Trivia

She was kidnapped and tortured by gangsters in the early 1990s before filming Days of Being Wild. Pictures of her semi-naked in a state of distress from that incident was published on the cover of a Hong Kong magazine more than 10 years later which shocked the entire Hong Kong movie industry. She bravely came out to give her speech to confront the cruel treatment on a much publicized conference, and received much support from her peers and public. That magazine publication was immediately shut down.

As of 2007, she owns four homes in Hong Kong and China with real estate value worth over $100M. She names her mansion-style home in Shouzhou "Ka-Ling Mansion" after her Chinese name.

Long-time boyfriend is Tony Leung Chiu-wai (10+ yrs.)

Hong Kong pop star Faye Wong is one of her acquaintances and they both played androids and broken-hearted women in Kar-wai Wong's 2046.

Worked on Kar-wai Wong's 2046 for five years and had no idea what the film was about, she also admitted that Wong had been one of the best directors in her career and during the making of Days of Being Wild, he bought out the best actress in her.

She insisted on buying and getting her own wardrobe custom designed by long time friend costume/production designer William Cheung Suk Pink for her first Mandarin China produced TV series called The River Flows Eastward. It was reported that she had gathered over one hundred outfits for the show. She also hired him to do design interior for her home.

Took dancing lessons and had dental work as her preparation for her participation in Kar-wai Wong's Days of Being Wild. She was named one of the ten sexiest foreign actors by a Japanese magazine for this film.

Often worked with boyfriend Tony Leung Chiu Wai since the '80s, but rarely played a couple. Often worked with Tony Leung Kar Fai in the '90s, and played a couple most of the time.

Stated she did not have plans to have children. She stated that she didn't think of having children before her marriage, and since marriage, that it was something that would infrequently pass through her mind. She also stated that her husband is not keen on having children, as he is not fond of young kids.

Her role in Infernal Affairs 2 was a supporting role consisting of less than twenty minutes of screen time, but she was so powerful and a total scene-stealer that she got multiple best actress nominations in Hong Kong and China.

Worked with the late Leslie Cheung in Days of Being Wild, Ashes of Time, The Eagle Shooting Heroes, He's the Woman, She's the Man, Who's the Man, and Who's the Woman (cameo).

She had to bleach her eyebrows to do a special period makeup for her role in Detective Dee, and she also had to wear very heavy and elaborate costumes and wigs and accessories. Her costar Andy Lau said he admired her a great deal that she can endured the hot temperatures that was at least 40C while wearing so many layers of costumes.

The role Wu Zi Tien (the first and only female emperor of China) she played in "Detective Dee and Mytery of the Phantom Flame" was originally offered to Brigett Lin, but Lin turned it down and Carina got cast because the director and producer thought she was the second most suitable actress to play the role.

Spokesmodel for Max Factor SK-II skin care products.

Spoke Model for Longines watch since 2003.

Spoke Model for Wanko, a fashion brand in Hong Kong

Voted by people's choice as the Best Actress of the year for her performance in Curiosity Kills the Cat and the award was hosted by Sina.Com. She accepted the award with much gratitude to the audiences and the director and fellow actor who recommended her to take the role.

The first actress to become CEO of Hong Kong's first shopping channel TV Mart.

She was one of the handful actresses to be earning $1M salary per picture in Hong Kong back in the early 1990s when she used to work on at least six movies a year, and in recent years she works on merely one movie a year.

Named one of the top 20 box office stars of Hong Kong in the past 20 years.

She's often called just "Ka Ling" or "Ka Ling Sister", the sister added at the end of the name is a symbol of diva in Hong Kong. She gets upset when her fans or the press calls her Mrs. Leung, referring her as the wife of Tony Leung even though they denied being married. It was rumored that they are secretly married some years ago.

Took the lead role in Ji Sor (Intimates), one of her most acclaimed films after Anita Mui pulled out to take a supporting role in 18 Springs.

After becoming the first HK actress to win China's most prestigious Golden Rooster Award for her work in Curiosity Kills the Cat, she's busy doing commercial work include her long term campaign for SK-II Cosmetics. She says that she has become rather picky about film work because she's played all kinds of roles and every type of films. (November 2007)

She runs her night club/bar called Muse in Shanghai. She's on vacation in her hometown in China where she has a new mansion-like home. (February 2007)

Working on commercials, and waiting to start on the new Stanley Kwan movie called Green Mansion. (February 2007)

Hong Kong Best Actress Nominations: I Am Sorry (a.k.a. Her life's Lies, 1988), Days of Being Wild (1990), Whore and Gigolo (1991), Intimates (1997), Infernal Affairs 2 (2002).

Taiwan's Golden Horse Best Actress Nomination: Days of Being Wild (1990), Curiosity Kills the Cat (2006).

Awards: Best Actress Winner at the Nantes (France) international film festival for Days of Being Wild (1991). Best Actress Winner at the Hong Kong's Golden Bauhinea Award for her role in Intimates (a.k.a. Self-Combed 1997). Winner of Millenium Actress Award for her role in the theatrical play Red Boat (performed throughout 2000).

Released three Mandarin-language albums between 1994-1996 in Taiwan. She has played a singer in films numerous times.