No matter if you’re a simple and honest man or a pure girl, you will be tempted by fame and fortune. Getting gains and lust arouses the heart. After being influenced, it’s very difficult to escape a downward spiral.
Putting yourself in the entertainment industry, not going with the waves and depending on your conscience to do things, generally speaking, in ten people, there are only two. One has been kicked out and the other can only merely survive. Luckily, Linda Chung Ka Yan is this survivor!
The Linda in the mirror before was a pure TVB ‘fa dan’ [leading lady]; the Linda in the mirror afterwards is still a good girl. Facing the entertainment industry’s big influence, she feels a little helpless. ‘Honestly, not changing is difficult. I have some friends in the entertainment industry. After entering the industry, I noticed they slowly view slowly changed, do you understand’ There are many things that can make you change [your character], so it’s very easy to change.’
Being an artist, of course you would want to be successful and receive both fame and fortune. To achieve this goal, some people resort to any means [possible]. They’ll stick to rich businessmen with power and status. They trade feelings for opportunities and their bodies for easy money; every person has his or her own path. Linda also has faced some of this temptation. ‘I went to a party once, but as soon as I went [inside], I saw and heard that it was wild; it really wasn’t a ‘good’ party so I instantly walked out!’
Facing the storm that is the entertainment industry’s gains and lust, for newcomer Linda to endure, she had to use her conscience to work. It’s all because of her poor background. She could not fail her parents’ trust. Also, as a child, she learned from her parents the principle that ‘life is [your] pair of hands’. Linda wants to be successful; she also wants to be the No. 1 TVB sister. However, she is not willing to take shortcuts; therefore, she’s willing to start as a ‘kid sister’.
TVB series Heart of Greed [溏心風暴] was very hot. No matter if it’s ‘Dai Kai’ Louise Lee See Kei’s powerful words or ‘Sai Kai’ Susanna Kwan Guk Ying’s scheming, it causes people to strike the table and declare it’s great. For a series to be successful, of course it has to have conflicts between people. Among other things, the series included the relationship of ‘Seung Joi Sum’ and ‘Dak Dak Dei’ and the love triangle of ‘Ching Leung’. It caused the series to have balance and strike a chord with human nature and feelings. At the same time, it was also Linda’s opportunity to escalate [in status].
‘Out of all the series I filmed, ‘Seung Joi Sum’ is no doubt my most successful role. Before when I was acting in Virtues of Harmony II [皆大歡喜], Always Ready [隨時候命], or Forensic Heroes [法證先鋒], when I went out in the streets, there would be people who would call out my name. However, with Heart, the audience was totally immersed into the series. Especially sometimes when I see a couple, the girlfriend would come over and say something very nice like, ‘My boyfriend likes you a lot!’. The boyfriend would be very nervous to take a picture with me. After taking the picture, [they] would tell me, ‘Don’t give up, you will definitely make it!’ I felt very happy and also found it very humorous.’
Losing the award, winning people’s hearts
A girl from a poor family who struggles for success, has a boyfriend who cheated on her, and a good friend as her foundation, the audience often felt sympathetic for ‘Seung Joi Sum’. ‘A lot of people told me that my crying could touch the audience. There are some artists who cry, but the result is not the same. I also don’t know why. Perhaps it’s partly because by nature I’m emotional and the rest is a result of the role - that is why my crying scenes were especially moving.’
Linda’s performance as ‘Seung Joi Sum’ was exceptional. It’s only because this year at the TVB Anniversary, facing Lee See Kei and Susanna Kwan, it made it inevitable for her to be overlooked. ‘If it was My Most Favorite Female Character, I would have a chance. Although the winner ‘Sai Kai’ was a villain, there are really a lot of people who like her. Furthermore, her acting skills are certainly excellent. I could in no way compare.’
In ‘Heart of Greed’, Linda performed as ‘Seung Joi Sum’ and caused people to notice her [and leave an impression]. Even though she could not become a ‘TV Queen’ like ‘Dai Kai’ and ‘Sai Kai’, she is already ‘in your heart’.
Linda lost the award, but won the people’s heart. Men and women of the audience love to watch her because of her positive image. ‘The people around me have told me that I have ‘fate’ [yuen] with the audience. However, I really don’t know. If it’s beauty, then I’m not very pretty. Perhaps, speaking ordinarily-wise, the audience feels that it’s easy to approach me. It could also be that my speech is not threatening; there’s no ‘power’, so they feel more personal [with me].’
Poverty being very happy
The Linda in Heart of Greed is a hard-working and economical person. In reality, she is also a simple, hard-working, and economical girl; it was taught by her family.
