Kate Tsui Tsz-shan is a former Hong Kong actress, known for her work with Television Broadcasts Limited (TVB). She was crowned Miss Hong Kong in 2004. In December 2019, she announced her retirement from the entertainment industry, expressing plans to move to Europe and pursue further education.
Early life Tsui was born and raised in Hong Kong.
Before winning her beauty pageant title, she aspired to become a professional dancer. She began studying ballet at the age of four, but was forced to stop at the age of eleven after sustaining an ankle injury. At fourteen, she took up Jazz dance, salsa, and Argentine tango.
Tsui graduated from the University of California, Davis with a degree in psychology. After completing her studies in the United States, she returned to Hong Kong and worked as a translator and project coordinator at an engineering firm.
In 2004, she entered the Miss Hong Kong pageant and won, also receiving the titles of Miss Photogenic, Miss International Goodwill, and the Slimming Beauty Award. Following the competition, she signed with TVB and began her acting career.
TV career After guest appearances in The Zone and When Rules Turn Loose in 2005, Tsui made her official TV debut in the TVB drama La Femme Desperado (2006). Taiwanese film critic Mai Ruoyu remarked that Tsui displayed strong charisma and held her own in the series alongside veteran actresses Sheren Tang and Melissa Ng. Her portrayal of Ida earned nominations for Best Supporting Actress and Favorite Female Character at the 2006 TVB Anniversary Awards.
In 2007, Tsui appeared in The Brink of Law, On the First Beat, and Steps. These roles earned her the Most Improved Female Artist award at the TVB Anniversary Awards 2007. Her performance in Steps also brought her Best Actress and Favourite Female Character nominations.
In 2008, she played her first villain role in Moonlight Resonance, placing her in the top five for Best Supporting Actress at the TVB Anniversary Awards. Her leading role as a deaf character in Speech of Silence placed her in the top ten for Best Actress that same year.
From 2009 to 2010, Tsui focused on film work, returning to television in 2011 with six dramas. Her role as Paris Yiu in Lives of Omission received significant attention, winning her the My Favourite TVB Female TV Character award at the StarHub TVB Awards, as well as nominations for Best Actress and Favourite Female Character at the 2011 TVB Anniversary Awards and Outstanding Actress in Television at the Ming Pao Anniversary Award.
In 2011, amid a high turnover of contracted TVB artists, executive Virginia Lok named Tsui, Myolie Wu, Linda Chung, and Fala Chen, as the new “Top Four Fa Dans” (a Cantonese term for leading actresses with high popularity), succeeding Flora Chan, Ada Choi, Kenix Kwok, and Jessica Hsuan.
In Highs and Lows (2012), Tsui portrayed a character facing substance abuse, sexual assault, and eventual involvement in drug trafficking. She described filming the role as emotionally draining. Producer Lam Chi Wah called it the greatest breakthrough in her career, noting her departure from the beauty pageant image to take on a complex role. Director Patrick Kong also praised the maturity of her acting in emotional scenes.
In 2014, Tsui appeared in the TVB microfilm A Time of Love, starring in the “sorrow” segment opposite Taiwanese actors James Wen and Chris Wang. TVB reported receiving 39 viewer statements commending her performance, and columnist Ko Leung of Macao Daily likened her acting to Bai Baihe in The Stolen Years.
Her management contract with TVB ended in 2015. Tsui maintained a good relationship with the broadcaster, which arranged jobs for her until early February 2016. She stated she would not sign a new management contract until completing her jewelry design courses.
Film career Tsui debuted in film in 2007 as the female lead in Eye in the Sky, produced by Johnnie To and directed by Yau Nai-hoi., alongside Tony Leung Ka-fai and Simon Yam. Her performance earned her the Best Newcomer – Gold Award from the Hong Kong Film Directors' Guild and Best New Performer at the 27th Hong Kong Film Awards (2008).
In 2009, she starred in I Corrupt All Cops, a Hong Kong crime drama, directed by Wong Jing, who was impressed with the success of her debut performance in Eye in the Sky. Eason Chan, who plays her husband in the film, said Tsui's character is based on Shuang'er from The Deer and the Cauldron.
In 2010, she starred in the Wuxia film 14 Blades, alongside Donnie Yen, Zhao Wei, and Wu Chun.
