2018 TVB Anniversary Awards: Joe Ma and Ali Lee Win Best Actor and Best Actress
The 2018 TVB Anniversary Awards was held on December 16 with several surprise wins. Due to the popularity of Life on the Line <跳躍生命線>, Joe Ma (馬德鐘) finally won the Best Actor award after being nominated 16 times. Ali Lee (李佳芯), who starred in another audience favorite Who Wants a Baby <BB來了>, won Best Actress. Life on the Line was the big winner of the night, and won the Best Drama award.
Dicky Cheung‘s (張衛健) TVB comeback drama in 22 years, The Learning Curve of a Warlord <大帥哥> which has not completed its full broadcast yet, did not win a single award at the awards ceremony.
Best Acting Awards
Acting for 27 years, Joe Ma was thrilled to clinch Best Actor. In his acceptance speech, the 50-year-old actor said, “I’m very happy to win this award for the first time! After tasting bitterness, now I understand what sweetness truly is. Thank you TVB, viewers who support me, and my media friends. Thanks to Catherine Tsang (曾勵珍)–without you, there wouldn’t be Life on the Line and [my character] Mak Choy Tin. I remember what you have told me; before I was young and naive; now I know. Thanks to Virginia Lok (樂易玲); you’ve supported me through the highs and lows. Thanks to Life on the Line producer Dave Fong (方駿釗), the script editor, the cast and crew. Everyone did a great job; that’s why we’re able to move the audience. I have to thank my family. I believe my father can see me in heaven. Thanks to my son for giving me a lot of happiness. Thanks to my wife for taking care of our home so well; it’s definitely not easy being an actor!”
Joining TVB in 2012, Ali Lee worked her way up from supporting to leading roles. The prolific actress can be seen in three dramas on average each year. Receiving gynecological surgery earlier and requiring additional rest, Ali had initially declined the role in Who Wants a Baby? By agreeing to film, she risked having a prolapsed uterus. When the drama aired to favorable ratings, Ali was greatly comforted. Thanking Catherine Tsang and the TVB producers she has worked with in her acceptance speech, Ali said, “I want to say that I’m not a winner in the starting line. I don’t know what it means that the predecessors planted trees, and future generations benefit. I’m just a lump of rice and do my best in each role and everything. I only know that I can rely on myself to reach success. When you are very tired and want to give up, remember that you are not alone; there are many people who are silently walking down the same road.”
Most Popular Acting Awards
Nominated 11 times for Best Actor, Kenneth Ma (馬國明) once again won Most Popular Male Character instead for his performance in Deep in the Realm of Conscience <宮心計2深宮計>. The 44-year-old seemed surprised by his win. After overcoming his initial shock, Kenneth said, “There’s no need to hand me any tissues; I’m not a spokesperson and didn’t get money. I really don’t know why I got an award. I can only thank this drama and the people who love me, as well as TVB management. Tonight really was a surprise.”
In a tight race for Best Actress, Alice Chan (陳煒) instead won Most Popular Female Character for Deep in the Realm of Conscience. Crying during her acceptance award, Alice thanked producer Miu Siu Ching (梅小青), as well as the TVB producers she has worked with.
Best Supporting Actress and Actor
Oscar Leung (梁烈唯) won Best Supporting Actor for his performance in OMG, Your Honour <是咁的，法官閣下>. Oscar also seemed surprised by his win, “Several years ago, many things happened which were very challenging for me. I thought of giving up many times. Many thanks to my good friends for their support, and Virginia Lok and Sandy Yu (余詠珊) for giving me work when I needed it. I want to tell my wife, ‘I Love You,’ without you beside me to support and remind me, there’s no chance I would be on stage now. Thanks to my parents, my daughter, my older brother, and my great friends.”
A cancer survivor, Mandy Lam (林淑敏) was very emotional when accepting her Best Supporting Actress award. “Seven years ago when I was very ill, I thought of how useless I am. But Virginia Lok called me and told me not to worry and come back to work.” Mandy said her award belonged to the entire cast of Come Home Love: Lo and Behold <愛．回家之開心速遞>.
