Nancy Wu

Nancy Wu (born 9 September 1981) is a Hong Kong actress contracted to TVB and Shaw Brothers Pictures.

Wu won the TVB Anniversary Award for Best Actress consecutively in 2015 and 2016. Some of the roles she is best known for include Wan Wan in Twin Of Brothers (2004); Eva in Forensic Heroes III (2011); Ting Ting in Gloves Come Off (2012); Anson in The Ultimate Addiction (2014); Gin in Ghost Of Relativity (2015); Kam Heung in Short End Of The Stick (2016); Tiu Lan in A Fist Within Four Walls (2016); To Man in Mission Run (2022); Sarah in Narcotic Heroes (2023).

Early life
Wu was born and raised in the Central and Western District of Hong Kong. She has parents, and a younger brother. Her father managed the family seafood shop in Sai Wan, but closed it in 2002 due to the economy. As the eldest daughter of the family, Wu began working to help support the family finances while studying, and later graduating from St. Margaret's Girls' College. Wu sang in school choir while she was in primary school; played track and field, and participated in a dance troupe while in secondary school.

Career
Wu worked as a secretary prior to entering the entertainment industry. Unlike many of her best friends and colleagues who became actresses by competing in beauty pageants, Wu entered through singing, and modelling competitions.

In 1999, Wu participated in TVB's 18th Annual New Talent Singing Awards competition and finished in fourth place.

In 2001, she entered TVB's 3rd Annual Cover Girl Competition and won the Most Photogenic Award, the Most Fit Award, the Most Attractive Award, and the Overall Winner Award. Following that, she enrolled in the 18th TVB Acting Class and entered the entertainment industry.

The initial stage of Wu's acting career was marked by cameos and minor character roles in numerous TV shows often cast as a villain, either a temptress, a mistress, or a concubine. Her biggest, most memorable role early on was in Twin of Brothers as the free-spirited seductress Wan Wan. Her success in tackling the challenging role and turning Wan Wan into a cult favorite character gained Wu attention early in her career. Wu gained more recognition in 2008 where she won the Most Improved Female Artiste award at the TVB Anniversary Awards for her performances in D.I.E., The Silver Chamber of Sorrows, the Wars of In-Laws II, and Legend of the Demigods; and additionally nominated for Best Supporting Actress for her portrayal of Ha Fei Fei in The Silver Chamber of Sorrows.

From 2009 to 2011, Wu was cast in major supporting roles in a number of popular and memorable dramas including Rosy Business, No Regrets, Gun Metal Grey, Forensic Heroes III, and D.I.E. Again.

In 2012, Wu won the Best Supporting Actress awards at the TVB Anniversary Awards, and at the Asian Television Awards for her breakthrough performance in Gloves Come Off where she portrayed a mute Muay Ying, or female Muay Thai boxer; her convincing performance required learning sign language as well as boxing, and stunt choreography. The role also redefined Wu's onscreen image as an action heroine, and not simply a villain, or a concubine. Additionally, Wu received a Long Service Award from TVB for her contributions to the company.

A year later, she won the TVB Star Award Malaysia for Favourite TVB Supporting Actress for her reprise role as CoCo in Triumph in the Skies II wherein she portrays a woman undergoing the emotional tribulations of becoming a surrogate mother for a friend. Wu stated she strives for improvement with every role, working hard, and learning from fellow actors with the goal of being a leading actress. Among the actors Wu has worked with the most, and appearing onscreen together as a couple, has been Wayne Lai with No Return being their 8th collaboration.

In 2015 and 2016, Wu consecutively won both the TVB Anniversary Award for Best Actress and the TVB Star Awards Malaysia My Favourite TVB Actress award for Ghost of Relativity, and for her performance as the memorable, and iconic Tiu Lan in A Fist Within Four Walls.

Since 2016, Wu has played leading roles on TV, and have been nominated, and won major awards during TVB Anniversary Awards, TVB Star Awards Malaysia, StarHub TVB Award, People's Choice awards, and other organizations. Wu credits her success on family, and friends in particular leading actress Myolie Wu who encouraged Wu early on her career.

