Katy Kung is Finally Gaining Recognition
With the great feedback Death by Zero <殺手> is receiving, the cast has been receiving much praise for their acting skills and ability to bring out the complexity of their characters. Perhaps most eye-catching is Katy Kung’s (龔嘉欣) Dark Angel character. The 30-year-old actress surprised viewers with her portrayal of the gothic assassin, which is a drastic change from her usual pretty-girl characters.
To make Dark Angel come alive, Katy worked hard on her action scenes and tried a daring punk style. She reflected, “Action scenes are not the most difficult because you can practice them. If you don’t do well the first time, you can practice and do them 100 more times. Somehow, someway, you will get it right. For scenes where I do not have any lines and can only rely on my expressions and eyes to convey emotions, it is quite difficult. Wearing the proper clothes, makeup, and the environment can help me get into character and the expressions would come more naturally.”
Slow Rise to Stardom
Reminiscing on her difficult and long road to recognition when she entered the entertainment industry at 16 years old, Katy said, “I am not someone who got a good head start in the race. On the track and field, I’m like someone who is placed and runs on the outermost track. I have to run longer than other people. However, I am a very ambitious person. I often tell myself that there is nothing I cannot do. I don’t have any networks or connections, nor did I enter the entertainment industry through pageantry. I started from zero, so I just do my part the best I can. I cannot make everyone in the world like me.”
Finally achieving recognition, Katy attributed it to her hard work. “A lot of people say I tolerate a lot. I can indeed tolerate a lot of sufferings. People who are doing something they love will learn how to endure all the sufferings that come with it. Even if it is difficult, you are willing to deal with it.”
Despite her slow-to-rise start, Katy is thankful for having started young and being able to learn from veteran actors. One of her most respected seniors is her costar, Elliot Ngok (岳華), who portrayed her father in Be Home for Dinner <誰家灶頭無煙火>. Remembering the late actor, Katy started crying and recalled, “When I filmed the drama, I really did have the feeling of family. Elliot was really like my father, and I am thankful he treated me like his own daughter…. Even to this day, I don’t like to think about his death, so I have ignored all news about it.”
On Finding Success in Life and Love
Her career turning point was perhaps Two Steps from Heaven <幕後玩家>, where she portrayed Bosco Wong’s (黃宗澤) wife. Her tragic character and believable portrayal won her TVB Best Supporting Actress in 2016. Despite this recognition, critics still doubted her because of her youthful looks. “People said things such as, ‘How can she portray Bosco’s wife? She looks more like his sister.’” There was a lot of pressure, but I used that pressure and converted it to motivation. Pressure will not make me unhappy. I am not that type of person. Pressure will instead push me forward.”
With a career on the rise and successful business ventures, would Katy follow the footsteps of her good friends, Grace Chan (陳凱琳), Jess Sum (沈卓盈), and Zoie Tam (譚凱琪), and turn to personal goals such as marriage? To this, Katy responded, “I really don’t want to get married for the sake of getting married. Actually, I am not necessarily unhappy being single. For me, perhaps I need to find someone whom I can be happy with it.”
Source: Sky Post
This article is written by Huynh for JayneStars.com.
It’s unfortunate that her face is naturally cool/b*****. I think that’s why they keep giving her these spoiled, bratty roles. I honestly did not think she would pull off her role in Two Steps from Heaven but she was convincing as a gentle person. Really liking her in Death by Zero as well.
Only thing sge should be gaining is more acting lessons or a new career, the phrase overacting is an exact definition of her portrayal in this series.
Is Katy really getting recognition for this role?! I find myself cringing whenever she’s on the screen.
she just looks angry every time she’s on the screen in this new drama. but her looks are definitely bold for hk drama.
@m0m0 in terms of her looks, it seems like tvb tried to copy Harley Quinn
@luye
could be, very possible but margot is 50 thousand times better in both looks and acting.
I don’t know who’s giving her recognition… she’s pretty bad in Death by Zero. She talks weird and her voice dies down at the end of her dialogues. She’s lucky that Wayne has good chemistry with her cause most of her scenes are unwatchable without him.