Most Improved Awards
Matthew Ho (何廣沛) won Most Improved Actor for his performance Life on the Line. In the industry for two years, Crystal Fung (馮盈盈) was surprised to win Most Improved Actress and felt she did not deserve it. Talking with the press afterward, Crystal said, “It came too fast. I feel like I’m dreaming. Life is like a roller coaster with its big ups and downs.”
Other Awards
Lifetime Achievement Award: Nancy Sit (薛家燕) ,
Best Host: Kristal Tin (田蕊妮) for Pretty Forty <女人四十>
Most Popular Onscreen Partnership: Edwin Siu (蕭正楠) and Raymond Cho (曹永廉) for Two Men in a Kitchen <兄弟大茶飯>
Most Professional Artiste Award: Angelina Lo <盧宛茵>, Timothy Cheng (鄭子誠), and Jimmy Au (歐瑞偉)
Most Popular Drama Theme Song: Hana Kuk (菊梓喬) for Life on the Line subtheme, “Wishing We Last Forever” <但願人長久>
Best Variety Program: Faraway Brides <嫁到這世界邊端2>, Cooking Beauties <美女廚房>, Sammy on the Go <森美旅行團>, Young and Restless <#後生仔傾吓偈>, and Think You Know Tokyo? <周遊東京>
Singapore and Malaysia Favorite Drama: Threesome <三個女人一個「因」>
Sources: On.cc [1,2,3,4]; HK01 [1, 2]
This article is written by Jayne for JayneStars.com and was updated on December 16, 2018 at 8:42 p.m.
I didn’t watch because I didn’t know it was on. Knowing the results I guess I didn’t waste my time. Surprise was the Edwin siu grabbing attention moment. anyway Joe ma didn’t deserve it. His acting was forced and cringe worthy. Ali Lee… Didn’t watch the series. Supporting was interesting. Why Oscar I wonder? I thought he was playing the sort of role he has been typecast in. Anyway this year mediocre. Maybe next year will be better.
Seriously Joe ma..
@funnlim This year’s winners may be awarded for their loyalty to TVB rather than their specific performances in dramas. That’s why Kenneth Ma, Ali Lee, and Oscar Leung were surprised by their wins. In Oscar’s speech, he even doubted his own performance in “OMG, Your Honour”.
Given the popularity of “Life on the Line,” Joe Ma would undoubtedly film again with TVB again next year. While Dicky Cheung’s performance is praised by many, TVB held back the broadcast date for “The Learning Curve of a Warlord” until the end of the year, to use that as reason against giving him the top award.
@jayne Can you update the list? There were actually 3 artists who won professional artist: Angelina Lo, Timothy Cheng, and Jimmy Au.
@llwy12 The complete winners’ list has been updated.
@jayne “While Dicky Cheung’s performance is praised by many, TVB held back the broadcast date for “The Learning Curve of a Warlord” until the end of the year, to use that as reason against giving him the top award.”
Really?? Seriously??
He was a no show right?
Frankly any actor of that age can do Joe Ma’s role in Life On The Line. Any actor.
@funnlim Dicky wasn’t there at the awards ceremony. Earlier, producer Stephen Tsui said that “The Learning Curve of a Warlord’s” broadcast date was timed so it can air simultaneously on Youku, and it took time to clear broadcast regulations in China. But in past years, TVB had held back certain dramas featuring big stars because it was in the awkward position of wanting to give the award to favored artistes. Perhaps its deal with Youku was a factor in determining the air date, but not the only reason why it was given end of December broadcast date in HK, which typically is not considered a good air date as people get busy with year-end festivities and have less time to watch TV.
