Ben Wong: The Other Star of “Lives of Omission”
Ben Wong‘s (黃智賢) performance as a undercover agent in the recently-concluded Lives of Omission《潛行狙擊》was heavily praised by the audience for his good reflexes and quick thinking. This also caught the attention of netizens who engaged in rife discussions over his scenes in “Lives”, causing his popularity to shoot up in recent days.
Although Ben and TVB beauty Fala Chen (陳法拉) rarely had the opportunity to pit their acting skills against each other, Ben still highly looked upon Fala to be this year’s TV Queen.
Back in his heydays, Ben won the hearts of the audience with his role as Rong Xiang Hai in TVB’s classic long running drama, A Kindred Spirit《真情》. This drama also caused Ben to be embedded in the audience’s hearts as an unshakable image of a good man.
Fast forward to today, Ben’s acting performance as Lat Keung, a triad society leader who was actually an undercover cop, got the audience sitting up straight and paying attention to him again. In fact, his character was so eye-catching that many netizens even noticed his dressing and created a discussion about it, making Ben feel extremely heartening.
Acted until he didn’t know what he was doing
Ben Wong expressed, “For the past few years, I have tried many different acting roles. Not only roles of a good man. In fact, I rarely acted in such roles that required me to be good. However, acting as a gangster in “Lives” was definitely a first for me. Maybe the producer of “Lives” felt that my looks looked like a hybrid between good and bad. The script editor ever told us that this cast was a flawless combination for “Lives”.”
Ben implied that acting as an undercover cop was like acting several characters at one time, “An undercover cop often feel like he is in the midst of an intense game, doing until he did not know what he was doing and does not know which side he belongs to.”
Damien Lau and Ben Wong rubbed off on each other well
Although Ben does not have many chances to act opposite Fala’s Madam Jo, he still strongly supported Fala to be this year’s TV Queen, “Fala’s acting skills and performance are distinctive and could be seen by everyone. Furthermore, her role as Madam Jo is very strong hence I think highly of her.”
As for his first time collaborating with Bosco Wong (黃宗澤) and Damien Lau (劉松仁), Ben responded that it was a fresh and thrilling experience working with them and even sung huge praises of Damien Lau for being a good senior, “For some of the opening scenes, Damien and I knocked some dialogues out of each other instead of relying heavily on the scripts. We rehearsed what I should say and what he should reply. The director was also willing to give us space to explore, it was truly one fulfilling experience for my filming addiction, which created many acting sparks.”
Ben also professed that he likes Bosco’s role as Cripple Co. and had entertained thoughts of swapping with him back then.
Ben Wong feels that his role as a gangster is not enough violent and aggressive
Ben Wong has always maintained a healthy image. However, he abandoned his image to act as leader of the triad society cum undercover cop, Lat Keung, in “Lives of Omission”. His role was also outstanding and piqued an interest among netizens.
About this, Ben revealed, “Maybe the producer felt that my looks are a cross between good and bad. I don’t know whether he knew that I used to be a policeman in the past but the script editor told us that the cast for “Lives of Omission” was simply perfect and hoped that I could achieve the feeling Francis Ng (吳鎮宇) gave to the audience in the movie, On The Edge《黑白道》.”
Ben continued, “Although Hong Kong has a lot of movies based on triad societies and undercover police, the triad movies from Korea can be much more gruesome and more cruel thus I feel that Lat Keung is not enough violent and aggressive (in comparison to the Korea counterparts).”
Then what about Bosco Wong who has been highly looked upon to have a chance at the TV King award based on his role as Cripple Co.? In reply to this, Ben replied, “Even I myself hoped to act the role of Cripple Co. as it commands many dimensions and a huge transformation but honestly speaking, I think I’m already in love with my character, Lat Yeung.”
It was known that this was the first time Ben Wong acted as a gangster and he had even bought his own wardrobe and accessories to enrich the character.