@hazel TVB is the only one saying it. She just widens her eyes and that’s her expression for the entire show. Also the way she walks is very un-assassin like.
I applaud her work ethics and her mindset. But having said that, sorry, but she doesn’t do it for me. She doesn’t have the looks for leading lady nor the chops to be a major character. I think she was miscast for her role in Death by Zero. I’m sure she tried hard but rather than looking deadly, she looks more like crazy. I think she would do good in a drug addict role lol. But anyway, so many years in this industry and still not a solid actor is quite sad. She really needs some pointers if she wants to succeed in this industry.
@gnomageddon i think her character is supposed to be crazy and clumsy
Her facial expressions are too exaggerated and her movements are clunky. She looks crazy and not smart. Her character has no purpose or connection to the storyline so far. Fortunately, her screen time has been minimal, but I am not impressed or see why she is root worthy in DBZ.
Yeah no lol she’s a terrible actress.
Am I the only one that doesn’t understand the criticism towards her facial expressions and exaggeration for this specific series/character?
From my perspective her character is suppose to be wild and crazy, and maybe psychotic? A bit like Harley Quinn?
If you think her action scenes are clunky it’s most likely due to it being either slowed down or fast forwarded in post production during editing, so that you can see the moves clearer.. that’s my take on it lol
@melodylai Eeeeh neither Dark Angel nor Katy is any where near comparable to Harley Quinn and Margot. I’m not a fan of HQ in general or how she’s romanticized in recent portrayal. But DA is another half-arse “out of the box” char that is self-claimed by TVB.
@jjwong Add (since the edit button doesn’t work), I can agree to disagree 🙂
@jjwong No worries haha! I completely agree they are none comparable, Margot Robbie and Katy are universes apart when it comes to acting. I just meant in terms of the “idea” of the character, both share similarities in being crazy and impulsive
@jjwong Harley Quinn movie was bad
@luye Agree, the movieS are bad. Both Suicidal Squad and Birds of Prey were horrible. Storyline is a mess. It had no direction and ended up flopping. I don’t understand how anyone, esp mothers and girls, would idolize Harley Quinn. Her character is fraternized, abused, used, and drove insane by someone who she ends up unhealthy obsession. How can anyone think that’s cool and can root amd want to be like her is far beyond my comprehensive…
@melodylai Her crying is good, but it was hard for me to feel anything because it seemed over-the-top. Her expression changes are too abrupt and vacillate between wide eyed fury and silly school girl lust. I think it is also that her body language does not match those expressions. If she is supposed to be wild and mercurial with her moods, then her movements should also be free flowing. She stands slightly hunched and stomps when she walks.
Her fighting with the spinning daggers look good, but her kicks aren’t powerful or graceful. She doesn’t have the flexibility of a fighter. So that isn’t due to editing, but her limitations. I can’t blame her totally for that. The action director should realize those limits and work around it. But overall, I think she is miscast in this role.
@potatochip perfect analysis. She always looks hunched over which doesn’t make her believable as an agile fighter.
Also that make up is not helping at all. Her eyes don’t emote.
Unlike the soy sauce series where her character didn’t make any sense, Katy has done well here…
Saw clips of series where’s supposed to be her highlight or shining moment… Not impressed. The make-up is waaaay too strong and overshadowed her. She doesn’t have the face, acting chop, or frame to carry the make up and style. If they toned it down a little, then maybe her acting can shine. Even so, didn’t think her cry /emotion was convincing. The way she spoke was like bad dubbing job. She’s still a noob imo, but has potential though.
Her best role: Bottled Passion.
So young, so raw, so conniving.
Elaine Yiu was in the same drama, and damn, she was good too.
@jesspepperwang Agree, Katy was great in Bottled Passion. I believe that was her first role too? Definitely a lot of potential
why is she getting praised is because TVB has noone left in the station the top leading female artist has left to mainland or has married if they were still here you think she’ll get any chance to lead her and Samantha I cringe every time when there in any dramas let alone this drama…i havent even start it yet
@sherla1019 I so agree with you re Samantha, I can’t bear her