Kuala Lumpur, 27 April 2026 – Malaysian actress Fish Liew’s Best Actress win at the 44th Hong Kong Film Awards led a lively week in Asian entertainment, as celebrity milestones, public appearances and viral moments kept fans across Malaysia, Hong Kong and the wider region closely engaged.
Liew’s victory was the standout moment of the week. The Malaysian star won Best Actress for her role as an artist born with cerebral palsy in the drama Someone Like Me, marking another major career achievement in Hong Kong cinema. The win placed her ahead of a competitive field that included Zhang Ziyi, Fala Chen, Natalie Hsu and Ma Li.
The award was especially meaningful for Malaysian entertainment observers because Liew has continued to build her career beyond domestic borders. Her latest win follows her earlier success at the Hong Kong Film Awards in 2022, when she won Best Supporting Actress for her role as Ann Mui in the Anita Mui biopic Anita.
At the same ceremony, veteran Hong Kong actor Tony Leung Ka Fai secured Best Actor for The Shadow’s Edge, earning his fifth Hong Kong Film Awards statuette. The achievement places him behind Tony Leung Chiu Wai, who holds the record with six wins. Other winners included Alex To for Best Supporting Actor, Michelle Wai for Best Supporting Actress, while Ciao UFO was named Best Film and Patrick Leung won Best Director.
The week also brought renewed attention to Hong Kong screen icon Chow Yun Fat, affectionately known as Fat Gor, after reports showed that he had sold a long held condominium unit in Mid Levels West for HK$7.5 million, or about RM3.78 million. The unit was originally bought in 1995 for HK$3.92 million, generating a reported profit of HK$3.58 million, or around RM1.8 million, over a 31 year holding period.
Despite the sale, Chow’s property portfolio remains substantial. Reports cited by The Star noted that the 70 year old actor continues to own multiple properties and land across Hong Kong, including locations in Kowloon and Sai Kung, with his broader property portfolio estimated at more than HK$1 billion, or about RM504 million.
Away from film awards and property headlines, actress Christy Chung and her husband Shawn Zhang drew attention after speaking openly about family life. Zhang said the couple were considering having a biological child together, although he acknowledged that medical intervention would be needed because Chung is now 55. He also said adoption could be considered if their attempts were unsuccessful.
Chung, who married Zhang in 2016, has three daughters from previous marriages. The couple’s comments generated interest not only because of their family plans, but also because they addressed public scrutiny over their age gap and the long running criticism surrounding their relationship.
Another warmly received moment came from martial arts legend Sammo Hung, who made a rare public appearance with his wife, former actress Joyce Godenzi, at the Hong Kong Film Awards. Hung, 74, appeared in good spirits and was seen using a walking cane, while Godenzi made a rare public appearance beside him on the red carpet.
Reports noted that Hung appeared slimmer and healthier compared with previous public sightings. The action icon had undergone knee surgery in 2017, after which he relied on a wheelchair and walking stick for mobility. His appearance at the awards became a nostalgic highlight for fans of classic Hong Kong action cinema.
The week was not without social media controversy. Hong Kong actress Sonija Kwok responded after viral footage from the Hong Kong Film Awards showed Louis Koo helping her down a flight of stairs. While the gesture appeared courteous, some overzealous fans accused Kwok unfairly of interfering in the long admired on screen and off screen chemistry between Koo and Jessica Hsuan.
Kwok later clarified that she had no intention of competing for attention, while her manager explained that Koo was simply helping her because her tight gown and high heels made it difficult to descend the stairs safely. Many netizens subsequently defended Kwok and criticised the excessive reaction from some fans.
Together, the week’s biggest entertainment stories reflected the broad emotional range of Asian celebrity culture. There were career defining achievements, nostalgic appearances, personal family reflections, property headlines and viral fan debates, all unfolding across a regional entertainment ecosystem that continues to blend cinema, celebrity identity and social media attention.
The Ledger Asia Insights
For Malaysian readers, Fish Liew’s latest win is more than a celebrity headline. It reinforces Malaysia’s growing presence in the wider Asian entertainment industry, particularly in Hong Kong cinema, where cross border recognition remains an important marker of artistic credibility.
The week also showed how entertainment news now moves far beyond screen performances. A film award, a property sale, a family decision or a brief red carpet gesture can quickly become part of a wider digital conversation. This reflects the changing nature of celebrity influence in Asia, where public image, fan communities and social platforms increasingly shape how stars are discussed.
For The Ledger Asia’s lifestyle audience, the key takeaway is that Asian entertainment remains both culturally powerful and commercially relevant. Awards continue to define prestige, property stories reveal the wealth behind long careers, and social media moments show how quickly public perception can shift. In this environment, celebrity news is no longer only about fame, it is also about regional identity, influence and the business of attention.