Linda was born in a small town in eastern Vancouver, Canada. She jokingly says that she was born to be encouraged by people to participate in beauty pageants.
She was born in a small town in the eastern part of Vancouver, Canada. Her family consists of an elder brother and elder sister. Ever since she was little, the lives of the family of five depended on hard labor. Both her father and mother worked three or four jobs in order to provide books for school. It’s because of this that since she was little, Linda knew that a luxuriant lifestyle was not easy to come by. ‘At the beginning when my mommy and daddy immigrated to Canada, they did not have a lot of money, but they still had to raise us three kids. Every day after school, we would go with mommy to where she had to work. We would then wait until she was off. Afterwards, we’d return straight home and she’d cook dinner and daddy would wash the dishes.’
Although at that time, her home environment was not good, the family was content and happy. This is the kind of happiness that money cannot buy. ‘The happiest was on Christmas. Mommy wanted to buy presents for us, but she didn’t have the money, so what [could she do]’ Mommy got in line for free gifts - they were second hand toys. You had to wait in line for one or two hours and the gifts were not wrapped. After finishing waiting, when mommy went home, she had to rush to work and could not wrap them, so she placed the gifts in plastic bags and hung them in the hallway. When we three returned home from school and saw the presents, we were very happy! Even though the toy was not new, the fact that mommy had to wait in line for two hours to get them made the sentimental value of the gift out-weigh that of a brand-new gift.’
Morals lead correctly
As the baby of her family, ever since she was little, Linda was protected and loved by them. After winning the Miss Chinese International 2004 pageant, she had to go to Hong Kong alone in order to develop [her career]. Leaving her home at 20 years-old, her parents were so worried that they aged a few more years. ‘My parents are both very open and really support and trust me. They know I would not smoke or go out and drink. I won’t for no reason at all make things more difficult than necessary. I won’t go with men that I don’t know. They know that my principles are very strong. My whole family is like this. I felt that the industry would not change my character.’
In 2004, Linda represented Vancouver to compete in the ‘Miss Chinese International’ pageant. She depended on her pure appearance to change from a ‘cold door’ into a ‘hot door’ and finally succeeded in winning.
After not even stepping into the world that deeply, Linda entered the entertainment industry. Facing many external forces that were tempting, Linda rejoices her [good] fortune that after entering the industry for over three years, her head is still very clear. ‘Honestly, not changing is difficult. I have some friends in the entertainment industry. After entering the industry, some of them slowly changed, do you understand’ There are many things that can make you change [your character], so it’s very easy to change. I won’t go to ‘complicated’ places. Work is work; after getting off work is when I can be with my friends.’
Asked her about a bunch of temptations such as rich and powerful men and dinner parties of powerful officials’ What about drugs’ Sexually arousing substances’ Linda firmly said, ‘Perhaps it’s because I’m the ‘good’ type. The time that I spend chatting with other people, if I feel that our personalities are not a match, then I won’t go out with them! I tried it once; some people told me to go to a party. I shouldn’t have gone, but once I went and saw before my eyes and heard that it was wild and not ‘proper’, I immediately left!’ When asked to go into detail, Linda’s manager gave a glaring look. ‘No’ no’ that’s all I have! I don’t know what else to say.’ Linda immediately quiets and awkwardly smiles.
Destined for the artist road
Linda is the baby of her family; her relationship with her two-years elder sister is the best. From choosing her classes in school to entering beauty pageants, it was all her sister’s idea.
The road of an artist sometimes means resorting to any means possible, but Linda is still stable presently. She comfortably walks in the road ahead of her. 23-year-old Linda never had plans for her future. No matter if it was her education or participating in a beauty pageant, everything was arranged by her two-years elder sister. Her fate determined that she would gradually enter the entertainment industry, by promotion from a ‘Miss Chinese International’ into a TVB ‘fa dan’.
‘Honestly, by nature I am very nervous and easily become frightened blue with a ‘chicken’ voice. However, after going through things every time, I would get used to it. It’s as if there’s an angel helping me, guiding me.’
After winning Miss Chinese International 2004, in 2006 Linda accepted and filmed her second series Always Ready in which she was the female lead*. In the future, she received series after series - the work just came to her. In three years time, she already gloriously rose to become a TVB ‘fa dan’, on the same rank as Bernice Liu Bik Yi and Shirley Yeung Sze Kei.
