Kelly Chen Wai-lam (born Vivian Chen Wai-man on September 13, 1972) is a singer and actress from Hong Kong. She is known as the "Diva of Asia" (Chinese: 亞洲天后; lit. "Asia's Heavenly Queen"). Chen has achieved great success in the entertainment industry of East Asia, with her 38 albums selling nearly 20 million records.

According to the Oriental Daily News, Chen was the most successful female Hong Kong celebrity in terms of earnings in 2014, with total income of 83 million Hong Kong dollars (US$10.7 million).

Early life

Vivian Chen Wai-man was born on September 13, 1972, in Hong Kong. Her father worked as a jewelry merchant, and her mother was a housewife. For high school, she attended Canadian Academy International School in Kobe, Japan. She later graduated from Parsons School of Design in New York.

Career

In 1994, Chen was still a student at Parsons. She made two commercials: one for Shanghai Beer and one for the Bank of Hong Kong. She returned to Hong Kong in 1994. A friend who owned a production studio introduced her to someone, and she was chosen to appear in a music video for Jacky Cheung.

Chen made her film debut in Whatever Will Be, Will Be (仙樂飄飄). She also sang the film’s theme song. In September 1995, she performed the song "Mou Tian," written by Steve Barakatt. Later that year, she released a compilation album called Break the Sky with three other singers. In December, she released her first Cantonese album, Intoxicated Lover (醉迷情人). The album was successful in Hong Kong and helped grow her acting and music careers.

In 1996, Chen released her first Mandarin album, I Don't Think So (我不以為), in Taiwan, Malaysia, and Singapore. The album sold more than 150,000 copies. After its success, she released a Cantonese album called Wind, Flower, Snow (風花雪) in October 1996. The song "Wind, Flower, Snow" became very popular in Hong Kong. In November 1996, she released her first Cantonese single, "Traveler," in Japan. That year, she also released two Japanese singles and began performing as a singer in Japan.

In 1997, Chen performed her first concert, Starry Dream of Love (星夢情真). She released the concert’s CD in June, which sold over 100,000 copies in Hong Kong. She held three concerts in Hong Kong named Kelly Starry Dream of Love Concert (陳慧琳星夢情真演唱會). In July, she released her first Japanese single, "The beginning is a cunning morning," which became a hit in Japan. She also provided the voice of Madame Trunk in the animated movie A Chinese Ghost Story. In five months, she released four albums: her second Mandarin album, Insight (體會); a compilation called Kelly's Best Collection 97; a live CD called Starring Dream of Love Live in Concert; and a Cantonese album called A Movie (一齣戲). Insight sold 1.34 million copies in East Asia. By this time, Chen had become a well-known singer and actor in East Asia.

In 1998, Chen began the Kelly Starry Dream of Love World Tour (陳慧琳星夢情真世界巡迴演唱會), starting in Australia. She also performed ten concerts for school children in Taiwan. She released a Mandarin album called Love Me Or Not (愛我不愛), which included the hit song "Diary" (記事本). The song became her most famous song and was known across Asia. The album sold over 2 million copies in Asia. This helped her become a top pop music artist in Asia.

In 1999, Chen starred in the TV drama Don't Be a Cry Baby with Japanese actor Kyoko Fukada. She performed two concerts in Fukuoka, Japan, which helped grow her fanbase there. She released a new album called Love of Colours, which sold over 300,000 copies in Hong Kong between December 1999 and 2000. It was the best-selling album of 2000. She also won the award for "Most Popular Female Artist" at the 1999 Jade Solid Gold Best Ten Music Awards. Her albums sold over 230,000 copies in Hong Kong in 1999, making her the best-selling female artist in Hong Kong that year.

In 2001, Chen released a remix album called Kelly BPM Dance Collection, which sold over 150,000 copies. She began the Paisley Galaxy World Tour (陳慧琳花花宇宙世界巡迴演唱會), starting with shows in Singapore and Malaysia. She broke the record for the most successful Hong Kong singer’s concerts in Malaysia. She performed in North America, including Chicago, Atlantic City, Los Angeles, and Toronto. She later toured China, performing in Guangzhou, Huizhou, Zhongshan, Chengdu, Shanghai, and Beijing. She released a Mandarin album called Flying (飛吧) in August. The album was among the top 20 best-selling albums in Taiwan in 2001. Her movie Calmi Cuori Appassionati (冷靜與熱情之間), released in November 2001, made more than 30 billion yen (HKD$220,000,000) in Japan. The film broke the record for tickets sold before the movie started and was ranked 67th in Japan’s box office history. It was also ranked 98th in 2006. She won the award for "Asian Pacific Most Popular Hong Kong Female Artist" at the 2001 Jade Solid Gold Best Ten Music Awards.

