Gigi Lai, Ada Choi, Kenix Kwok, and Maggie Cheung Reunite
Since announcing her retirement from the entertainment industry in 2007, former TVB actress Gigi Lai (黎姿) has spent much of her time focusing on developing her brother’s medical aesthetics company. Although constantly busy and bombarded with work, Gigi’s hard work has paid off. Recently, the 47-year-old entrepreneur celebrated getting her company to be listed on the Main Board of the Hong Kong Stock Exchange.
Despite being retired from showbiz for more than ten years, Gigi still keeps in contact with friends in the entertainment industry and invited fellow 1990s actresses Ada Choi (蔡少芬), Kenix Kwok (郭可盈), and Maggie Cheung (張可頤) to the special occasion. The reunion of the four big fadans drew much attention and made many nostalgic about the golden 90s era in television. Let’s take a look back at each of their roads to success and how far they’ve come along!
Kenix Kwok
Kenix entered showbiz through the Miss Hong Kong 1993 Pageant. Though she did not get placed in top three, Kenix’s potential was quickly recognized and she was immediately scouted to join TVB. 1995 proved to be a big year for Kenix. She filmed the first installment of Detective Investigation Files <刑事偵緝檔案> and soared to popularity with co-star, Michael Tao (陶大宇). In the same year, Kenix met her would-be husband, Frankie Lam (林文龍), while filming Down Memory Lane <萬里長情>. The couple married in 2004 and welcomed their daughter, Tania Lam (林天若), in 2010. The 49-year-old actress has since retired from the entertainment industry to focus on her family and caring for Tania.
Gigi Lai
Due to her family’s bankruptcy, Gigi joined showbiz at the tender age of 14 to help her family financially and support her brother’s education. With her beautiful features and feminine charisma, Gigi soon found success both in television dramas and films. She shot to popularity after appearing in the film franchise, Young and Dangerous <古惑仔>. Gigi achieved additional success through classic TVB dramas such as Heaven Sword and Dragon Sabre <倚天屠龍記>, War and Beauty <金枝慾孽>, The Dance of Passion <火舞黃沙>, and The Gem of Life <珠光寶氣>.
At the peak of her popularity, Gigi suddenly announced her retirement from acting in 2007, right after her brother’s debilitating car accident. She shifted her focus to managing her brother’s beauty business. After marrying businessman Patrick Ma (馬廷強) in 2008, the couple welcomed three daughters. Gigi is now a successful businesswoman, a loving wife and mother.
Ada Choi
At 17 years old, Ada debuted in the entertainment industry after winning second runner-up in Miss Hong Kong 1991 Pageant. Through her portrayal in Secret of the Heart <天地豪情>, Ada became the youngest TVB Best Actress recipient and won at the age of 25. Her successes did not stop there. After starring in Healing Hands <妙手仁心>, Ada and her co-star Lawrence Ng (吳啟華) became one of the most well-loved golden couples of the 2000s.
Later, she went on to try her luck filming in Mainland China and found relative success. She also met her now-husband, Max Zhang (張晉), while filming in China. The couple married in 2008 and has two daughters.
Maggie Cheung
Similar to Kenix, Maggie joined Miss Hong Kong 1994 Pageant and reached the final five, although she did not place. However, she signed with TVB and Maggie found mainstream popularity in 1998 after starring in Old Time Buddy <難兄難弟>. In 2003, she won the TVB My Favorite Lead Actress award for her role in the time-traveling series, The King of Yesterday and Tomorrow <九五至尊>. Her expanding career came to a sudden halt when she was diagnosed with Graves’ Disease in 2005, causing her to take a two-year break from showbiz.
Source: HK01
This article is written by Huynh for JayneStars.com.
They are all my favorite actresses. I’m so happy to see them together in one place.
I knew Ada and Gigi were great friends. I was surprised about Kenix though. Didn’t Gigi date Frankie Lam before he met Kenix? I thought Gigi and Kenix had some problems at some point.
@oktang
Frankie and Gigi did go out together so I think they didn’t like each other before.
Most beautiful then -Gigi Lai. I still think she’s beautiful, but disappointed that she had to use fillers/botox-just unnatural/weird when she’s smiling.
Most beautiful now-Ada Choi-age naturally. I think Kenix did something to her jaw and eyes
Best Actress then and now – Maggie Cheung
Most successful-Gigi Lai
Most talented when young-Ada
Prettiest when young-Ada
Best Actress now -Maggie
Prettiest now- Kenix
Most talented when young – probably Ada in her first drama series. Ada Choi started acting when she was quite young
Prettiest now (as per photo above) – Ada and Kenix
Overall Best Acting – always Maggie Cheung, but she looked pretty old in the above photo.
Most successful – Gigi Lai (switched from acting to business)
I liked these actresses back then, but I absolutely love them now compared to the lack of strong actresses these days. Sometimes they had their weak acting moments, but they all had screen presence and charisma.
Which actresses’ lives (e.g. lifestyles, relationships, career, wealth level, family, husbands, etc.) do you prefer?
For example, Maggie Cheung is single and she broke up with different long-term bfs, and her career slowed down after she got sick. The other three actresses are married with kids. Gigi has an unattractive-looking husband who is able to guide her and she became the CEO of her brother’s company, and she has a happy family with 3 daughters. Being a business woman, she needs to work hard and gets less rest. Ada’s husband is a chinese actor who is about her age and they have kids. Kenix’s husband is Frankie and Kenix retired to take care of her family. I heard that Kenix’s dad was rich.
@rainbow28
Everyone has their problems. Ada had her gambling addicted mum, Kenix rumoured marriage cheating from both, Maggie illness, and Gigi always family burden. They all look like their lives are good now. At least from the outside…