Nicky Wu’s Popularity Topples Kevin Cheng in TV Awards Race
Taiwanese actor, Nicky Wu’s (吴奇隆) popularity has skyrocketed since his series Bu Bu Jing Xin <步步惊心> was broadcast last year. He was nominated for “Best Chinese Male Actor” in the 7th Annual Seoul International Drama Awards for his role as the “Fourth Prince.” Currently, online poll results show that Nicky received 45% of votes, surpassing Hong Kong’s hot favorite, Kevin Cheng (鄭嘉穎)! Kevin, who portrayed the “Eighth Prince,” only accumulated 25% of the votes to-date for his performance of the same series.
As Bu Bu Jin Xin was extremely popular in China, the series’ actress Cecilia Liu (刘诗诗) is also dominating with 51% of online votes, beating out Hong Kong actresses, Myolie Wu (胡杏兒), Fala Chen (陳法拉), and Jessica Hsuan (宣萱)!
When interviewed at the Swarovski grand opening celebration held at the Shanghai Exhibition Centre, Nicky may have been too immersed in his role in Bu Bu Jing Xin, causing him to answer questions with Fourth Prince’s mannerism. When asked of his performance in the series, Nicky indicated that he wished to perform to the best of his capabilities. He never thought of getting awards. He expressed, “Bu Bu Jing Xin allowed me to have more younger fans.”
As Nicky gained early recognition from movie Butterfly Lovers <梁祝>, directed by Tsui Hark (徐克) back in 1994, reporters questioned if he will reprise his role as Leung San Pak. Nicky said, “Previously, I was approached to film a Butterfly Lovers series, but I rejected it. I feel that a different generation requires a different cast. Who is the best candidate? You would have to ask director, Tsui Hark. I currently have no plans to film in Hong Kong.”
With his increasing popularity, Nicky admitted that he is quite selective of his work. He will consider films based on the script and production quality.
Nicky Refuses to Disclose Details of Love Life
Asked of his love life, Nicky’s face dropped and tone changed, “Do you know how busy I am? Where would I find time?” When pressed further, Nicky sadly laughed and said, “Do you have any other questions?” With his career flourishing, it will not be long before more rumors of his love relationships surface!
Rapist and Killer Linked to Nicky’s Movie Production
Nicky invested and produced in new drama, Legend of the White-Haired Maiden <白髮魔女傳> in which starred in as well. There has been recent rumors that two extra actresses from Legend of the White-Haired Maiden were raped and slained. Frustrated, Nicky replied, “There’s no such thing! I don’t want to respond. The victims are not part of the cast, so it’s not related to me!”
Note: This article is written for JayneStars.com. DO NOT re-post this article on any other websites. No part of this article may be copied, reproduced, rearranged, redistributed, modified by any means or in any form whatsoever without prior written permission. You may use the content online and for your non-commercial, personal use only. Copying these materials for anything other than your personal use is a violation of copyright laws.
Should you wish to share this article, we recommend that you: (i) link directly to the article at JayneStars.com on your website; or (ii) share this article link via social media sites such as Facebook and Twitter.
The only other Chinese male performance in 2011, I see comparable to what Nicky did for 4th Prince is Hawick’s Mo Shao Qian. Certainly not Kevin’s 8th Prince.
Disagree. Everyone benefited from respective role. But I wonder why anyone would like an abusive controlling crazy rapist boyfriend like Mo Shao Qian.
Hahahaha you are so funny!! but it’s true.
I don’t understand this. I never said Kevin was bad or that people didn’t benefit from their roles. Just that his performance wasn’t near the respective level of Nicky and Hawick. Has nothing to do with likability, but is based on judging acting. Lots of villains are memorable due to how cruel/evil/crazy they are. My mom didn’t even like 4th Prince, she thought he was cruel.
I thought Mo Shao Qian was more cruel than 4th prince. I don;t get his appeal except he is rich, he is young, he is handsome and we are all brainwashed by that stupid twilight and now that 50 shades of grey. Insane!!
advo I know what you mean but in a different context in other words Kevin wasn’t good as 8th prince. I will agree with that except now in retrospect he was 8th prince. It was a role tailor made for Kevin. Of course I can think of another actor but for Kevin, that would have been his defining role.
@ Funn
IDK if my mom watched Sealed with a Kiss, so it was not meant as a comparison. But if one were to compare, did 4th not treat his enemies with a harsh hand too? (Killing the eunuch, framing 8th for the dead bird and thereby causing other innocent deaths, the steaming of Yu Tan, humiliating 8th, making him kneel, etc.) The difference is, that MSQ’s perceived enemy was also the woman he loves so all his cruelty was aimed at her. Naturally, there is of course also the historical context of 4th’ action which mitigate a lot of what he did – but it’s still very cruel behaviour too? OTOH, MSQ was able to walk away from getting his revenge, while 4th Prince was never able to, even for RX. Personally, I think MSQ had a stronger penchant for cruelty than 4th Prince because MSQ actually did it to the person he loves. Yet a lot of it also stemmed from his guilt over loving the daughter of the man who killed his father. The more he loves, the more angry he becomes with himself (and her) and takes it out on her.
