You’ve been relatively absent from the big screen in Hong Kong recently, how have you been? I heard from many fans asking whether I left my acting career behind because they haven’t seen me for a while on the screen. The answer is no. I still enjoy shooting dramas but shifted my emphasis to the Mainland. I already completed a few series at Heng Dian TV and film production base and also filmed New Year comedies to add to the joy of the Spring Festival. It will not take long for the Hong Kong audience to see me again on the screen because I will come back soon. What are some of the main differences between Canada – where you grew up – and Hong Kong and China – where your career is now focused? The lifestyle of the little Canadian town where I spent my childhood was quite simple, while Hong Kong is an allinclusive and ever-changing international metropolis. I am satisfied with my adaptability because I kept up with the pace here. For example: I can communicate in Cantonese now though knowing nothing at the beginning; a great learning curve. Moreover, being here also gave me a chance to experience traditional Chinese culture. I was honored and happy to hang my name plate on the ancestral temple of our family during my visit to my home town: Shun De, Guangdong province.
strawberry in the field during the downtime and it felt as sweet and comfortable as in the Canadian town. The production base is more well-known across the world attracting not only the local production teams but the international peers. It is a very promising place. You appeared in many charity events in spite of your tight schedule. What message are you spreading to the audience? I’ve paid great attention to the charity field ever since winning the beauty contest in 2001 because I was lucky enough to have so many supporters. So I believe it is my responsibility to enhance the social awareness of charities through my role of Miss Chinese and as an actress. My efforts included establishing a target scholarship in Canada for local Chinese students to encourage them to chase their dreams. I also authored four books in Hong Kong, each of which was dealing with a type of children’s charity organization to help readers get familiar with the small-sized charitable groups badly in need of donation and social attention. Aside from your charity work and your acting career, you also make wine. How did you feel when you won an international award for your wine? Every bottle has its unique taste. Making wine has become my hobby since my purchase of a French vineyard after my first bottle made in the U.S. in 2008. I fly to the yard each year to enjoy harvesting grapes and making wines to share with friends. Winning a prize never came to my mind because it was great enough to satisfy my guests. That is why I felt so flattered and surprised when receiving the news that Bellavizio (meaning: sweet misunderstanding) was appointed to receive the Gold Medal of red wine in the International Women’s Wine Competition and a Bronze medal in the first DAWA (Decanter Asia Wine Awards). It was literally a sweet misunderstanding to me, as the name of the wine suggested.
I have shifted my career focus to the Mainland since 2011 for the additional opportunities there and the exciting challenges such as the different language, environment and culture. But the change from Hong Kong to the Mainland was much easier than leaving everything in Canada to chase my dream in Hong Kong. I spent quite some time in Heng Dian when I was shooting dramas up there. It’s a small and quiet town that felt so similar to where I grew up. I would go pick corn and February 2014
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