In 2002, Chen released her first Japanese album, Grace, which sold over 50,000 copies in Japan. She also released a Cantonese album called Ask Kelly. The single "Blessed" (有福氣) was popular in Hong Kong. She released a Mandarin album called Love is coming (愛情來了) in May and held a concert in Taoyuan, Taiwan, named Kelly Chen Love is Coming Concert (陳慧琳愛情來了演唱會). She held 12 concerts in Hong Kong in July, named Kelly Dynacarnival World Tour, Hong Kong (陳慧琳飛天舞會演唱會). She performed in Sydney and Melbourne in September and released a Mandarin album called Shining Colourful (閃亮每一天) in November. She held concerts in Singapore and Kuala Lumpur in December. The Republic of Liberia issued stamps to honor her in December. She won the "Asian Pacific Most Popular Hong Kong Female Artist" award again at the 2002 Jade Solid Gold Best Ten Music Awards.

In 2003, Chen released a new album and continued performing in concerts across Asia. She also began working on new movies

Personal life

Chen married her long-term boyfriend, businessman Alex Lau Kin Ho, on October 2, 2008. Chen had her first son, Chace Lau, in July 2009. In 2011, she experienced a miscarriage. Her second son, Riley Lau, was born in March 2012.

She is of Shanghai ancestry.

Chen speaks Cantonese fluently and can also speak Mandarin, Japanese, and English with varying levels of fluency. She has an older sister and a younger brother named Victor Chen Si-hon, who is a singer.

Tours

• Wind, Flower, Snow Concert (1997–1998)
• Starry Dream of Love World Tour (1997–1998)
• Deep Impact Taiwan Tour (1998–1999)
• Paisley Galaxy World Tour (2000–2001)
• Dynacarnival World Tour (2002–2003)
• Lost in Paradise World Tour (2004–2006)
• LOVE Fighters Concert (2008)
• Kelly Let's Celebrate! World Tour (2015–2016)
• Kelly Season Two World Tour (2023–2026)

Philanthropy

Since 1998, Chen has helped with charity work. She has served as an ambassador for causes like environmental protection, education, and helping children. In 1998, she was named a Hong Kong Goodwill Ambassador.

In 1998, she was also appointed Hong Kong Ambassador of Environment. With Greenpeace, she created commercials to raise awareness about environmental protection in 2006.

In April 2002, she was chosen by the "Standing Committee on Language Education and Research" (SCOLAR) to be the "Ambassador of The Workplace English Campaign." This role encouraged workers to continue learning English, as Chen had done herself.

After years of supporting other charities, Chen started her own to help children: the Kelly Chen Children Education Fund collects money to support children in need. In addition to performing her "Dynacarnival" concert in Hong Kong, Chen traveled to Sydney and Melbourne, Australia, to perform. She was later named "Ambassador of The Rehabilitation" by the Hong Kong Correctional Services Department.

Chen received two honors. First, she was selected as one of Hong Kong's Ten Outstanding Young Persons in 2002. That same year, she was invited to represent Hong Kong at the ABU Prizes – Presentation & Special Concert in Tokyo. She won the 13th Annual Best Dressed Award in Japan, becoming the first foreigner to receive the award. She was later asked by the Office of the Privacy Commissioner for Personal Data and the HKSAR Government Health Department to film campaigns promoting respect for personal privacy and organ donation in Hong Kong and across China.

Chen was appointed by UNICEF as the Honorable China Children's Health Ambassador. Later, she was named "Girl Guides Millennium Goodwill Ambassador" by the Hong Kong Girl Guides Association. This role led her to visit Inner Mongolia to study how children lived and the health and food services they received. In 2001, she was named Volunteer Ambassador 2001 by the Social Welfare Department. She was later reappointed by UNICEF as the Ambassador of The Hong Kong Committee For UNICEF.

As an ambassador for the Hong Kong Red Cross, Chen promoted blood donations. She also served as an ambassador for the Independent Commission Against Corruption (ICAC).

In March 2003, Chen received new titles: she was named The Philatelic Ambassador by the Hong Kong Post and "The Love And Peace Ambassador" by City Junior Chamber. She then took her "Dynacarnival" concert to North America, performing in Atlantic City, Toronto, and San Francisco. She released DSD versions of her earlier albums, including Dedicated Lover. She was later named Star of "Hong Kong Outstanding Students Award" by Lion & Globe Educational Trust, continuing her efforts to improve education. In June 2003, her wax figure at the Madam Tussaud Wax Museum was displayed. She was also invited by McDonald's in Hong Kong to be the "Love Ambassador" for "World Children's Day at McDonald's 2003." She was named "Pass-it-On" Ambassador by the Hong Kong Red Cross and attended its Christmas campaign at the John F. Kennedy Center.

