Kenneth Ma Credits “The Hippocratic Crush” for Career Turnaround
Kenneth Ma (馬國明) is considered one of TVB’s most eligible bachelors. While he has portrayed many innocent-good-boy images onscreen, the 38-year-old is also not shy to share that he has a dirty mouth and watches porn in real life. “I don’t drink and smoke in real life. In fact, on my days off, I just want to play soccer. Thankfully, the media hasn’t portrayed me to be a boring and dull person. I don’t want the public to think that I’m such a good and clean person, because if some of my undesirable actions draw attention, there will be negative consequences.”
Kenneth actually gets very uneasy when others compliment him for being a good man and eligible bachelor. “I’m already 38 years old! There’s no need to act innocent and naïve. Even if I said I never visited a porn site or watched an adult-video, would you believe me? Would I really still claim to be a virgin? As an actor, I cannot let myself play only a certain type of role. If I was labeled as a goody-two-shoes, it will be hard to accept me when I play the role of a villain.”
In fact, Kenneth received his breakout role in 2003’s Triumph in the Skies <衝上雲霄> because the producer, Tommy Leung (梁家樹), noticed him in Survivor’s Law <律政新人王> playing the character of a hosiery-thief! Kenneth said, “Every actor knows that you have to play the bad guy in order to capture the audience’s attention. That’s when Tommy actually remembered me because I played such a perverted character.”
Today, Kenneth finally has his shot at fame as the good-looking surgeon in The Hippocratic Crush <On Call 36小時> and will be competing alongside the likes of Raymond Lam (林峯) and Wayne Lai (黎耀祥) for TVB’s TV King award. When asked if he already feels defeated by Raymond Lam since TVB is implementing the one vote per person system this year, Kenneth said, “Actually, Damian Lau (劉松仁) and Wayne Lai (黎耀祥) have lots of fans too! Their fans are just not the type to come to shows and hold up those lighted-neon signs! I think I have a chance at winning this year, but if you ask me to choose between an award or money, I’ll choose money! I am very realistic. Haha…”
Kenneth admits, “The Hippocratic Crush really opened a lot of doors for me. Prior to that, I had one appearance every two weeks. Now, I’m lined up for appearances every week. I think the audience just miss seeing a positive character like Lawrence Ng’s (吳啟華) ‘Dr. Ching’, so I was in the perfect place at the perfect time for this role.”
Source: Oriental Sunday #782 via kuangaitvb.com
This article is written by Natalie for JayneStars.com.
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Kenneth <3
love his honesty!
Agree. Love his honesty!! In real life, I think he is a very good guy living a good (maybe boring to some people) life.
Kenneth is a decent actor and I like the fact that he’s aware of the fact that he should be careful in terms of being typecasted by TVB. I think he would play a great psycho villain. A bit a la The Other Truth/Tiger Cubs all in one.
I like Kenneth.. I find him to be honest and good. I actually like him playing villain role as he’s really good at it. He was awesome in Tiger club as a bad guy!! Really glad he’s finally getting a break through for sure!
it is something with Kennth eyes that was really scary in Tiger Cubs, made him looks like a really bad guy.
would really love to see him win BA alongside Tavia this year at the tvb award!
:)))
me too! Admire Kenneth’s honest, down to earth and humble nature. You seems to be really passionate about acting rather than persue the life of being indulged in fame. Respect!
Wah Kenneth ^_^ I just love him in general. He deserves an award this year! Support
I love watching his movie when he first filmed for TVB. He is not consider handsome handsome guy but he has the charisma that you like him right away. Love his honesty when asked if he choose award or money!!!! He has my vote for Best Actor!!!
I love kenneth so much not only is his acting good he is also a very real honest guy. If I were older I would definetly marry him but considering that I’m young (young, like real young) I can probably be his imaginary daughter?