I do not make any claims to MSQ’s romantic appeal. I think he’s a terrible, abusive lover and you should call the police on his @ss if you met him in real life. But I don’t think SWAK can be compared to Twilight and the porn-version Twilight; 50 Shades. Because even though I found Tong Xue to be horribly insipid and a martyr, even she did not fall in love with him during his horrible abusive behaviour. I still find it unrealistic that she fell in love – in the end. I thought the show would have been much better if she had either fallen for the brother-in-law or gone back to her first boyfriend and MSQ getting a tragic ending, he deserved.
However, my point is, characters do not need to be likeable to be fascinating. (And the romantic appeal of a character is different from the entertainment value.) I thought Hawick gave an incredible layered and complex performance which certainly blew away Kevin’ 8th Prince. Again, I thought Kevin did a good job, but his character was essentially a very Kevin-ish character, just better written than TVB’s usual garbage. It was not a difficult role and he did not do anything special in it – even if it’s his defining role. Although, Kevin has improved greatly from his block of wood days of acting, I still don’t see him capable of the kind of very subtle acting that both Nicky and Hawick both to their roles. Kevin just still doesn’t have much range in his expressions.
” But if one were to compare, did 4th not treat his enemies with a harsh hand too? (Killing the eunuch, framing 8th for the dead bird and thereby causing other innocent deaths, the steaming of Yu Tan, humiliating 8th, making him kneel, etc.)”
True but he didn’t do all that to the woman he loved. That Sealed With A Kiss guy plays on the somehow crazy notion of women who love to be controlled, told what to do (Twilight) and sees physical act (such as slap etc) as something somewhat forgivable erotic (50 shades). Whatever 4th did, he never did all that to RX. Further,
Killing the eunuch
He had too. Because eunuch knew too much which could damage his bid to the throne and cause a civil war and people suffer
framing 8th for the dead bird
Not really. 8th had it coming for trying to frame him which ended with 13th in house arrest for 10 years
and thereby causing other innocent deaths
Such as? Why not 8th not bid for the throne, then no one else will die
the steaming of Yu Tan
He didn’t kill her 9 generations of family which to me is considered merciful. She after all spied on him for 9th and therefore betrayed him. Why should he be lenient to her and not to others?
humiliating 8th
Yes series wise he seems petty but then he was angry and 8th in the end had his ultimate comeuppance
making him kneel
8th kneel? Why not when he could have crippled him if he wanted to? He was emperor. But in the end whilst in prison don’t forget it was RX who handed him the poison. 4th didn’t really kill him.
That Sealed With A kiss is a really twisted love story. I don’t know, do women like man like Mo Shao Qian, such a damaged man? Thinking they can save him?
“) I thought Hawick gave an incredible layered and complex performance which certainly blew away Kevin’ 8th Princ”
Probably true, after all Hawick has a more proactive role. But which one of us didn’t feel sorry for 8th when his life sucks towards the end? Not in defense of Kevin as in who is a better actor, but character wise just because 8th is more docile doesn’t mean he is less interesting. In retrospect I realise Kevin did a wonderful job as 8th since it is essentially a role written for him. The burden, the gentlemanly behaviour, etc, even though I am pro 4th, I gotta admit his end made me tear up a little. Actually BBJX made me tear up a lot. Now for Sealed With A kiss, I get the appeal, however twisted it is. I understand what you mean; a character doesn’t have to be likeable is they’re fascinating and a damaged young rich handsome guy is fascinating I guess. But what I am saying is I don’t get the appeal of this anti hero so to speak. Why women would you know fall in love with that sort of character when nothing in the modern context justifies that sort of behaviour? I find him fascinating in a despicable way but like fans of Twilight and 50 shades, they find this particular character fascinating because they find him appealing. Which is weird for me. And Sealed With A Kiss reminds me of those Twilight and 50 Shades obsession; virginal innocent pretty young girl and the controlling abusive older richer handsome guy. Kinda like a fanfiction.
@ Funn
But your criticism of MSQ lies in how he’s a despicable person to love. I don’t dispute that at all. I’m just saying, that there are certainly other aspects to watching TV than fantasying about a man.
“True but he didn’t do all that to the woman he loved. That Sealed With A Kiss guy plays on the somehow crazy notion of women who love to be controlled, told what to do (Twilight) and sees physical act (such as slap etc) as something somewhat forgivable erotic (50 shades). Whatever 4th did, he never did all that to RX.”
I don’t believe that MSQ did the things he did under the notion that it was something TX liked. In fact, pretty sure it was the opposite effect he was going for.
