Veteran Hong Kong actress Carina Lau has reignited public debate about women’s independence and motherhood after openly reaffirming that she does not wish to have children, stating that “women should not be bound by traditional expectations.”
During her appearance on the reality show Blooming Along the Way 2, the 59-year-old actress candidly shared her personal perspective on marriage and motherhood.
Carina Lau admitted she had chosen a childfree life, prompting a co-star to question her decision: “If everyone thought like that, how would humanity continue? Who would carry on the family line?”
Remaining composed, Carina Lau responded firmly, saying: “Don’t say that I disagree. I simply don’t want to have children. Women have the right to decide their own lives and shouldn’t be restricted by traditional concepts.”
After the show aired, viewers flooded social media with supportive comments. Many praised her honesty and maturity, writing, “It’s thoughtless to question someone’s choice at her age,” and “There’s no right or wrong just different perspectives.” Others admired how she has lived a confident, fulfilled life without defining herself by motherhood. One comment read: “Focus on your own life and don’t impose your beliefs on others.”
This isn’t the first time Carina Lau has spoken openly about motherhood. In a 2023 interview, she revealed that she once wanted a child because all her friends were becoming mothers. “Back then, it felt like everyone had a luxury handbag so I wanted one too,” she joked. But her husband, actor Tony Leung, disagreed.
Carina Lau explained that Tony Leung’s reluctance stemmed from trauma in his childhood, witnessing constant fights between his parents. Those painful memories made him doubt his ability to be a good father. Tony Leung has admitted he grew up hiding under blankets, crying in fear, and that experience left him emotionally scarred and hesitant to take on parental responsibility.
“It’s not that Tony dislikes children,” Carina Lau said. “He plays with them tenderly on set. But deep down, his childhood pain made him lose confidence in becoming a parent.”
Despite not having children, Tony Leung and Carina Lau’s 17-year marriage is considered one of the most stable and admired in Hong Kong’s entertainment industry. The couple, who first met in 1984 on the set of The Replica, dated for nearly 20 years before marrying in a romantic ceremony in Bhutan in 2008.
Now in their late 50s, they enjoy a luxurious, carefree lifestyle traveling frequently, collecting designer art and fashion, and maintaining an estimated combined net worth of around $150 million USD.
Carina Lau rose to fame in the 1990s as one of TVB’s leading actresses, with acclaimed roles in Infernal Affairs, Detective Dee, The Legend of the Condor Heroes, and Days of Being Wild.
Meanwhile, Tony Leung remains one of Asia’s most celebrated actors, known for masterpieces such as Happy Together, In the Mood for Love, Lust, Caution, Infernal Affairs, and The Grandmaster.
Their enduring partnership built on mutual respect rather than societal pressure continues to represent a new ideal for modern Asian couples: freedom, equality, and emotional understanding over convention.
Sources: TVBS Taiwan,Weibo
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