From silent swordsman to a judge of history
In short: Damian Lau's career trajectory mirrors the evolution of Hong Kong media. He transitioned from the stylized, silent heroism of Wuxia cinema to portraying one of the most complex figures in 20th-century legal history, navigating a shift from physical spectacle to profound moral responsibility.
Damian Lau began his professional journey in 1971, enrolling in the actors' training class of RTV (now ATV). His early career was defined by the golden age of Hong Kong television. By 1976, after joining TVB on contract, he achieved stardom through roles in dramas like Luk Siu-fung and Yesterday's Glitter. During the 1980s and 1990s, he became a staple of the Wuxia genre, often cast as the 'silent, handsome, heroic swordsman.' This era saw him appear in landmark films like John Woo's Last Hurrah for Chivalry (1979) and the celebrated Duel to the Death.
Lau's career reached a significant turning point in 2006 with his role in The Tokyo Trial. This production was notable for its controversy and its success, winning the 2007 Golden Rooster Award for Best Screenplay and receiving a nomination at the Cannes Film Festival. In this role, Lau portrayed Mei Ju-ao, a historic judge who successfully persuaded ten other national judges to prosecute Japanese war criminals. Lau experienced a significant turning point during this production, primarily speaking in English throughout the majority of his dialogue.
Lau's versatility is further evidenced by his range in television. He moved from the 'morally upright' leader of the Hong Kong Stock Exchange in The Greed of Man (1992) to the 'deranged and almost insane' Leung Pak-yin in the controversial 2004 series Hard Fate. Despite these diverse roles—ranging from patriotic heroes to desperate company bosses—Lau has maintained a consistent focus on characters with deep internal worlds, a trait he attributes to his own sense of ethics and national pride.
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