Wu has been involved in other performative works. She performed in the 2018 staging of By Chance: Xu Zhimo with Steven Ma where she sung Kunqu opera and danced with 3-meter length water sleeves. In the same year, Wu appeared in the film Men on the Dragon where she was nominated for Best New Performer at the 38th Hong Kong Film Awards, and won Best New Performer at the Movie6 Movie Awards. In 2024, Wu appeared in the movie Rob N Roll.

In 2020, Wu signed a contract with Shaw Brothers Pictures.

Advertising Work
Wu has been a paid spokesperson for Vita Green since 2014. She has also been the spokesperson for Suisse Programme since 2019.

Advocacy work
Wu has done volunteer, promotional, and charity work with various organizations, and events.

She participated in the 2018 Ronald McDonald House Charities Hong Kong Open Day event, and promoted the organization's fundraiser in 2019.

In 2020, Wu visited Nepal as a Plan International ambassador advocating for girl rights and gender equality, and has participated in charitable fundraisers for the organization including Shine Together in 2022, and Run for Girls in 2023 and 2024.

Wu, along with William So, and Kimbee Chan participated in the 125th Anniversary celebration launch of Ebenezer School & Home for the Visually Impaired in 2021. She sang in a Food for Good fundraising dinner in 2023.

In 2024, Wu visited Ethiopia as a Plan International ambassador, and narrated a Female genital mutilation awareness video for the organization.

Personal life
Nancy Wu is best friends with Myolie Wu, Paisley Wu, Elaine Yiu, Selena Lee and Mandy Wong. They formed the sisterhood group “胡說八道會” after the Chinese idiom “胡說八道”, meaning "nonsense talk", in addition to several members sharing the same last name, Wu “胡”.

In 2017, the group filmed a travel show together called The Sisterhood Traveling Gang. The show won the TVB Star Awards Malaysia Favorite TVB variety show, and the SINA Weibo Star Award for Awesome Variety Show.

Wu is friends with Rosina Lam when filming the drama Short End of the Stick, and with Alex Fong whom they met as teenagers. While she is happy with her best friends, Wu has stated is not so easy to find somebody to entrust for life. Her previous partners include Deep Ng (2006-2008), Kenneth Ma, (2008-2010), Patt Sham (2011-2014), and Terry Chan (2015-2016).

Wu maintains a healthy, active lifestyle. Due to their common interest in long-distance running, Wu along with Benjamin Yuen, Joel Chan, Brian Tse, Jack Wu, Paisley Wu, Elaine Yiu, Selena Lee and Mandy Wong formed the group “Crazy Runner”.

In 2018, Wu saved enough money to purchase a large house for her parents in Tuen Mun. She considers family important, spending time with her dad; and did not attend the 2023 TVB Anniversary Awards ceremony in order to celebrate her parents’ anniversary.

1999

 * TVB 18th Annual New Talent Singing Awards: 4th place

2000

 * TVB Magazine 3rd Annual CoverGirl Competition: Mei Bo Lin Most Attractive Award
 * TVB Magazine 3rd Annual CoverGirl Competition: Nikon Most Photogenic Award
 * TVB Magazine 3rd Annual CoverGirl Competition: California Fitness Most Fit Award
 * TVB Magazine 3rd Annual CoverGirl Competition: Overall Winner Award

2007

 * TVB Anniversary Awards: Nominated - Most Improved Female Artiste

2008

 * Strictly Come Dancing – Season II: 2nd Runner-up
 * TVB Anniversary Awards: Most Improved Female Artiste
 * TVB Anniversary Awards: Nominated - TVB.com Popular Award
 * TVB Anniversary Awards: Nominated [Top 5] - Best Supporting Actress (The Silver Chamber of Sorrows)

2009

 * TVB Anniversary Awards: Nominated Top 10 - Best Supporting Actress (Rosy Business)

2010

 * TVB Anniversary Awards: Nominated [Top 5] - Best Supporting Actress (Gun Metal Grey)
 * My Astro On Demand Favourites Awards: Nominated - My Favourite Supporting Actress (No Regrets)

