Hong Kong singer-actress Karen Mok split from her long-time beau Stephen Fung at the end of 2007 but she has found a new leading man. For her next film, that is.

The 38-year-old will be starring with heart-throb Louis Koo in producer Derek Yee's new romantic drama. It will be directed by Chiu Sung Kee, who last helmed the action drama Brothers (2007).

It marks a return to the genre for Yee since he directed the well-received Lost In Time (2003) and C'est La Vie, Mon Cherie (1994).

Mok sounded excited about the project but was non-committal about her real-life relationship status.

She said from Hong Kong: 'I'm just as busy as ever, single or not single. I love my work.'

Indeed, she has been keeping busy. The hardworking entertainer picked up the prestigious Golden Melody award for Best Album last year for Live Is...

'Yes, very excited about that,' she said, but added: 'It's a very challenging time in the music business. I'm exploring other platforms for presenting my music.'

She also starred in a horror flick, director Ekachai Uekrongtham's The Coffin (2008), which opened at No. 1 at the box office here. The film is about people lying inside coffins to change their bad luck and Mok had to do that.

'The idea was kind of scary but shooting it was not scary at all. It was uncomfortable more than anything else because it's hard inside the coffin,' said the game star.

Mok is currently the ambassador for the 33rd Hong Kong International Film Festival which takes place from March 22 to April 13.

Celebrity photographer Wing Shya took a series of shots titled In The Mood For Cinema with Mok in various guises, including in 18th-century French get-up a la Dangerous Liaisons (1988).

She has also been deeply involved in charity work and calls attention to the first anniversary of the devastating Sichuan earthquake.

Responding to criticism of stars who use such activities as a publicity tool, she says: 'I think I've been able to see a difference when we do these things. I've tons of other ways to promote myself but doing charity is to help people.'

This article was first published in The Straits Times.