was one of the most freeing shoots I&rsquo;ve ever had. I finally felt able to pour years of accumulated experience, and thoughts I&rsquo;d long held inside, into a role. The team was incredible, and the experience remains deeply vivid.

Jacket, top, skirt, and earrings CHANEL

L'O: You often come across as calm yet resolute. Is that an accurate description? Is there a side of you people rarely see?
FC: I think that&rsquo;s fair. Actors need to hold space for every emotion, even the most extreme ones. Perhaps people don&rsquo;t often see my playful side. I&rsquo;m actually quite lively and a bit silly (laughs). I&rsquo;d love the chance to explore comedy someday, or to play a wildly unrestrained character.
L'O: As an actor, transformation is constant. How do you continue to grow while staying true to yourself?
FC: Seriousness, a sense of being earnest, is core to who I am. I think that comes from my father. He is meticulous, and he never lets go until something is done properly. That attitude shaped me. But doing your best does not always mean forcing things. Acting requires letting go and finding ease. Balancing dedication with relaxation is difficult. Preparation, however, through research, training, and continuous learning, is essential. Acting is not just about talent or experience; the body, the voice, and resilience all require constant practice.
L'O: Has anyone had a particularly profound influence on your journey?
FC: My teachers at Juilliard. They took the time to understand me not just as an actor, but as a person. Even now, we stay in touch. They&rsquo;re mentors for life.
L'O: How do you usually begin shaping a new character?
FC: Every project is different. Sometimes it starts with instinct; sometimes with research. Some roles require restraint, others benefit from physical exploration&mdash;movement, posture, even silhouette. Some begin with language or accent, others with sign language. There&rsquo;s no single entry point; each character demands its own process.
L'O: After moving from Hong Kong to Hollywood, what&rsquo;s next?
FC: I&rsquo;m directing now. I experimented briefly in 2018, but this time I wanted to go deeper. I&rsquo;ve just completed shooting a short film and am currently in post-production. After nearly twenty years in front of the camera, I feel ready to tell stories from behind it.

Sweater, shirt, pants, and hat LORO PIANA

L'O: Can you share a hint about the story?
FC: It centers on the relationship between a young brother and sister. A coming-of-age story. I won&rsquo;t be acting in it; I&rsquo;m fully focused on directing.
L'O: Looking back at your roles, which has taught you the most about love?
FC: When I revisited some scripts recently, I realized that even stories about struggle or hardship are ultimately about love. Every character I&rsquo;ve played is searching for love, whether it is self-love, love from others, love for family, partners, parents, or children. Love is both our greatest motivation and a source of conflict. It&rsquo;s inescapable.
L'O: Has your perspective on love changed in recent years?
FC: Love needs constant renewal. Not just romantic or familial love, but love for my work, my art. That passion must be refreshed. Through new projects, or even revisiting old films. Relationships evolve daily. The key is conscious awareness&mdash;observing, feeling, and sometimes intentionally expressing love so it can grow.
L'O: Compared to ten years ago, has your understanding of self-love changed?
FC: Definitely. With children, aging parents, and a more complex career, I need to give myself more love so I can give more to others. Loving yourself is the foundation for loving anyone else.
L'O: Are you someone who values ritual and romance?
FC: Love needs expression. We&rsquo;re often reserved culturally, but I believe love should be spoken and shown. It doesn&rsquo;t have to be dramatic. It can be writing a poem for yourself, or sending it to someone when the moment feels right. Expression matters. So does receiving and being open to compliments, affection, and kindness. Love flows when both giving and receiving are allowed.
L'O: Chocolates, flowers, or handwritten letters&mdash;which still moves you most?
FC: Words. Handwritten or typed&mdash;it doesn&rsquo;t matter. Words are primal. Someone takes the time to form thoughts, shape them into language, and offer them to another person. That, to me, is romance.
L'O: If you could take a short trip tomorrow with someone you love, who would it be and where?
FC: My children. I often dream of a small wooden cabin in the forest, by a river. It&rsquo;s quiet. You light a fire, listen to water flowing, breathe in the scent of trees. That&rsquo;s already perfect.
L'O: Three words to describe your life right now?
FC: Curiosity. Creativity. Giving.

HAIR: Seunghyun Suh
MAKEUP: Sasha Borax BRIDGE using Chanel Beauty&nbsp;
PRODUCED BY:&nbsp;Even Yu and Guoran Yu&nbsp;APEX Communications
DIGITAL TECH:&nbsp;Michelle Sweatt
PHOTO DIRECTION: Ambrose Eng and Frank Yu
PHOTO ASSISTANTS: Ernesto Urdaneta and Mike Broussard
PRODUCTION ASSISTANT: Tony Ding
MAKEUP ASSISTANT:&nbsp;Shiori Sato

For Fala Chen, Love Is The Ultimate Driving Force

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