@funnlim My thoughts exactly. With only 10 out of 30 episodes that aired, of course Warlord was not going to get anything. Stupid TVB! I don’t think Joe deserved it either. If they didn’t want to give it to D-icky, then Lau Kong would have been a good choice (though of course he didn’t even get into top 5). Besides, Joe has more chances, since most likely he will film for TVB again….D-icky won’t be filming for TVB again (might not even film series period anymore) and Lau Kong is retiring (he already said he will be reducing his workload significantly) so might not get to see him much as supporting anymore let alone leading.
And most popular character going to Kenneth? Seriously? His character in DTROC wasn’t even popular! Definitely a consolation prize to keep him filming for TVB….
Oh and Oscar winning BSA was a joke as well….not sure where that came from.
No comment on Ali’s win, as that category has had weak competition for years anyway so I could care less who they give it to….
The only win that I’m happy about is Supporting Actress…after robbing Mandy Lam of the award last year, glad to see TVB finally did something right for a change this year…
@funnlim…………..Yeah, to be honest, Joe Ma still can’t act two cent’s worth and the only recent difference is the stiff overdone botox around his eyes…………So this is a loyalty prize for kissing TVB’s ass for over 20 years………….Glad to see Ali win, but it was so obvious that all the other female artistes’ will now be even more jealous that Ali managed to achieve this in just a few years…………
And Crystal Fung is a real big joke to get anything at all……..can’t act, sing or do anything meaningful other than looking like a China-KTV bar hostess………
@funnlim I wonder why most people who commented didn’t want Joe Ma to win? I think his acting is OK and I’m happy for him.however think Kenneth should have won though and I don’t like Ali. I think Mandy Wong is a better actress.
@mindee Because like how you say Mandy is a better actress and Ali isn’t. To me, Joe Ma is just an ok actor. He is not best actor material. As for Kenneth, if he had won, I will say the same thing because the series he is nominated in isn’t even his decently well acted role. I don’t like Mandy. Never thought of her as a great actress whose 1 performance is above all others for this year.
Whoa… Now for an obnoxious, tooting-my-own-horn moment. Based on the publicity, I had said Benjamin Yuen and Joe Ma may win the award. Honestly, I didn’t truly believe it myself that Joe would win.
It seems like TVB purposely aired D-icky’s series so late so that they had an excuse not to give him the award.
I did watch and I agree that it seemed more about loyalty than performance in 2018. I’ve never thought that Joe Ma was particularly great at acting, but he’s been with TVB for a while and they probably felt like they owed him. I’m sure Dicky’s fans are outraged.
Contrary to popular opinion, I didn’t love Ali Lee in “Who Wants a Baby,” but I also think it would have been a little much to give it to Mandy Wong on top of the other two. I actually liked Grace Wong in “OMG, Your Honour,” but I had no expectation for her to win.
The most interesting part of the whole ceremony was Edwin.
this is such a joke :/
Wow, I didn’t expect Joe Ma to win. I always thought he would forever be in the “Ma curse” (always nominated but never win, like Kenneth Ma and Steven Ma). But I wouldn’t give it to him for this role. My favourite performance from him might be in Smooth Talker.
Expected Ali, Kenneth, Alice, Matthew, Crystal, Edwin & Raymond to win the awards they did.
Pleasantly surprised at Mandy. I thought they were gonna give it to one of the girls they’re promoting but good for her. Didn’t expect Oscar to win at all. He’s a good actor but his role wasn’t that impactful. I almost forgot he even had a drama this year.
Angelina Lo’s award is basically a consolation prize.
I’m not happy with the winner, but not as upset as last year. Probably because none of the nominees feel really deserving of the reward.
@birdy2415 Yes, the professional artist award is consolation prize, but seeing that’s the ONLY award that gives recognition to long-time veterans, it’s better than not getting any recognition at all. All 3 winners of that award 100% deserved it without question and I’m super happy for them (and in my opinion, Timothy Cheng gave the best speech of the night). For me, that’s the only award I look forward to every year because it’s the only chance for me to see all the beloved veterans I grew up with get their 15 minutes of well-deserved fame at the awards.