In 2004, Chen continued her charity work by being named a star representative for the "5th HK Outstanding Teenagers" election press conference held by the Hong Kong Playground Association and RTHK. In February, she was appointed "Road Safety Vision Ambassador" by the Road Safety Council to promote road safety and "Reading Ambassador" by The Boys' and Girls' Clubs Association of Hong Kong. In May 2004, she received the title of "Hospital Play Ambassador" and was named "Japanese Promotional Ambassador" by The Japan Society of HK, Consulate General of Japan, and RTHK to encourage Hong Kong citizens to learn Japanese. She was also named "The Outstanding Young Persons of the World" in 2004 by the Junior Chamber International, becoming the first Hong Kong female celebrity to receive the award.

In 2007, Chen was named Hong Kong "Innovative Entrepreneur Ambassador" (創意創業大使) and sang the theme song "Innovation" (創) for the "Innovative Entrepreneur of The Year 2007" event organized by City Junior Chamber, Hong Kong. Her role includes promoting entrepreneurship awareness among young people and attending promotion events. She continued supporting innovation and entrepreneurship in 2008.

After finishing the movie An Empress and the Warriors with Leon Lai, Chen held a concert called "Love Fighters" at the HK Coliseum in June 2008. This was her largest concert to date, featuring many performances and unique choreography.

Chen donated $600,000 to help with the 2008 Sichuan earthquake relief efforts.

Media and public relations

In 2002, a survey done by the City University of Hong Kong found that Chen was voted "The Most Popular Idol" by local youth groups. In 1997, Shiseido hired Chen to appear in their commercials. She was shown as a modern Asian beauty, similar but not exactly like Japanese women. Chen was also chosen as the cover model for Ginza, a new monthly magazine aimed at women in their twenties.

Discography

• Intoxicated Lover 醉迷情人 (December 1995)
• Wind, Flower, Snow 風花雪 (October 1996)
• Starry Dreams of Love 星夢情真 (June 1997)
• A Movie 一齣戲 (December 1997)
• Da De Dum (I Am Falling Out of Love) Da De Dum (我失戀) (July 1998)
• True Feeling 真感覺 (February 1999)
• Don't Stop Loving Me 繼續愛我 (August 1999)
• Paisley Galaxy 花花宇宙 (May 2000)
• The Big Day 大日子 (November 2000)
• In The Party (July 2001)
• ASK (19 December 2001)
• ASK KELLY (1 February 2002)
• Dynacarnival 飛天舞會 (12 July 2002)
• Baby Cat (13 December 2002)
• Love 愛 (22 August 2003)
• Stylish Index (23 July 2004)
• GRACE AND CHARM (22 December 2004)
• Happy Girl (25 August 2006)
• Kellylicious (16 May 2008)
• Reflection (7 February 2013)
• And Then (15 January 2016)
• Watch Me (20 July 2018)

• I Don't Think So 我不以為 (May 1996)
• Insight 體會 (August 1997)
• You're Not The Same 你不一樣 (March 1998)
• Love Me Or Not 愛我不愛 (December 1998)
• Love You So Much 愛你愛的 (April 2000)
• Flying 飛吧 (August 2001)
• Love Appeared 愛情來了 (10 May 2002)
• You Don't Mean It 心口不一 (1 August 2003)
• Eternal Sunshine 我是陽光的 (16 September 2005)
• Chasing Dreams 微光 (16 March 2010)

• GRACE (29 January 2002)

Filmography

• Whatever Will Be, Will Be (仙樂飄飄, 1995)
• The Age of Miracles (1995)
• Lost and Found (天涯海角, 1996)
• A Chinese Ghost Story: The Tsui Hark Animation (1997)
• Anna Magdalena (安娜瑪德蓮娜, 1998)
• Hot War (幻影特攻, 1998)
• Metade Fumaca (半支煙, 1999)—Appeared in a small role
• Tokyo Raiders (東京攻略, 2000)
• And I Hate You So (小親親, 2000)
• Lavender (薰衣草, 2000)
• Calmi Cuori Appassionati (冷靜與熱情之間, 2001)
• Merry Go Round (初戀拿喳麵, 2001)—Appeared in a small role
• Infernal Affairs ( 無間道 , 2002)
• Infernal Affairs III ( 無間道 III , 2003)
• Breaking News ( 大事件 , 2004)
• Super Model (我要做Model, 2004)—Appeared in a small role
• McDull, the Alumni (春田花花同學會, 2006)—OL
• It's a Wonderful Life (心想事成, 2007)
• An Empress and the Warriors (江山美人, 2008)
• 72 Tenants of Prosperity (72家租客, 2010)
• All's Well, Ends Well 2012 (八星抱喜, 2012)
• Tales from the Dark 1 (迷離夜之“放手”, 2013)
• The Monkey King (西遊記之大鬧天宮, 2014)
• Horseplay (盜馬記, 2014)
• An Inspector Calls (浮華宴, 2015)
• The Monkey King 2 (西遊記之孫悟空三打白骨精, 2016)