In 2011, Tsui reprised her role as Paris Yiu Ho from the TVB series Lives of Omission in its film sequel, Turning Point 2, in which she starred opposite Francis Ng. Playing a character with a mental disorder in the film, she said while collaborating with Ng, was a valuable experience because he was extremely willing to teach and give her suggestions about her acting and performances. From working with Tsui, Ng had openly praised her for her acting potential.
In 2013, she took part in a comedy film, I Love Hong Kong 2013. It is also the first film that veteran actress, Veronica Yip, has taken part in since her retirement in 1996. In the film, Tsui plays the younger version of Yip's character. The producer of the film, Eric Tsang, specifically praised her for providing the best performance out of the entire cast, referring to it as a "Best Actress performance". In the same year, Tsui was also cast in Giddens Ko film, A Choo, alongside Ariel Lin and Kai Ko.
In 2015, Tsui was cast in the thriller film, Knock Knock, Who's There? The film is the first directorial effort by veteran actress, Carrie Ng. She said she had intended to reject the role upon receiving the script because of the frightening content. However, she eventually agreed to the role due to Francis Ng's persistence and persuasion. With reference to collaborating with Tsui, Ng said that she is a very professional and admirable actress.
Jewelry design career In December 2015, Tsui launched a fine jewelry line with K.S. Sze & Sons Ltd. Her debut collection, "Rabbit-Duck Illusion", was a success. She indicated that her designs were inspired by Ludwig Wittgenstein's concept on seeing with different perceptions, using the ambiguous image of a "duckrabbit". She spoke of the concept behind her jewelry designs, "It's something that I like to remind myself of, that there are many situations in life that aren't worth splitting hairs over, and if I simply adjust the angle that I'm viewing things from, I can easily see a different perspective."
Filmography
Films Year Title Role Notes2007 Eye in the Sky Ho Ka-po (Piggy) Hong Kong Film Award for Best New Performer Contract Lover Rachel 2008 Lady Cop & Papa Crook Fiona Chan 2009 I Corrupt All Cops May Short of Love Scar Sandy The Super Snail Adventure Pretty Goat Animated Film Voice Role (Cantonese) Bodyguards and Assassins Fang Hong Character portrayed by Li Yuchun Voice Role (Cantonese) Avatar Neytiri Character portrayed by Zoe Saldaña Voice Role (Cantonese)2010 14 Blades Tuo Tuo 72 Tenants of Prosperity Bobo Cameo Perfect Wedding Remmy Cameo Just Another Pandora's Box Nurse Character portrayed by Xu Wanqiu Voice Role (Cantonese)2011 I Love Hong Kong Young Twin Cameo Turning Point 2 Yiu Ho-ho (Paris) Moon Castle: The Space Adventure Lazy Goat Animated Film Voice Role (Cantonese)2012 Mission Incredible: Adventures on the Dragon's Trail Pretty Goat Animated Film Voice Role (Cantonese)2013 I Love Hong Kong 2013 Mei Yeung-yeung Baby Blues Ying Nam 2015 Knock Knock, Who's There? Sau Yung 2016 Buddy Cops Little Princess
Television Year Title Role Notes2005 The Zone Joanna Cameo Episode 8 When Rules Turn Loose Ada Siu Mei-Wah Cameo2006 La Femme Desperado Ida Hoi Suen Nominated — TVB Anniversary Award for Best Supporting Actress (Top 20) Nominated — TVB Anniversary Award for My Favourite Female Character (Top 20) 2007 The Brink of Law Yan Heung-Ching On the First Beat Man Ching Won — TVB Anniversary Award for Most Improved Female Artist Steps Victoria Yeung Sze-Man Won — TVB Anniversary Award for Most Improved Female Artist Nominated — TVB Anniversary Award for Best Actress (Top 20) Nominated — TVB Anniversary Award for My Favourite Female