And you are comparing apples to oranges. 4th did not do those things to RX – but she was also not his enemy. However, we saw that he could be very cruel to his enemies too. And I do not claim that he did not sometimes have good reasons – and btw, by eunuch, I actually meant the gross one who hit on RX.
“Not really. 8th had it coming for trying to frame him which ended with 13th in house arrest for 10 years”
…But he did not stop at the bird incident, in fact, since he ascended to the throne, he continue to get his revenge. And by innocent people, I’m talking about the people (person) who was killed when the Emperor investigated it.
You can rationalise his cruel behaviour, but at the end of the day, it’s still cruel behaviour.
“That Sealed With A kiss is a really twisted love story. I don’t know, do women like man like Mo Shao Qian, such a damaged man? Thinking they can save him?”
But SWAK is not a great love story. It’s a terrible love story. That doesn’t mean MSQ can’t be a fascinating character irrespective of the rest of the show.
“But which one of us didn’t feel sorry for 8th when his life sucks towards the end?”
But why would we not feel sorry for 8th Prince? He was portrayed (and written) as a kind-hearted gentleman, with minor character flaws throughout the show. It is Nicky who made a character which on paper might not look like the most likeable character ever, be sympathetic. Similarly, I thought Hawick did the same for MSQ, though obviously not to the same degree, given what MSQ have done – and I do draw the line at redemption and making him a romantic (anti)hero.
“Not in defense of Kevin as in who is a better actor, but character wise just because 8th is more docile doesn’t mean he is less interesting.”
I agree. But that’s also why I argue that Kevin’s performance in retrospective – and not comparing to his own past performances – are not as great as touted. Because I did not find 8th Prince that interesting. I found him no more interesting than LGX’s 14th or YH’s 13th. Or the 10th or 9th Princes actually. And that’s exactly my point.
“I find him fascinating in a despicable way but like fans of Twilight and 50 shades, they find this particular character fascinating because they find him appealing. Which is weird for me.”
I understand why you think SWAK is nearing Twilight and worse, 50 Shades territory but as I explained above, I do think it’s different. In Twilight and 50 Shades, the girls actually fall in love with and is totally okay with their boyfriends effed up behaviour. That really isn’t the case with SWAK – although, it’s entirely possible that some fans romanticise the show in the same way as girls and women have done with Twilight/50 Shades. And I completely agree with you, in not understanding THAT.
Sorry, I just recalled that he didn’t actually killed the eunuch. He had his tongue and hands cut off, right?
” just recalled that he didn’t actually killed the eunuch. He had his tongue and hands cut off, right?”
You mean the one who tried to molest her? Yes I think he didn’t kill her. I would have done the same. Don’t forget the mentality during that time.
I certainly understand why he did it, that doesn’t mean it wasn’t a very cruel act.
Well, I suppose one has to win some and lost others. The better man wins and though it’s such a disappointment that Kevin and Myolie did not make it at Seoul this time there would be other occasions. Life is certainly not a bed of roses and I am sure those 2 realize that.
Not surprised. Doesn’t mean Kevin wasn’t memorable as 8th prince. In fact I will say this is his most memorable and breakthrough role. Everything after pales in comparison, his acting especially.
“As Nicky gained early recognition from movie Butterfly Lovers , directed by Tsui Hark (徐克) back in 1994,”
Curious though. wasn’t he famous and still is famous as part of Little Tigers or that sentence was talking about his movie career?
Interesting saw a program where 3 now prominent actors won singing awards that is Kevin (no. 2), Steven Ma (no. 3) and Nicky (no. 1 – which should be the year he debuted as solo artist in HK long after he was famous as Little Tigers?) and 3 hardly changed in looks except Steven Ma now looks closer to his real age.
He was memorable, but not because he was outstandingly good. But because he surprised everyone as he is usually a mediocre actor. Kevin was good, not amazing. Years from now, will his performance hold up as well as Nicky’s?
It just once again comes down to a matter of opinion. Some may think Kevin is good while some will say that Nicky was good and there will be others like me who like them both. I think is how all of the artists survive in the circle because acting and singing are subjective. But of course if you are truly good/talented then the majority will think you are skilled and talented, however, there will still be some that think that you are not good at all. No matter how talented you are or not, there will be people that do not like you. Hey, you cannot please everyone…
Nicky is a better actor than Kevin, but Kevin in BBJX wasn’t bad. The 8th prince was written very well and is one of Kevin’s best character to date.
How come Fala Chen can compete in this award? I’m baffled
Fala Chen is the best!
“There’s no such thing! I don’t want to respond. The victims are not part of the cast, so it’s not related to me!”
Does this mean that there were someone being killed?
I don’t like the 4th Prince when he become king. I pretty much stop watch it at that point. Nicky do pretty good job! Finger cross for him!