When you think of Chinese movie stars, who comes to mind? If it takes you a few moments to come up with a name or two, don't worry – you're not alone. While Hollywood film stars seem to have global recognition, stars in the Chinese film industry have yet to become household names outside of China, Hong Kong and Taiwan. But now that you're a bonafide expat, don't you think it's time for you to familiarize yourself with those actors and actresses who serve as pillars of Chinese pop culture? Read on for a basic guide to the major stars.

Andy Lau 刘德华

Born on September 27, 1961, in Hong Kong, Andy Lau grew up in a household with no indoor plumbing. Despite various hardships, he graduated from Kowloon's Ho Lap College where he picked up the lifelong hobby of Chinese calligraphy. After joining a television studio's training programme, Lau was cast in The Emissary in 1982. This role led to more acting opportunities in television, music videos, and movies. His first role came in Once Upon a Rainbow, but he gained much of his popularity playing bad guys with hearts of gold in movies like As Tears Go By (1988) and A Moment of Romance (1990). Some people say Lau is simply a pretty face, an accusation not helped much by his other career as a Canto-pop singer, but the fact is the man knows how to get people to the movie theater – he was given the “Number One Box Office Actor 1985-2005 Award” in 2005, for having grossed $1,733,275,816 HKD at the box office in over 100 movies. He's found modest success overseas as well, in Infernal Affairs (2003) and House of Flying Daggers (2004), which made $92,893,945 at the worldwide box office.