ARTISTE SPOTLIGHT
Two Extremes
I lived for over thirty years in Grampian Road, so you can call me a 'local'. Maybe it is fate, but even though I have moved away, whenever I have time, I will come back to the old places in Kowloon City and walk around. Apart from working, most of my day is spent in Kowloon City - going to the restaurant for dim sum and chatting to the old neighbours; after buying my groceries at five or six in the evening, then I go back home to cook. I usually cook for the maid, because I think my cooking is great and as she has worked for me for so many years, it doesn't matter. This is my life.
Day after day for ten years, it is as quiet a life as an angel's.
I love to drink and I can take my alcohol. Over the years, I have forced myself not to touch a drop during the day, but when the night falls, I cannot resist it and whether it is with a few friends, or just on my own, I will find enjoyment in the glass.
Although I turn into a demon at night, being friends with me gives you two great advantages. Firstly, I can keep a secret, so I can share anything with you and I will keep it safe. Moreover, I am available at any time, so even it if is two or three in the morning, as long as there is something to drink, I will be there for you. I can't stand 'binge drinking' though, that is very harmful to your body, so you can count me out. When I drink with my friends, then I am just looking for some happiness and relaxation.
Take my daughter for example, she often joins me for a glass or two and talks about whats on her mind. In life, you sometimes have to learn to let your hair down and the most important thing is that provided you don't affect other people, then sometimes you should just do as you wish.
Fool
Time flies and I have been in the industry for over thirty years now. If you ask me the actual year, it has been so long that I don't remember, I would say it was around 1971 or 1972. Talking of this, the way I entered the industry was very corny - I went along with a friend to audition for the 'Shaw Brothers Southern Experimental Troupe' (Shaw Brothers Drama School - other alumni include Cheng Pei Pei, Helen Ma and Ng See-Yuen) and in the end, my friend was rejected and I was accepted.
At the time, I was helping my father out with his travel agent business, but after several examinations, auditions and performances during the application process, I realised that the chance of being accepted was not easily achieved, so I made up my mind to give it a try.
The course lasted a year and the students had to learn dance, martial arts, acting and make up, so it was not easy at all. After about six months training, then we were given the chance to go to the studios and have some practical experience. At the time, director Cheung Cheh was filming for the film "The Singing Killer" and he needed some dancers urgently. Maybe because I had been learning Thai Boxing from an early age and was quite agile, so my dance instructor put me forward for the role. After shooting this film, Shaw Brothers signed me officially.
Every time I mention this, my daughter will laugh at me, saying: "That can't be true! Dad, you going dancing?"
Not just that! When I joined TVB, I was a dancer there for a few days! However, I was quickly transferred to the artiste department, where I started to do variety shows, but on the very first performance, I made a fool of myself. That night, the director wanted us to sing, but because he felt I was inexperienced, he wanted me to just mime. I thought that as I had been a dancer, then miming would be easy, but during the performance, a fan presented me with some flowers and I was so happy that I received them with both hands [moving the microphone away] and it was only when I had finished singing that I had made such a fool of myself.
Ambition
Over the years, I have played many roles, but if you ask me which was the most memorable, I would not be able to answer you. If you ask the audience, they would probably say it was "The Greed of Man". Of course, I liked the character, but to me, this series is not as special to me as other people think. I guess that I have seen through this as I approach sixty years of life, that the most important thing is your health and a comfortable, quiet life.
When you are young, then everyone has their ambitions and my own was even more exaggerated than to become a successful artiste. Before I was ten, I lived in Guangzhou and at a young age, I was already representing the city in table tennis competitions. At the time, China was at a golden age of development into table tennis and the national team were winning many of the international competitions. My ambition was naturally to join the national table tennis team and become a national hero one day.
Talking of this after so many years, brings a smile to my face. This is life.
At the moment, the most important thing is to live healthily and happily. To balance my extravagances, I make myself do some exercise every day and I have the equipment at home to make sure I don't cut any corners. In so many decades, I have kept a 32 inch waist and a good level of fitness.
I have been married to my wife [Chan Bo Yee, former actress and cousin of Connie Chan Po Chu] for so long that we have become a pair of old friends now, who each have their own social circle; my three daughters have grown up and also have their own lives. I don't get bored though, in fact I rather enjoy having my own space.
Will I retire? Just like entering the industry and this job, I have not thought about it much. Maybe one day, no producers will give me any more work and then I will know that is the day to retire. Looking at the current situation though, the chances are very slim.
Article translated by Em
Source and Pictures: TVB Weekly - Issue 468 - 06/06/06
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