KAREN Mok has been doing it her way for more than 20 years since she burst onto the Hong Kong entertainment scene. She's a free-spirited fashion muse, actress, singer, songwriter, animal rights activist and a new (one year) bride.

And things keep on getting better for the independent, 42-year-old who doesn't fit into celebrity or fashion molds, doesn't have a stylist and says, "Just wear something that makes you feel good."

Thankfully, she's no girlie Cantopop starlet. She's comely, approachable and fun, with an internationally educated mind of her own and a bold style. She's fluent in English, Italian, French, Mandarin and Cantonese.

Mok's latest news: She's finished her first jazz album. It's in English but includes two songs in Mandarin, one of which she composed. And she was singing jazz around town during the JZ Festival Shanghai.

She recently finished filming "The Man of Tai Chi," starring alongside Keanu Reeves, who makes his directorial debut. The big-budget Chinese-western coproduction of a martial arts thriller will be released next year.

A year ago in Italy, she married her first love, a German fellow with three children from a previous marriage. She told an interviewer last month that she has no plans to have children. They live in London and she splits her time between London and Hong Kong. Over the years, Mok has accumulated numerous awards, including three Golden Melody Awards from Taiwan and a Hong Kong Film Award for her role in "Fallen Angel" (1996). She has appeared in more than 40 films and isn't afraid of playing unattractive or ugly women (many Chinese actresses shrink from the thought). She's a favorite with designers.

Mok has launched her own lingerie collection and her own namesake perfume.

Multitalented, multitasking Mok was in Shanghai last week to judge a lingerie competition, the Triumph Inspiration Awards (she wore a bold, short, orange-red dress) and to promote her jazz album. She sat down with Shanghai Daily to discuss the Mok factor that goes beyond long legs, shapely figure, hearty chuckle and sexy voice. And loads of talent.

Describing that something special, that Mok magic, she mentions a butterfly because it represents "changing, evolving and transcending to something else." It represents Mok's spirit of pursuing new things.

Born Karen Joy Morris in Hong Kong, she has an international background. Her father is half-Chinese and half-Welsh, while her mother is half-Chinese, quarter-Iranian, and quarter-German. She was an outstanding student and went on to study in Italy and at University College London where she majored in Italian literature. She is the descendant of Alfred Morris, the first principal of King's College, Hong Kong, and the sister of writer and producer Trevor Morris.

Mok is the only family member who went into entertainment. "My best is yet to come is and that will always be my life's motto, because I am never satisfied with right now," Mok told Shanghai Daily.

Q: Tell us about your latest film with Keanu Reeves. He personally chose you for a leading role.

A: "Man of Tai Chi" is an upcoming Chinese American martial arts film directed by Reeves. I play a policewomen and it was great fun. It was a different experience and it was good to be able to work with Reeves. I was very, very lucky.



Q: You are in Shanghai for the ongoing JZ Festival Shanghai. You have a new jazz album for it?

A: I love jazz, and I'm really excited about the event. I composed one song in my new jazz album. The album is in English, with two songs in Chinese (I composed one of them).



Q: Today, women seem to have a lot of body issues, worrying about breasts they think are too larger or too small. Can you relate?

A: No one's perfect. Women just want to feel good about themselves and you shouldn't feel that you should look the way society dictates. Everyone is born in his or her own individual way. You should live with what you have and make the best of it. You may sometimes wonder, what if. Of course, everyone has questions at a certain point, but I am definitely not into it and I am a natural-chic person. I will never try to alter the way I look, you know, unnecessarily (laughs).



Q: You are very active in environmental and animal protection. What's your latest project?

A: I have a few that are constantly ongoing. For example, with Animals Asia, it's the campaign to help the moon bears in Sichuan Province (farmed for their medicinal bile). It's a long struggle so a lot of work needs to be done. Recently I have been working closely with Habitat, especially after the 2008 Sichuan earthquake, helping people rebuild their homes. It's really gratifying. Then there's Street Dogs and Cats in Hong Kong.



Q: You spend a lot of time on those projects. How do you balance your time?

A: They are all worthwhile projects and you will always be able to find what you really want to do, especially when the world is not perfect. There will always be issues you feel very strongly about and want to get involved in.



Q: Is your base in Hong Kong?

A: Actually I do not know, because I am everywhere and busy. I got married last year and am always between London and Asia. My husband and I live in London, which is great because I love the city and it's a good way to just wind out and get inspiration.

Q: Is there a place you want to visit?

A: Many, many many. But at the top of my list is the South Pole because I love the penguins.



Q: What's your next field?

A: At some point in my career, I would really like to do musicals. It's just one of the things I love. I used to watch so many musicals when I was studying in London. When I do it, I think it should be something that touches people's hearts.



Q: Your style is always unique. Do you work closely with a stylist or do you have your own opinion on your fashion campaigns?

A: Actually, I have never really had a stylist. Day-to-day I normally wear what I feel like. It's only when it comes to things like a public concert series that I of course have a designer to design clothing for the show. Then I work closely with them about what I want to convey.

Q: What's your favorite daily style? Is there a must-have fashion item for this season?

A: It depends on what I am doing and the occasion. I do not really have a list. But I just naturally get attracted to shoes and lingerie.

Q: What's your basic makeup?

A: Just sunscreen and concealer.



Q: How did you become interested in lingerie?

A: Actually, ever since I was a kid. My mother, back in her day, was really fashionable and a bit avant-garde. She used to buy me very nice panties, and I had the best panties in the whole class, really cute, girlie, lacy panties. Now, I have collected so much lingerie, and I have no clue how many items there are in my wardrobe.



Q: What does lingerie means to you?

A: It is probably the most important piece of clothing for a woman, because you wear it pretty much all the time and it's so personal. It's like your second skin. You carry yourself a little bit better, and then you look better. Comfort is important and crucial.



Q: Have your tastes in lingerie changed since your marriage? What kind of lingerie does your husband like you to wear?

A: I have always been a big fan of shoes and lingerie, my weaknesses. I have splurged a little more on lingerie since my wedding. My husband likes everything, everything I wear.



Q: The lingerie competition theme is "Dragons and Butterflies," which are you?

A: I hope butterfly. Who wants to be a dragon lady? (laugh). Actually, I'm a bit of both. If you see a dragon as powerful and strong, then of course I am that, but then I go for the butterfly a little bit more because it's the butterfly we associate with changing, evolving and transcending to something else. I try to do that a lot, especially in my work, so we'll be reborn into something else.



Q: What's your dream piece of lingerie?

A: I never thought about it that way. I don't know ... Made with diamonds and pearls and gold ... Like a million-dollar bra sort of thing.