KEYPAD Cover Story: Bowie Lam 林保怡

VOGUE | COVER STORY

Life

Savouring 細

味

人

生

林保怡

BOWIE LAM

Art Direction / Lilian . Photography / Harlim Djauhar Winata . Videography / Vincent Ip Makeup Artist / Jeff Yuen@Essensuals & Toni&Guy Coordination / Brian Chu . Assistants / Debby Cheung, Yuki Lee, Timothy Chan . Text / Sophia Lam Wardrobe / CANALI, DAKS, HUGO BOSS, IWC, ROLEX

他是《妙手仁心》裏的風流醫生､《鑑證實錄》裏的能幹警探､《金枝慾孽》裏的癡情御醫─ 幾乎什麼角色都演過的「他」，正是我們獨一無二的林保怡。 封面拍攝期間，保怡不但對工作人員友善有禮，而且發揮了一個經驗豐富的演員應有的專業精 神，讓拍攝順利進行，難怪廣受歡迎。以歌手身分出道的他，不論音樂戲劇都是獎座一籮籮。 在這次訪問中，我們很高興能聽他分享過去幾年遇過什麼挑戰，以及來年有何計劃，就在這訪 問當中細味他豐盛的演藝路。 He’s done it all.

He was the romantic doctor in Healing Hands. He was the tough Senior Inspector in Untraceable Evidence. He was the amorous Imperial doctor in War and Beauty. He is the one and only Bowie Lam. During the cover shoot, Bowie justified his position as a beloved and seasoned actor not only because of his genuine friendliness, but also for the professionalism he delivered that made the process smooth sailing. Debuted as a singer, he has won countless awards, in the fields of music and drama alike. We were fortunate to grab hold of his time to hear him share about his past challenges and new directions – and along the way, we got to savour the little details of his illustrious life.

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On Bowie Terry Effect Cotton Jacket with Horizontal Stripes, Cotton Double Dress Shirt, Linen and Silk Pants from CANALI; Cellini Time from ROLEX

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VOGUE | COVER STORY

豐富的履歷表 A Vast Resume 對很多人而

，林保怡是個演員，

是這位五十歲的演員，在成為亞洲區電視

樂圈前，保怡當過辦公室助理。「 ，於是 進

定

隊，而

由，

過

我

有人

能 之時，

「我很慶

生活的目

全不 身了

，出現在

為，保怡演技如此 然受

去

室的

有需要的人。他

。他小時 作，

， 上

時裝品牌的廣

實，必定是從小就

，於是開

是現代

老 版上

樂之 。他回

、送文 ，組 說

的面

前，過著

樣的生活

全都一手包辦。」這樣的生活

樂隊

作

。他的

「當時

林保怡

歷

鮮為人

令他無法建立

謂多姿多

是名不經傳，

。

，不但曾 給

我很多自

常感謝他們。」

當上了演員，因為在 的意

時每天都要

開辦公室後，他一

理想，故此我一

演員無論演古裝 著

特

。

上最

。

，你

世界

本

，都有著 在啟 了醫療

「今天再選

想成為演員。然而事實上，投身影視業對他而

了他的演員生 以在 的演出經 機場

近，所以

想是成為機師

助的重要性，

的話，我想

變身另一個人。我每次演

，讓他得以接觸各種本來 他

到後來

不

時，都

成為了

個角色。」這位影

及的職業。事實上，「

攝《妙手

無國界醫生、

不過是個巧合。一次代

心》，他的

教會和國際

級

想」對年少的保怡有

想又有所改變了。他得以 金，在自

能力範

內

助

醫生。」

People knew him as an actor, but few knew the life the fifty-year old actor led before becoming one of the most familiar faces on Asia’s small screen. Prior to setting foot in the entertainment business, Bowie was an office assistant. “I often had to run errands for the boss. Fetching him coffees and documents were my daily chores then.” Unable to build up any savings, he decided to look for a direction for life. Leaving the office, he had a go at music, playing the drums and writing songs for his band. He even worked his way through the police force and onto the fashion billboards in Causeway Bay. “At that time,” he recalled. “Bowie Lam was a name yet to be known. I’ve always thanked my parents for the freedom they gave me. They’ve always encouraged me to pursue what I love doing.”

One might assume that, with such consummate acting skills, becoming an actor had been Bowie’s childhood aspirations. But in fact, entering the showbiz industry was nothing more than a coincidence. Once, on behalf of a friend, he visited a television drama producer who later invited him to an audition. That was how it all began.

“I’m glad I became an actor, because as you go over the script, you are transformed into a fictional character in a made-up world. For me, I literally become the character I play.” The TV heartthrob’s colourful history of dramatic roles in both historical and modern dramas has exposed him to various occupations which would have been otherwise elusive for him. Indeed, dreams had quite a different meaning to Bowie when he was young. Once, his flight of fancy was to become a pilot as he lived near the Kai Tak Airport during his youthful days. When he was shooting Healing Hands, he acquired first-hand knowledge in the emergency room and witnessed the importance of medical aid, which urged him to make donations to the Médecins Sans Frontières, Christian churches and international children’s funds to help the needy within the scope of his ability. “If I get to choose again today, I’d want to be a doctor.”

