Mok is on song at the movies

LIFE works in funny ways. It was an offer of a recording contract that made Karen Mok Man-wai defer her undergraduate studies in England in 1992 and return to Hong Kong. But three years later, Mok has more movies to her name than Canto-pop albums.

'It was just a matter of timing and opportunity,' said Mok. 'In this business, you grab whatever comes your way. You cannot control it.' And Mok has been grabbing not only an increasing number of film roles, but also lots of the limelight for her impressive performances and screen presence.

Even in these slow times, she has completed 10 films (of which eight have been released) in less than two years. Although they have not all been major roles, the 24-year-old has been privileged enough to work with big guns such as Wong Kar-wai and Stephen Chiau Sing-chi.

'I've been lucky enough to get a good start in my film career. A few of the movies, such as A Chinese Odyssey and Fallen Angels, have been big productions. The casts have been good, so have the directors,' she said.

Her first role was just a guest role in the small-budget Victory, in which she ironically played an aspiring actress. Although it was not a particularly significant role, it was a good experience for Mok who views it as a 'warming-up' exercise for later roles. By all accounts, it was a successful project because she slipped easily from the Victory role into that of a sorceress torn between love and inherent evil in the two-part A Chinese Odyssey - Pandora's Box and Cinderella.

The role brought her to the attention of the public, not to mention a telephone call from infamous director Wong Kar-wai. 'Naturally I was very happy. Cinderella was only my second significant film and I didn't know what job I would get next. And then to get a call from Wong Kar-wai asking me to guest on Fallen Angels . . .' she said.