Character (Top 20) 2008 The Price of Greed Lam Ping Previously warehoused; released overseas December 2006Speech of Silence Tong Tong Nominated — TVB Anniversary Award for Best Actress (Top 10)Moonlight Resonance Camie Lo Ka-Mei Nominated — TVB Anniversary Award for Best Supporting Actress (Top 5)The Four Song Zhi-Yan 2009 Man in Charge Chiu Yuk-Hing 2009–10 The Beauty of the Game Ko Ching-man Nominated — TVB Anniversary Award for Best Actress (Top 15)2010 Don Juan DeMercado Tse On Fei When Lanes Merge Ko Lai-sum Won — StarHub TVB Awards 2011 — My Favourite Female TV Character2011 A Great Way to Care Mandy Mok Man Yee (Monkey) Previously warehoused; released overseas June 2009 Dropping By Cloud Nine June Guest appearance Relic of an Emissary Shum Chin-sam / Chor-chor Wax and Wane Peace Man Ka-fu Lives of Omission Paris Yiu Ho-ho Won — StarHub TVB Awards 2012 — My Favourite Female TV CharacterNominated — TVB Anniversary Award for Best Actress (Top 15)Nominated — TVB Anniversary Award for My Favourite Female Character (Top 15)Nominated — Ming Pao Anniversary Award for Outstanding Actress in Television Forensic Heroes III Ada Ling Sin-yee Won — My AOD Awards for My Top 15 Favourite Characters2012 Gloves Come Off Cheuk Man Guest appearance Episode 2 Highs and Lows Pat Chan Ka-Bik Won — TVB Anniversary Award for My Favourite Female CharacterWon — My AOD Awards for My Top 15 Favourite CharactersNominated — TVB Anniversary Award for Best Actress (Top 5)Nominated — My AOD Awards for My Favourite Actress in a Leading RoleNominated — My AOD Awards for My Favourite On-Screen Couple (Raymond Lam & Kate Tsui)2013 Season of Love Summer Ha Chi-yan Episodes 6–10 A Great Way to Care II Mandy Mok Man-yee Guest appearanceEpisode 1 Sniper Standoff Sheung Koon Ming Chu Nominated — TVB Star Awards Malaysia 2013 for My Favourite TVB Actress in a Leading RoleNominated — TVB Star Awards Malaysia 2013 for My Favourite TVB Drama Character Bounty Lady Jennifer Sing Fa-lui Nominated — TVB Anniversary Award for Best Actress 2013 (Top 5) Nominated — TVB Anniversary Award for My Favourite Female Character (Top 5) Nominated — TVB Star Awards Malaysia 2014 for My Favourite TVB On-Screen Couple (Dayo Wong & Kate Tsui) (Top 3) Won — StarHub TVB Awards 2014 for My Top 6 Favourite TVB Female TV Character2014 A Time of Love Ah San/Kelly TVB-Produced Micro FilmEpisode 01 The Ultimate Addiction Gia Chi Nga Nominated — StarHub TVB Awards 2014 for My Favourite TVB Actress Nominated — StarHub TVB Awards 2014 for My Favourite TVB Female TV Character Nominated — StarHub TVB Awards 2014 for My Favourite TVB On-Screen Couple (Bosco Wong & Kate Tsui) (Top 5) Tomorrow Is Another Day Yiu Ngoi-ka Nominated — TVB Anniversary Award for Best Actress 2014 (Top 5) Nominated — TVB Star Awards Malaysia 2014 for My Favourite TVB Actress in a Leading Role (Top 5)Won — TVB Star Awards Malaysia 2014 for My Top 15 Favourite TVB Drama Characters 2015 Smooth Talker Mo Sui-yee Nominated — StarHub TVB Awards 2015 for My Favourite TVB Actress Nominated — StarHub TVB Awards 2015 for My Favourite TVB Female TV Character Nominated — TVB Star Awards Malaysia 2015 for My Favourite TVB Actress in a Leading Role Nominated — TVB Star Awards Malaysia 2015 for My Top 15 Favourite TVB Drama CharactersNominated — TVB Anniversary Awards for Best Actress 2015 2018 Guardian Angel Yip Chi Introduced in Episode 03
Awards 2016 The most promising new entrepreneur of the year - katetsui.com
2015 Jade Solid Gold Music Awards Presentation 2014 – Song Award: 棋逢敵手 (with Hubert Wu)
2014 StarHub TVB Awards 2014 – My Top 6 Favourite Female TV Character Award (Bounty Lady) StarHub TVB Awards 2014 – Everlasting Glow Award