@llwy12 Yes, all three who won the Most Professional Artiste Award deserved to win. But only because they deserved to win anyway. They are basically those who missed out on awards before even though they should have won.
It’s a consolation prize for their collective efforts over the many years. It would be a nice surprise if either of them win a Supporting Role award. This award feels like a “thank you for your work, your not gonna get a proper award so heres one just to show we know you exist” – it is the only one where all winners are truly deserving because they are all veterans who missed out.
Ali was expected. Not mad about her win, though I hope this award serves as an encouragement to reach greater heights, rather than a security blanket to stay complacent.
As for Joe… he can’t hold a candle to Dicky, and we all know why he got the award.
The rest of the wins were equally superfluous. Oh, TVB… it has really come down to this.
Joe Ma.. Best Actor award?
TVB is a joke!
i felt kenneth deserved the award last year but not this year for this mediocre acting in the role. he also didn’t seemed pleased with the award when he got it. from the way he spoke. but i felt dicky definitely deserved that award for the most favourite male character. the best actor award? please…wat is the difference between joe ma’s acting in the fireman series and this paramedic series? i felt it’s the same acting style ALWAYS. but at least i felt okie the contenders are not strong anyways. BUT for the best actress award. i really CANNOT!. ALI LEE? i love her pretty face, i don hate watching her series but she is definitely NO BEST ACTRESS QUALITY. i would even think nancy is even better than her. whats wrong with tvb? giving charitable awards. should not jus waste our time. natalie, ali lee? best actress. YAWNS… well maybe natalie will feel better this time cause at least someone to join the ‘not worth the award’ group.
This is not an awards show based on performance. It is either an award for renewing your contract (like Natalie Tong last year) or just thanking artist for their years of service (like almost everybody this year). It’s so fixed.
While I was disappointed that Kenneth didn’t win, I’m happy that Joe Ma finally won Best Actor
Justice has been done! Mandy did not win for that cringeworthy over the top performance. Ali should have won the previous year anyway and was also the strongest of the weak group this year. Dick-y by far the best performance of the year. Acting levels above everyone else. Oscar stole Hugo Wong’s award probably due to the scandal. All the other winners were very fair and deserved…..
@jimmyszeto I think Mandy is better than Ali though as an actress although I didn’t like that drama
@jimmyszeto I happened to agree with you based on the available choices.
What does Most Professional Artiste Award mean??
I am trying to remember who is crystal fung. Her name and face doesn’t ring a bell.
Should have been the.. what’s her name? The sassy one with Law Lan as grandma in Life On The Line? I find her very impressive.
It is time TVB has a Breakout Performance of the Year award on top of everything else as well as Most Promising Star apart from Most Improved. Can divide the pork more and hopefully more fairly. Also Best Onscreen Partnership in a drama on top of the variety show.
Get rid of the meaningless most professional artiste and rename it I don’t know, we have lifetime achievement award right? Maybe name it Sir Run Run Shaw special recognition award.
And poor dicky. screwed yet again. Joe Ma’s entire series’ expression is Dicky’s 5 min in his series. And Carlos Chan got robbed.
Kenneth Ma should if any win for Exorcist metre but not for that god awful technicolour series. Awards should be for that particular performance and not for body of works,
@funnlim “Should have been the.. what’s her name? The sassy one with Law Lan as grandma in Life On The Line? I find her very impressive.”
Jeannie Chan?
@jayne Yes that one. Tons of gossip but she was excellent in that role
@funnlim Jeannie has a bright future at TVB. She is rumored to be dating Carlos Chan, since they were spotted at dinner together.
https://www.jaynestars.com/news/carlos-chan-and-jeannie-chan-address-dating-rumors/
@jayne I don’t mean it in a negative way but she looks spent. That sort of look like not fresh anymore. Like she partied a lot. She does look like a party girl. But that is probably exhaustion from work. She has many many many dating gossips. Either I take it like a pinch of salt or I will say like a pinch of salt, won’t last.