Source: Oriental Daily, iHKtv
This article was translated by Ah K, a Contributing Writer at JayneStars.com.
now tvb can milk on his character instead LOL
LOL! But I looooove Ben Wong in LOO. I think he suits his character in the show and Bosco suits Bai Co well. I can’t imagine Ben having to do all those passionate scenes with Kate :p
haha he prefer fala and not the fake medusa la 🙂
I always like Ben :D.
Me too! I’ve liked him since I watched the ATV drama 子事故人來 back in grade 6 in Canada 🙂
I like him ever since he came back to TVB. Before he left, I was neutral towards him. I don’t know why it’s like that. Maybe it’s his stint in ATV. I have partiality towards ATV people because I grew up watchig ATV series instead of TVB. So, I especially like ATV actors from the 90s and early 2000 batch. ATV made some good series at that time.
子事故人來 is a very good series. Innovative and have good characterisation. Too bad the ending sucks. It’s a WTH ending and left many loose ends untied which is a pity.
I think Ben did an outstanding job as Spicy Ginger. Will TVB nominate him up for Best Supporting Character? I would like to see that… he deserves it!
He could have been a lead actor at some point….
Yeah, sadly, like Sunny Chan, he left TVB for a while in the 90s. When he came back, he’s relegated to 3rd line role. But, he was lead in one ATV series. The series also starred Raymond Wong.
When I first saw this article (not here), I was very upset because I’ve only watch up to episode 2 (and a few random episodes). So, this is a huge spoiler to me and an unexpected one. Now that surprise is gone. 🙁
Can’t avoid it because Ben Wong retweeted this article (the original chinese version) in his Weibo and the title already said he’s UC. The title already is a spoiler. 🙁
It’s about time they give deserving actors good roles. I’m happy for him, keep up the good work Ben!
Happy that his character was recognized among the audience. Funny how there wasn’t anything mentioned about him until the finale. He did well in his role and I’m glad to learn that he bought his own wardrobe to enrich the character because his efforts definitely paid off! 🙂
I think he played the gangster part of the role better than Bosco.
i was not convinced he became crazy after he went to jail
He can win Best Supporting Actor this year. I picked him.
I have actually seen Ben in more China and Taiwanese series than TVB for a period of time. It was great to see him in TVB series as well.. He is a great actor and I hope that he will get more recognition from the audience.
I prefer him in villian roles.
” I don’t know whether he knew that I used to be a policeman in the past “
So many actors used to be police before
Ben Wong
Wong Hei
Nick Cheung
Joe Ma (G4)
Bowie Lam
Joyce Tang (work at report center)
Waise Lee (custom security)
Philip Chan
Dominic Lam
Gill Mohindepaul Singh (don’t know can consider police or not. He used to work at HK correctional center)
An ATV actor I forgot the name
really liked his character, made me cry when he died 🙁
U cried because of what? The guy was pure evil.
At least bichael had a redeeming quality in that he truly loved Paris… and bao deng.
Yes, there were so many actors who used to be policeman. I can’t remember whether Simon Yam Dat Wah used to be one or maybe he just came from a family something to do with the police.
With regards to Ben Wong; prior to “A Kindred Spirit” I hadn’t even heard of him and after watching that series I felt neutral about him. Didn’t become a fan exactly but didn’t dislike him either. Then saw him in a period drama with Steven Ma and he impressed me with that role. Now after seeing him in “Omission” I have become a fan and thought he was brilliant in it, as he was so convincing and I didn’t dream that he was an undercover cop. It was good that he turned evil in the end also and great acting.
@Pineapple:
“Saw him in a period drama with Steven Ma and he impressed me with that role.”
You meant “Safe Guards”? Cause I was also blown away by his performance in there too, he was the one that had an affair with the wife of Wayne Lai’s character, I think! 😀
And I like his character in “A Kindred Spirit”, even more with his pairing with Ah-Gui! Love them together! Hence I was damn disappointed in his character back then when he started an affair with someone else behind Ah-Gui’s back! 😛
‘And I like his character in “A Kindred Spirit”, even more with his pairing with Ah-Gui! Love them together! Hence I was damn disappointed in his character back then when he started an affair with someone else behind Ah-Gui’s back!’