2011

 * TVB Anniversary Awards: Nominated [Top 5] - Best Supporting Actress (Forensic Heroes III)
 * StarHub TVB Awards: Nominated - My Favourite TVB Female Drama Characters (Gun Metal Grey)
 * My Astro On Demand Favourites Awards: My Favourite Potential Female Artiste
 * My Astro On Demand Favourites Awards: Nominated - My Favourite Supporting Actress (Gun Metal Grey)
 * My Astro On Demand Favourites Awards: Nominated - My Favourite On-screen Couple (Gun Metal Grey with Vincent Wong)

2012

 * TVB Anniversary Awards: Best Supporting Actress (Gloves Come Off)
 * Asian Television Awards: Best Supporting Actress (Gloves Come Off)
 * My Astro On Demand Favourites Awards: My Favourite Supporting Actress (Gloves Come Off)
 * StarHub TVB Awards: Nominated - My Favourite TVB Female Drama Characters (Gloves Come Off)

2013

 * TVB Star Awards Malaysia: Favourite TVB Supporting Actress (Triumph in the Skies II)
 * TVB Star Awards Malaysia: Top 15 Favourite TVB Drama Characters (Triumph in the Skies II)
 * TVB Star Awards Malaysia: Favourite TVB On-screen Couple (Triumph in the Skies II with Him Law)
 * TVB Anniversary Awards: Nominated [Top 5] - Best Supporting Actress (Triumph in the Skies II)
 * TVB Anniversary Awards: Nominated [Top 10] - Most Popular Female Character (Triumph in the Skies II)

2014

 * TVB Star Awards Malaysia: Top 15 Favourite TVB Drama Characters (The Ultimate Addiction)
 * TVB Star Awards Malaysia: Nominated - Favourite TVB Actress (Overachievers)
 * TVB Anniversary Awards: Nominated - Best Actress (Overachievers)
 * TVB Anniversary Awards: Nominated [Top 10] - Most Popular Female Character (Overachievers)
 * TVB Anniversary Awards: Nominated [Top 10] - Best Supporting Actress (Gilded Chopsticks)
 * StarHub TVB Awards: My Favourite TVB Female TV Characters (The Ultimate Addiction)
 * StarHub TVB Awards: Nominated - My Favourite TVB Supporting Actress (Gilded Chopsticks)

2015

 * TVB Anniversary Awards: Best Actress (Ghost of Relativity)
 * TVB Anniversary Awards: Nominated [Top 5] - Most Popular Female Character (Ghost of Relativity)
 * TVB Star Awards Malaysia: My Favourite TVB Actress (Ghost of Relativity)
 * TVB Star Awards Malaysia: Top 16 Favourite TVB Drama Characters (Ghost of Relativity)
 * StarHub TVB Awards: My Favourite TVB Female Drama Characters (Ghost of Relativity)
 * StarHub TVB Awards: Nominated - My Favourite TVB Actress (Ghost of Relativity)
 * Yahoo!Asia Buzz Awards: Most Searched Female TV Artistes

2016

 * TVB Anniversary Awards: Best Actress (A Fist Within Four Walls)
 * TVB Anniversary Awards: Most Popular Drama Theme Song (Never Know You Are the Best with Ruco Chan)
 * TVB Anniversary Awards: Nominated [Top 5] - Most Popular Female Character (A Fist Within Four Walls)
 * TVB Star Awards Malaysia: My Favourite TVB Actress (A Fist Within Four Walls)
 * TVB Star Awards Malaysia: Top 15 Favourite TVB Drama Characters (A Fist Within Four Walls)
 * TVB Star Awards Malaysia: Favourite TVB On-screen Couple (A Fist Within Four Walls with Ruco Chan)
 * TVB Star Awards Malaysia: Favourite TVB Drama Theme Song (Never Know You Are the Best with Ruco Chan)
 * StarHub TVB Awards: My Favourite On-screen Couple (A Fist Within Four Walls with Ruco Chan)
 * StarHub TVB Awards: My Favourite TVB Theme Song (Never Know You Are the Best with Ruco Chan)
 * StarHub TVB Awards: My Favourite TVB Actress (A Fist Within Four Walls)
 * StarHub TVB Awards: My Favourite TVB On-screen Couple (House of Spirits with Bobby Au Yeung
 * StarHub TVB Awards: Nominated - My Favourite TVB Female Drama Characters (A Fist Within Four Walks)
 * People's Choice Television Awards: Nominated - Best Actress (A Fist Within Four Walls)
 * Jade Solid Gold Best Ten Music Awards: Honour Award (A Fist Within Four Walls' "Never Know You Are the Best")
 * Jade Solid Gold Best Ten Music Awards: Best Group Song (A Fist Within Four Walls' "Never Know You Are the Best")