‘I’m really very lucky. The company gave many special opportunities to me. I know that actually many people won’t necessarily have that many opportunities [as me]. Even after spending a lot of time, they also won’t necessarily be able to accomplish [the opportunities]. For myself, timing, the heaven’s timing, advantages, and people all aided me completely. I hope that this ‘luck’ will continue to come. I will also myself work my hardest. However, climbing up too fast just means a faster fall. That’s why my family also thinks a break is a good thing. I can return to Canada to refresh and watch a lot of series. After I return in 3 weeks, I can have something new to offer the audience.’
On the TVB Anniversary night in 2006, Linda depended on her first leading role in ‘Always Ready’ to win ‘Most Improved Actress’**
Mentioned ‘Raymond Lam’, smiled sweetly
Linda’s 2007 was indeed a very fruitful year. In addition to acting as ‘Seung Joi Sum’, she also acted in the movies Love is Not All Around [十分愛] and Playboy Cops [花花刑警]. At the same time she also tried stage performances. Her career was successful. Her ‘peach blossom’ [love life] was also bearing. Her rumored boyfriends came one after another. During the time she filmed The Gem of Life [珠光寶氣], there were rumors that she called Moses Chan Ho to drive her [to work]. Moses’ rumored girlfriend Bernice Liu did not receive such [treatment].
‘Please never write that I am a third party! I don’t want to be a third party. I will never be a third party,’ Linda sternly said.
‘Before I used to blush at false tabloid rumors because I didn’t know what to do, I didn’t know how to respond. I’d go home and browse the reports thoroughly. Being in the entertainment industry, you have tabloids that write what they want to write. I myself won’t be able to do [that].’ The male artists that Linda was rumored with this year’ ‘Raymond Lam Fung, Ng Wan Lung, Joey Leung Wing Chung!’ she laughed, only showing her teeth, not her eyes.
When asked of her to appraise her hotly rumored boyfriend Raymond, Linda was bashful. However, after discovering that Raymond appraised*** her in an interview, Linda showed interest and only after finished listening [to what he said about her] did she reply. ‘He is really a gentleman. His singing is very, very good. He’s quite good. His merits are especially great.’ (Is he your cup of tea’) ‘Who knows’ We only have friendship. I haven’t thought about it. Work comes first!’ In this moment [of the interview], Linda smiled the sweetest.
Linda filmed and sung a duet with Raymond Lam. Although she doesn’t want to date yet, the two of them smile very sweetly at each other. They are already regarded as an on-screen couple.
‘Thrift Sister’ Character
For this interview, Linda had to buy a name-brand umbrella and bring along a personal umbrella - displaying her kid ’sister’ status.
Linda [so far] filmed a total of eleven series; out of those, ten have her as the leading actress****. From early on she was already a ‘kid sister’, but she says, ‘I am in the middle, I haven’t yet achieved [status].’
For the interview that day, Linda agreed to the reporter’s request to bring along a personal umbrella. ‘This type I don’t use every day. I use a folding umbrella because I can put it in my bag. However, this one is more beautiful.’ The umbrella is not name-brand. A colleague [of this magazine] from Tseung Kwong O said, ‘Linda’s home is in Tseung Kwong O. Every day she’ll leave and come back, always using the subway.’
Her body is a ‘kid sister’, but she doesn’t love name-brands and isn’t afraid of riding the subway with ‘regular’ people; on-stage and off, her words are consistent. ‘Thrift sister’ Chow Wai Man finally has a successor
Original Chinese text & pictures credits to Tintintammy @ lindaclub.net
Notes/Corrections/Clarifications
* - Linda was not the ‘female lead’ of Always Ready. Although she had the most screen time overall, she was officially credited as the third lead [really supporting] behind both Charmaine Sheh and Shirley Yeung.
** - Linda won the Most Improved Actress award in 2006 for not only Always Ready, but also for The Biter Bitten [人生馬戲團] and Forensic Heroes
*** - In several interviews, Raymond Lam has said that Linda is his ‘type’ and has praised her [talents/improvements]. In a fans meeting, he was asked what he thought of Linda. He replied saying that she’s ‘not bad’ and that she’s the ‘type’ that he ‘likes’. In another interview, Raymond said that he and Linda are friends and that she’s like a school girl - innocent. He further elaborated that sometimes talking to her is a bit frustrating because she’s so ‘clueless’ sometimes and doesn’t know what’s going on.
**** - Again, 3 Weekly exaggerates or perhaps got its facts wrong. Linda did not lead 10 out of her 11 series. Linda only truly led in The Biter Bitten, Best Bet [迎妻接福], Heart of Greed, Legend of the Demigods [搜神傳], and A Journey Called Life [金石良緣]. That’s only 5 series out of 11! If they meant she had a ’significant’ main female role, then I can accept that.[by mv_288]
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