I’m glad he has more opportunities now. He’s too underrated in TVB
Very happy for Kenneth to get Favourite Actor in AOD. It seems that he is not highly highly promoted by TVB. He is the 4th one among the top siu sangs after Raymond Lam, Kevin Cheng, Bosco Wong and maybe even Michael Tse.
I hope that after his Favourite Actor award in AOD, TVB will promote Kenneth Ma more from now on.
what about uncle Moses?
and what about Ron Ng?
What about Ron Ng? I wish for his speedy death in SSSS.
@funn: I wish for his death in ssss too. He couldn’t act for life’s sake! Just that i thought he was higher ranked compared to Micheal and Kenneth?
Is not only him, this year then he has been more promoted then Bosco Wong.
aw. i really hope he and tavia can both win best actor/actress awards at tvb this year!
In addition to On Call 36hrs, I really enjoyed his role in Survivor’s Law 2 M.K Sun
I also hope that Kenneth and Tavia will receive his and her Best Actor and Actress Award together in TVB Anniversary Award on December 17th.
Yes Yes, I also hope too. Let’s support Kenneth & Tavia.
I also like Kenneth for his performance and personality especially humble. Kenneth’s personality seems like Felix Wong, who is also one of my favorite actors.
It’s good that Kenneth has a rational mind about the award, but receiving an award also bringing my income.
I meant bringing more income
He knows that.
maybe he’s right about being in a perfect role in a perfect time when audience missed seeing lawrence’s role in the previous doc’s series.
Out of the S4, Kenneth is certainly the best. He’s doing pretty good as a supporting actor in SSSS, unlike Ron Ng, who continually pisses the viewers off (including me), especially in the latest episode. It’s not just his character, but the fact that he seriously is lacking in his acting. Just my 2 cents.
Used to like him a lot. Don’t like him too much now. I wonder why he always have to poke at Raymond – girls with neon lights etc., good at socialising etc. I am not a neon light girl, just a couple years older than Kenneth and I do admire Raymond a lot, for his hard work even though he is super rich, his charisma, talent and I almost never hear him say bad things about his peers or people who say bad about him. Like Wong Ching, Jim Chim, Eason. A lot of my friends in the office are not neon light girls and we buy his concert tickets in bulk.
Underlying all the goodie talk, I want money (cause I need it more than him), reverse psycology etc., sorry you just lost my vote to Raymond and I did vote Kenneth in AOD.
I have a strong feeling he will been BA at TVB this which is fine, he may carry the title but he will have along way to go to catch up with Raymond’s success which is more practical than an award. Even Kevin whom I have grown to love wins over Kenneth now in my list of favourites.
Sorry – I mean ‘win BA’
i like how raymond does not imply bad things about others but sad how some of his colleagues does not seem supportive of him but rather cold
Who besides MM is passive aggressive?
Yes, I really like this aspect of Raymond too. So many people made fun of him including fellow artists, but, he never complained or talk bad about them. He was good-natured about the ‘chok’ jokes.
Maybe he is too egoistical to know a bad joke is a bad joke? To him any joke is good publicity?
It could be you know.
Kenneth didn’t imply bad things. He is just not very sharp so whatever he said is perceived as bad things. Most of the time he has the guts perhaps to say the situation as it is.
I didn’t actually think Kenneth was making fun of Raymond. I think their friends, he’s prob just saying that as a joke. You have to admit that a lot of the fans who hold neon signs support Raymond. Kenneth has a point on that we should not forget actors like Wayne & Damien just because they don’t have screaming fans. I agree that Raymond is a good actor, good looking & charismatic but if it was purely based on acting this year, I thought Happy Sir was boring & hypocritical. I don’t think he should get BA this year.
