Michelle Wai

Michelle Wai Sze-Nga (; born 24 November 1984) is a Hong Kong model and actress. For her performance in The Last Dance, she won the Hong Kong Film Award for Best Actress and the Hundred Flowers Award for Best Actress.

Career Wai worked as a jewelry salesperson and a part-time model before entering the industry. In 2008, she was introduced by her modeling agency Jamcast to audition for a role in the television series Dressage To Win. She was successfully cast and subsequently signed as an artist with Emperor Entertainment Group, with Mani Fok Man-Hei serving as her manager.

Wai has since appeared in numerous films and television productions. She gained wider recognition for her performances in ViuTV series, and for her portrayal of Ho-yee in the 2021 rom-com Ready o/r Knot , directed by Anselm Chan. She collaborated with Chan again for the sequel Ready o/r Rot , which earned her a nomination for Best Actress at the 42nd Hong Kong Film Awards, marking her first nomination for a major acting award.

In 2024, Wai starred in The Last Dance, her third collaboration with Chan. The film was released in Hong Kong on 9 November, and Wai's lead performance was praised by viewers and critics. James Marsh of Deadline Hollywood hailed her as "the film’s true standout" and called the film "a genuine turning point in her career." Richard Kuipers of Variety called her "a particular standout as the troubled daughter whose frustrations and disappointments guide the story to a rousing finale." The film broke numerous box office records, grossing over HK$170 million (US$21.9 million) at the box office, making it the highest-grossing domestic film of all time in Hong Kong. Wai was named Best Actress by the Hong Kong Film Directors' Guild. In the same year, Wai attended the Japanese premiere of The Last Dance at the 37th Tokyo International Film Festival.

In 2025, Wai won Best Actress at the 43rd Hong Kong Film Awards for The Last Dance, marking her first Hong Kong Film Award win. She also won the Hundred Flowers Award for Best Actress, becoming the first Hong Kong actress in history to receive this honor. Wai also starred in Ciao UFO, directed by Patrick Leung. The film was released in Hong Kong on 19 March 2026, and Wai won Best Supporting Actress at the 44th Hong Kong Film Awards for her performance.

Personal life Wai grew up in Tai Ping Estate, Sheung Shui, Hong Kong. She has an older sister and a younger brother. Wai got engaged to her long-time boyfriend, aesthetic physician Kenley Chau, in 2024, and they married in 2025.

Filmography Film

Television