Exactly my thots 🙂
ALWAYS thot he is GOOOOOOOOOO!
Wow Ben looks good with that flower shirt! that shirt not easy to carry.. perhaps coz Ben has a sort of western guy look?
He’s a great Actor!!!! I like all the roles he’s been in – all the ones I’ve seen at least;)
Thanks Ah K for enlightening me – yes, Safe Guards was indeed one of the best dramas on TVB. Its strange because I am not usually a fan of stories set in that period – don’t know what you call it. Its the times when men used to have their hair in a pigtail. So its not quite ancient dramas like “Realm Conscience” but maybe set around 1900s or something. Thought Ben Wong was great but regarding the affair with Evergreen Mak’s wife, far as I remember, she seduced him first.
Safe Guards is to me a classic and everything good (except the actress). Ben Wong was exceptional in there. Yes she seduced him first but he should have rejected her. He didn’t and so failed his first test as a person of character. Great script too. Wayne Lai was awesome. Everyone except the actress was awesome. That is why I love Syeven Ma.
I saw parts of Safe Guards and it honestly did not interest me much so I did not continue. Should I give it another try?? I am tempted to since I heard so many good things about it. But then again, I heard a lot of good things about Rosy Business as well. However, I was so disappointed after I saw it..
HeTieShou
you might be like me then. I didn’t like RB and I didn’t like SG
If you didn’t like rosy business then you probably won’t like safe guards… the way the story plays out is kinda similar. I personally really liked safe guard… Steven Ma is always awesome as the responsible/serious type. Its sad TVB will lose him b/c I think he is one of the best actor that TVB has left… he is way better than better Ray Lam. Michael Tse, Bosco, or Ron… to me, he’s on par w/ Wayne Lai.
Yes, I did like him with Ah Gui in Kindred Spirit. I wonder if he’ll become line 1 as he’s still a supporting actor being in the line 2 category.
I guess many of you have not seen the China series that he was in. He was good in those as well.
Which China series HeTieShou? Was it shown on the TVB channel?
@Pineapple,
I don’t think any of the China series that Ben starred in aired on the TVB channel. I guess you don’t watch CHina seies at all… Anyways, Ben was in many of them but the only ones that I can remember off the top of my head are Chinese Paladin 1(where he only played the king for a short while)and the Yang Women Warriors(where he played Liu Lang/the 6th brother).
@HeTieShou, Thanks for the info. There are a few reasons why I don’t watch any Mainland China series: (a) because the channels I have don’t show any of them and (b) even if they did, I wouldn’t be very interested because they are dubbed and I am not a lover of dubbed films as I don’t find it natural and (c) since I am not a fan of ancient dramas (apart from the odd few) it would be rather difficult for me to understand. I think with Mainland China dramas you either like or you don’t like. A friend of mine loves them and even prefers them to TVB dramas.
ben wong realy did very well for this series, i realy like lat keung, realy sad that he died in the end when he finally willing to repent. His character oso shows the sacrifices and dedication needed to be an undercover. And the ease of changing alliance due to greed, had he not became an undercover, he might be a very succesful police officer nw, its juz too sad that he paid his mistakes with his life…..the last part when he died was the most touching part in this series
@anonymous: I also liked the character of Lat Keung and thought that Ben did a really brilliant job. He must have really hated Cripple Co and Laughing as he was so near to the top but they got in his way. Yes a tragic ending to his greedy heart. Lately he seems to do more villainous roles rather than the good guy. I don’t mind that as I think he is good either way.
I think he did quite in this villainous role though I wish he didn’t die and actually had a romantic relationship with one of the female characters which would make the plot more interesting.