On Bowie BOSS Navy Cotton Trench Coat, Navy Checked Virgin Wool Suit, Light Blue Cotton Shirt, Navy Cotton Knitted Tie and Navy Silk Pocket Square from HUGO BOSS

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VOGUE | COVER STORY

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穿過地平線的目光 To See Beyond the Horizon 在本地電視 80後》， 獲得人

光 美

。「人

過去幾年，他 都有人

上努力了22年後，林保怡 化不

種

看得更遠 對他演過的 面

，事前不由得要多下 如此。「每次

的時

大

發展，除了出演不少電視

的電影，包括 上小小的一

面會，看到亞洲 如指

最大的挑戰無 。保怡演

到新

開了香港，進

參與了好

香港不過是世界地

到世界各地舉行

識他，

開香港後，保怡 說

的角色，

者

執導、

。」，他感 全球的景

，不

，如《 二

美

的《

》和《老

大人是

平輪》，在中國市場

道。 常

。更令他

的是，遠

歐洲及美洲

。 是

。有一次，他要主持一個 也不忘貫

本都好像重新從新人

這種

起，也

於電影的

真的態度，許多人以為演 常慶

話節目， 了，看

到今天，我都會為了如何演

本

為了滿 輕就

角色而感到緊

興

對自

的要

，對保怡來 。」

After 22 years of appearance on the local small screen, Bowie left Hong Kong and went to Mainland China for new opportunities.

There, not only did he perform in various drama series like A Perfect Husband and Pretty Wife 80’, he also participated in various star-studded film productions including The Crossing Part, which was directed by John Woo and eventually hit $200 million at the box office. gaining popularity in Chinese households. “People should look farther beyond – Hong Kong is but a tiny spot on the world map,” he exclaimed. Crossing the globe to hold fan meetings in the last few years, he was surprised by the number of Asian faces in other parts of the world. It was to his utter amazement that, as far as Europe and the Americas, there were people who recognized him and the dramas he’d been in.

During these years after he left Hong Kong, the biggest challenge he faced was unsurprisingly the language barrier. Once he hosted a programme about movies which is completely conducted in Mandarin. “I demand a lot from myself, so I had to do a lot of preparations beforehand,” he recalled. His earnest attitude extends to his dramatic performance as well. Many may think that reading a script should be effortless after so many years of acting, but it was never like that for Bowie. “I feel like a rookie every time I receive a new script, bubbling with excitement. I’m glad of that.”

On Bowie British Style Suit from DAKS; Portugieser Perpetual Calendar from IWC

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VOGUE | COVER STORY

優質節目 Quality Shows 近年 相

活

產「高

五年在《紙牌 。保怡 當演

外國電視 性和

素電視 》

」，

謂電視業

擔正主演。香港代

金時代的 有

。一

生，一向活

著名電影明星 於

對回歸本地電視

抱開放態度，

深信此舉有助提高其演

角色

不管是電視

是電影，我都

有所謂。」

最

他之

素。不過保怡始

來年保怡將會在其

就是

們的「

創性」，不

相信香港也能出產自家高

樂事業上多花心思，為未來的

如何，2016年對林保怡來說，必定是

的

種也能

花

節目，回到電視 構思更多

電視界，像

的他，去年在《 ，他

西繼2008年後，

重來，

「對我來說，選

放。然而，香港的電視頻道 的

文斯

》一

此勇

本的

競爭，

視

在於我能 了節目的多樣

金時期。

能性，但他不

會以自

的

，選

自

喜歡走的

。無論

的一年！

In Hollywood, “quality television” has been the trend in recent years and many think the Golden Age of Television has befallen.

Reputable movie stars are having a go at television, like how Kevin Spacey took the leading role in House of Cards five years later since Recount in 2008. In Hong Kong, Anthony Wong made a comeback in the drama Lord of Shanghai after years of activity on the silver screen, which ultimately earned him the Best Actor Award. In view of this, Bowie expressed openness towards returning to local TV dramas, agreeing it would be helpful to boost his acting skills. “It all comes down to whether I can handle the character. The cinemas or the television… it doesn’t really matter,” he explained.

The thing that attracted him the most in foreign dramas is their originality. Different genres flourish. However, the lack of competition in Hong Kong’s television channels has been a hindrance to the diversity of local programmes. Nevertheless, Bowie believed that Hong Kong can produce its own quality shows and return to its golden era.

In the coming year, Bowie will spend more time on creating new music and conjure up more ideas for future passion projects.

Nonetheless, this time round, he is marching to the beat of his own drum. We have no doubt that 2016 will be a great new year for Bowie Lam!

開林保怡封面

攝的

家

後花

，

keypad com hk

Unveil the exclusive behind-the-scenes cover shoot of Bowie at keypad.com.hk

On Bowie BOSS Grey Checked Virgin Wool Suit, White, Cotton Shirt, Black Silk Knitted Tie and White Linen Pocket Square from HUGO BOSS; Portugieser Annual Calendar from IWC

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