@jayne She definitely made a huge improvement. I thought she was terrible in that stupid Three Girls and a Bar and that vampire drama with Kay Tse.
The winners just get worse every year. Joe Ma best actor, what a joke. That’s as bad as Natalie’s win last year and just as undeserving. His role was so bland, nothing breakthrough or special that no other actor can’t pull off. Such an uncomplicated role, so unmemorable. If LOTL didn’t air during this period and if ratings were poor, he will surely not win. Thanks to the halo effect he snagged the prize, robbing D-ickey . As for Kenneth Ma winning fave character, another undeserving winner. Should have gone to Carlos instead. Mandy Lam winning BSA was the only deserving one.
Yuck to Joe Ma. Ever since he became first lead, his roles just got more stereotypical, boring, bland & wooden. I don’t think he deserves the BA award. He’s nowhere near the likes of Wayne Lai or Vincent Wong. But i had an inkling that TVB would give the award to him. He’s the blandest & least offensive with the most marketable potential.
In regards to Ali’s win, good on her! It was well-deserved. Her title was stolen last year anyways. Now it feels it has been rightfully restored.
I think overall, the results this year isn’t that bad. Most of the wins were right on the mark. And some surprises as well. With exception to Joe Ma, I don’t think I have anyone to contest.
The most well deserved award would be Mandy Lam for her supporting role. I didn’t find the series “come home love” to be of any interest until one night I saw a short clip of Mandy being “大小姐”, which I thought was hilarious and refreshing. Funny thing is her real life persona, based on her acceptance speech, is the polar opposite from her on-screen character.
I agree with most about Dick-y should have won best actor category. Since his show hasn’t been finished airing, TVB should have nominated Dick-y in 2019.
However I disagree with the comments regarding Joe and his performance on LotL. I thought he did an awesome job. His character did not require him to be extremely expressive. I dislike it when an actor/actress overreact for a simple role. Howver, his character was definitely not memorable in this drama and definitely did not garner the best actor award.
I haven’t watched the anniversary awards yet but the results looked sucks. I mean Joe Ma is okay but as for tv queen I would like to see Alice win instead. I think Mandy Lam deserves the award she seems like a great actress about Oscar? No comments really and the favorite theme song from Hana it should be from Another Era and I haven’t watched best drama yet so not sure if that drama really deserves to win as a best drama?
Ali – well win! Her award is truly deserved. Playing a pregnant woman going through all the ups and downs of pregnancy without experiencing the hormones and being expected to express those emotions strictly from a script is a true feat to be awarded for. I cried in the last episode when she cried to her husband telling him that her belly is like a deflated balloon. I feel like a lot of women experience that trauma of seeing their bodies change so drastically and to be able to see it ACCURATELY displayed on screen is a really touching and emotional thing. So well done Ali! The only person I feel as though who had real contentions of beating her was Mandy Wong in . Not only did Mandy portray three DRASTICALLY different characters at the same time, she had to switch back and forth relentlessly to truly show how quickly the mental illness changes a person. But she won Malaysia (or was it Singapore?) TVB Queen, so she’s still a winner in our eyes!
I honestly, don’t care what anyone says but Mandy Lam deserves her award. She’s BRILLIANT in Come Home Love. Every episode with her is either a hilarious one or an emotional one. I’ve seen her play really small roles to her break through role here. I just hope she’s not type-casted into the princessy, snobby, rude, rich woman role!
Honestly, Joe Ma’s acting was subpar in . But yes, he carried most of the show. But man, his performance PALES in comparison with Dicky’s and the award should have gone to Dicky. Dicky’s is ICONIC. At first i thought it was going to be dumb because Sisley Choi is in it, but Dicky made up for it completely. They’re right that Dicky adds his own twist to the show and that his characters are generally very similar- sly, street smart, but super funny protagonists who works everything out eventually. This time is no different, but Dicky makes it so enjoyable to watch, I forget all the other bad elements of the drama.