War and Beauty is a Hong Kong television period drama serial that originally aired on TVB Jade from 23 August to 2 October 2004, consisting of 30 episodes. It stars TVB Best Actress winners Sheren Tang (2009/2010), Maggie Cheung (2003), Charmaine Sheh (2006/2014), and Gigi Lai. It also stars TVB Best Actor winners Bowie Lam and Moses Chan (2007). It received widespread praise among critics and audiences for its acting and plot. It continues to remain one of the most popular TVB dramas and is often referenced as the first drama series that sparked the popularity for palace scheming dramas in Hong Kong such as Beyond the Realm of Conscience and Mainland Chinese dramas including Empresses in the Palace, Story of Yanxi Palace and Ruyi's Royal Love in the Palace. In 2022, the drama was selected as one of ten classic TVB dramas being honoured for a new joint Youku and TVB programme. In 2022, Tang, Cheung, and Sheh reprised their roles for the Zhejiang Television, Youku, and TVB-produced variety show Memories Beyond Horizon.
Official poster
DVD cover.
TVB Anniversary Award for Best Actress
The TVB Anniversary Award for Best Actress in a Leading Role is one of the TVB Anniversary Awards presented annually by Television Broadcasts Limited (TVB) to recognize an actress who has delivered an outstanding performance in Hong Kong television dramas throughout the designated year. This award is usually reserved to be one of the last awards presented, and is one of the most premier and publicized awards of the ceremony. An actress who wins Best Actress is referred to as the TV Queen (視后). The leading contenders of the award, or those who reach the top 5 during nomination, are generally actresses currently considered as the fadans of TVB.
Liza Wang won two of her five top nominations, including her performances in 2001's The Awakening Story and 2005's Wars of In-Laws
Charmaine Sheh was nominated eleventh times with three wins, including her performances in 2006's Maidens' Vow, 2014's Line Walker and 2023's The Queen of News
Gigi Lai won in 2004 for her performance in War and Beauty
Louise Lee won in 2007 for her performance in Heart of Greed