His colleagues do not support him because he does not deserved it, and his colleagues think it is not fair to give him an award just because he is favored by Virginia Lok or higher people at TVB. Look at his acting in High and Low. It is so blank and easily to predict his facial expressions. Im getting annoying with him trying to act cool. In fact, I just want to slap his face every time he showed up on screen. To me, i think he doesnt have the ability to portray variety of role, he can only play one role “chok”, which is getting bored. He is a good singer, but actually not a good actor. Beside Kenneth Ma (even though i think he is underrated and should be highly promoted by TVB), i think there are other actors that deserved the BA award this year more than Raymond. Raymond-maybe other years but not this year, his acting is just not good enough. Just my 2cents.
Honestly speaking, I don’t think Kenneth Ma is Best Actor material. But he is Most Favourite Actor material.
I agree Funn Lim. i support him for my fav more tv King, but either is ok.
If Myolie and Tavia can, then Raymond is definitely qualified. He has gotten Astro, Starhub, various in China etc Best Actor. If he is favourite of Ms.Lok and all execs then why hasn’t he gotten the TVB one?
He doesn’t need a piece of metal to confirm his worth. as for slapping his face, to each their own, certainly what attracts you will be different from what attracts me but for someone who used to really like Kenneth, I feel like slapping his face now whenever he has to comment about Raymond. Once OK could be joking, twice, ok not sharp but more than that, sorry tells the kind of person you are.
I get what you mean my2cents. I also noticed lately Kenneth keep comment in a not so good way about Raymond ever since they both are vying for the TVB King this year.
Kenneth keep sayinghe only wants money and not awards, then what is he still bitter about Ray for? Why? Because Ray is top money maker of TVB although Ray never got the TVB King award?
If you think Ray in HAL is not good, so is Kenneth in THC. His acting is the same as always, just that his character is likeable and the storyline of THC is top notch and more touching than other series. Easily the most touching storyline this year.
Yes, I agreed. Raymond seems like a nice guy and he doesn’t say bad things about his colleagues etc.
Well.. He always being “targeted” by his colleagues and media for any bad or negative news. I prefer him singing than acting 🙁 Not a big supporter of Happy Sir’s role
Kenneth’s role in THC is a big breakthrough with good character etc and I really like his role here. However, ever since his popularity after THC, I noticed he becomes slightly arrogant and over confident. He also seems like “trying too hard or attention seeking” for publicity after his fame from THC.
I used to like Kenneth & felt TVB underrated him but now I am quite disappointed with his comments and indirect sarcasm towards other artists.
lol. how is neon-lighting fans in anyway offensive towards raymond? Take a chill pill guys. Kenneth do have neon-lighted signs holding fans and i’m pretty sure he acknowledges it. He was merely telling everyone not to underestimate Wayne’s and Damien’s fans, which is true. Because they both have tons of fans but are not ones who goes to events but are satisfied by watching their acting chops on-screen.
Love Kenneth! He’s the best!!! Well deserved AOD BA 🙂
Don’t be too humble.. U have a lot of fans too. Not only Raymond has big fanbase and annoying fans with the Neo lighting.
Raymond can’t act and he has long way to go to catch with Kenneth.
Maybe try asking them to swop schedules and jobs. I am sure Raymond can handle Kenneth’s jobs – piece of cake. But I am sure Kenneth will never be able to handle Raymond’s jobs.
The fact that Raymond has been the top 3 highest earner for TVB for the last few years, who has the catching up to do.
OK Kenneth had a good break for a good role with a good script, the guys work hard and did good. He is now where Raymond was once at. Timing, luck etc. So give him the BA but that does not change the facts.
Love Raymond…support Raymond…
Kenneth could also be the one with the neon light girls, so what happened? Maybe if he had better people skills he would. These annoying fans are repeat customers, they buy whatever they can buy diligently. They pay TVB, TVB pay their workers.
Still wish strongly that Raymond will win the TV King in TVB…Kenneth has already won in AOD which his fans should be happy la! Raymond work hard and talent too!!! Wish him the best in all area!
Kenneth was just stating the fact/ true about his competitors. To me, his message doesn’t sound negative towards Raymond.