2017

 * StarHub TVB Awards: My Favourite TVB Female Drama Characters (The Unholy Alliance)
 * StarHub TVB Awards: Nominated - My Favourite TVB Actress (The Unholy Alliance)
 * TVB Star Awards Malaysia: Favourite TVB On-screen couple (The Unholy Alliance with Ruco Chan)
 * TVB Star Awards Malaysia: Top 17 Favourite TVB Drama Characters (The Unholy Alliance)
 * TVB Star Awards Malaysia: Nominated - My Favourite TVB Actress (The Unholy Alliance)
 * TVB Star Awards Malaysia: Nominated - Favourite TVB Show Host (The Sisterhood Traveling Gang with Myolie Wu, Mandy Wong, Elaine Yiu, Selena Lee and Paisley Wu)
 * TVB Anniversary Awards: Nominated [Top 5] - Best Actress (The Unholy Alliance)
 * TVB Anniversary Awards: Nominated [Top 5] - Most Popular Female Character (The Unholy Alliance)
 * TVB Anniversary Awards: Nominated - Most Popular On-screen Partnership (The Unholy Alliance with Ruco Chan)
 * TVB Anniversary Awards: Nominated - Most Popular On-screen Partnership (The Sisterhood Traveling Gang with Myolie Wu, Mandy Wong, Elaine Yiu, Selena Lee and Paisley Wu)
 * SINA Weibo Star Award Awesome Variety Show
 * People's Choice Television Awards: Nominated - Best Variety and Information Show

2018

 * Jade Solid Gold Best Ten Music Awards: Honour Award (Deep in the Realm of Conscience's "Regretless")
 * TVB Anniversary Gala: Nominated - Favourite TVB Actress in Singapore (Deep in the Realm of Conscience)
 * TVB Anniversary Gala: Nominated - Favourite TVB Actress (Deep in the Realm of Conscience)
 * TVB Anniversary Awards: Nominated [Top 5] - Best Actress (Deep in the Realm of Conscience)
 * TVB Anniversary Awards: Nominated [Top 5] - Most Popular Female Character (Deep in the Realm of Conscience)
 * TVB Anniversary Awards: Nominated - Best Theme Song (Deep in the Realm of Conscience with Steven Ma)
 * People's Choice Television Awards: Nominated - Best Actress (Deep in the Realm of Conscience)

2019

 * Movie6 Movie Awards: Best New Performer (Men On The Dragon)
 * 38th Hong Kong Film Awards: Nominated - Best New Performer (Men On The Dragon)
 * TVB Anniversary Awards: Nominated [Top 10] - Best Actress (Justice Bao: The First Year)

2022

 * TVB Anniversary Awards: Best Dressed Female Artiste Award
 * TVB Anniversary Awards: Nominated [Top 5] - Best Actress (Big White Duel II)
 * TVB Anniversary Awards: Nominated [Top 10] - Most Popular Female Character (Big White Duel II)
 * TVB Anniversary Awards: Nominated - Favourite TVB Actress in Malaysia (Big White Duel II)
 * TVB Anniversary Awards: Nominated - Most Popular Onscreen Partnership (Big White Duel II with Kenneth Ma and Natalie Tong)

2023

 * TVB Anniversary Awards: Nominated Top 10 - Best Actress (Narcotics Heroes)
 * TVB Anniversary Awards: Nominated - Favourite TVB Actress in Greater Bay Area (Narcotics Heroes)
 * TVB Anniversary Awards: Nominated - Favourite TVB Actress in Malaysia (Narcotics Heroes)