Ms. Lo Koon-lan

Ms. Lo Koon-lan graduated with a major in History from the Department of History and Geography at Hong Kong Baptist College. She pursued further education in theatre studies in Hong Kong and the United Kingdom and obtained a Postgraduate Diploma in Theatre Studies and a Master's degree in East and West Theatre Studies respectively.

Ms. Lo's life has been intertwined with performing arts and teaching. During her days as a secondary school teacher, she incorporated drama techniques into teaching which helped students better understand the complicated world of history. Determinedly devoting herself to acting, she joined the Hong Kong Repertory Theatre (HKRep) as a full-time actress and was eventually promoted to the Principal Actress. Throughout her 15 years at the HKRep, Ms. Lo performed in more than 100 dramas with over 2,000 shows staged, mostly as the lead actress. She was also involved in directing and backstage work so as to become proficient in stage operation. In 1989, she was selected by HKRep to go to the Drama Laboratory of the Circle Repertory in New York, where she learned "Projects-in-Progress”. During that time, she was chosen by the director William Hurt, an Academy Award-winning actor, to play a role in Those Inconvenient Sisters. Besides drama performance, Ms. Lo has also participated in numerous films and television dramas, gaining popularity and was acclaimed for her exquisite acting skills, which earned her a respectable place in the acting industry.

Throughout her acting career, Ms. Lo has been highly recognised and earned numerous awards,, including the Stage Actress of the Year at the Artist of the Year Awards in 1988, the Best Actress at the Hong Kong Drama Awards in 1993, 1995 and 2017, the Best Supporting Actress at the Hong Kong Drama Awards and the Ten Years Outstanding Achievement Award at the Hong Kong Drama Awards in 1994, the Best Supporting Actress at the 14th Hong Kong Film Awards, the Performer of the Year at the IATC (HK) Critics Awards in 2016, and the Hong Kong Theatregoers Professional Award, and more. Since 2017, her role in Million Loves in Me won her over 20 best actress awards at international independent film festivals. In addition to her accolades in the performing arts, she received the Paul Harris Fellowship Award from the Rotary Club of Tolo Harbour in 1991 and was honoured with the Hong Kong Ten Outstanding Young Persons Award in 1994.

In 2007, Ms. Lo returned to the education field and started teaching at the School of Drama of the Hong Kong Academy for Performing Arts, where she served as a Senior Lecturer, Acting Head of Acting, Discipline Leader and Associate Professor in succession. With great passion, she shared her acting skills with students and imparted the moral standard, spirit and attitude that artists should possess. Furthermore, she organised and instructed drama creation and self-discovery workshops at various universities, including Hong Kong Baptist University, The University of Hong Kong and The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, etc. She has also served as a consultant, lecturer and principal at various actor training classes for theatre troupes, drama schools and film companies, as well as offered coaching and private acting lessons for actors, actresses and singers. Over the years, she has been dedicated to drama education and nurturing young talents, earning her the respect from students and peers for her expertise and professionalism.

Ms. Lo is keen on giving back to her alma mater by sharing her experience in seminars, serving as the emcee for the 40th anniversary celebration and performing in the alumni show for the 60th anniversary celebration. She was also an enthusiastic supporter of the 40th anniversary celebration of the Department of History where she served as the keynote speaker at the kick-off ceremony and masterminded a drama show for the celebration dinner.

(HKBU would like to thank the award recipient for providing the information.)