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Actress Carmen Law graduated from the Mountview Academy of Theatre Arts MA in Performance (Musical Theatre). She has worked with West End and Broadway professionals including Lucie Jones, The Showstoppers, Noah J. Ricketts, and Quentin Earl Darrington. Carmen was also featured in TV and film productions, including a couple Bollywood TV series. In our interview, she speaks about her career, her international working life, and her dreams.
My first theatre production was the start of everything. I was twelve years old, and I signed up for a musical theatre summer program performing High School Musical.
I instantly fell in love with musical theatre. I was fascinated by the idea of singing, dancing, and acting at the same time. And I felt like there is no better way to express myself.
I had a sense that performing is something I’m good at, so I kept on joining the program for the next couple of years.
When I was around 16 years old, I was sure I wanted to become an actress, simply because I couldn’t think of anything else I’d be interested in. So, I started taking proper singing and dance classes to improve my skills.
Over the course of time, I’ve met some of the most inspiring teachers. They gave me opportunities to build my way up to more professional experiences in theatre.
Growing up, I spent twenty-two years in Hong Kong before I moved to London in 2018.
While I did some professional work in Hong Kong, it was mostly English musical theatre shows such as Legally Blonde, Into the Woods and 13. They were mostly amateur productions since the professional ones are in Cantonese.
The community was small but diverse. So, throughout the years, I got to work with people from all walks of life, not only local creatives but also expats from all over the world.
Moving to London is the best decision I’ve ever made. Going to drama school was very tough and challenging (both physically and mentally). But it was life-changing and rewarding.
My classmates and tutors were all so supportive of each other and they would make an effort to understand my culture and background. And because of that, it made my transition to this foreign place a lot easier and comfortable, which I’m so grateful for.
I love performing here in London, the theatre scene is a lot more vibrant and diverse compared to Hong Kong, and what I admire the most is the creative freedom here.
Alongside the conventional West End shows, there’s a lot of creatives writing new shows that features people of color and their stories.
Actors and creatives can often work collaboratively and that offers me a chance to play new characters adding my own personality and individuality, rather than trying to fit myself into boxes portraying a pre-existing character played by numerous people.
It’s a refreshing experience and it keeps my creative juices flowing.
Yes, I have written a solo show called Welcome to Nowhere a while ago, it’s something I’ve never thought I’d be doing in my life!
It was a course requirement in drama school and since I was the only Hongkonger in our year, I wanted to talk about my identity and my experience of being a Hongkonger.
Eventually, I drew inspiration from the TV show The Good Place and created a piece that talked about my identity crisis as a Hongkonger – how I don’t feel like I belong anywhere and how my sense of self is affected living abroad and in the face of political conflicts between Hong Kong and China.
I’m very proud of what I’ve created, but I think my main passion will still be performing, since the idea of writing a script from scratch is still quite daunting for me.
Yes, I’ve worked in both areas because I don’t want to confine myself to the ‘musical theatre’ box so early on in my career. I think it’s important to try everything to explore and become a more adaptable actress.
In terms of theatre work here, I was mostly involved in new musical projects, some of which features an all East-Asian cast which I think is amazing.
My experience in film/TV is not as in-depth as theatre, but so far, I’ve done a music video, a short film about human trafficking in the UK and I’ve been on a Bollywood TV series.
Writing and staging my own solo show is definitely one of the highlights. After graduating drama school, I was offered a chance to make a public debut of the show in a festival.
It was a really stressful time for me. Having to rewrite the show and not knowing how the audience will perceive it. But it all worked out really well. I had a wonderful time collaborating with my director. I had the best support from my tutors and classmates. And my brother and his wife flew all the way to watch me perform on stage for the first time. It was a magical ride and I’m very proud of how far I’ve come.
It sounds cliché but honestly, don’t give up. Just because you never know how close you are to achieving your goals.
The performing arts industry is very tough. It’s full of uncertainties and rejections. But keep on trying and keep working on your craft. Put yourself out there to connect with people and be prepared for auditions. Your big break might just be around the corner. You never know!
I’d love to be in an original cast of a new musical and to play a character I fully resonate with. But at the end of the day, I just hope to keep doing what I love for the rest of my life.
Social Media Links
Instagram @carmen_lawkm
Twitter @carmen_lawkm
Actor, Director, and Lecturer in Hong Kong: Billy Sy
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Liam Klenk was born in Central Europe and has since lived on four continents. Liam has always been engaged in creative pursuits, ranging from photography and graphic design, to writing short stories and poetry, to working in theatre and shows. In 2016, Liam published his first book and memoir, 'Paralian'.
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