Linda Chung: “I Am the Lucky One”
Born in a middle-class family and loved by her parents and older siblings, Linda Chung Ka Yan grew up in a “greenhouse” and was especially protected by God. Due to her good grades during her school years, Linda was favored by her teachers. When Linda turned eighteen years-old, she entered the Miss Vancouver and Miss Chinese International Pageants with a care-free attitude. Signing with TVB, Linda was heavily promoted and did not experience any hiccups in her career. At twenty years-old, she became a lead actress in series. Quickly gaining popularity, she entered the music and film industries four years later. Linda’s ventures in television, music and film have all been successful.
Linda said gratefully, “Since childhood, everything in my life has gone smoothly. There has not been any tumult or great challenges. The biggest frustration was experienced at the start of my career, when I was living alone, without the care of my family. I was lonely due to the new, unfamiliar environment. Compared to other people’s situations, my experiences were not very frustrating in retrospect.”
Although Linda’s career has been smooth and she was quickly elevated to leading actress, she did not initially envision a long-term career in the entertainment industry. Linda’s original intention was to quickly earn enough money to allow her to retire early in Canada . Did Linda’s goal remain unchanged? “Haha! Several years ago, I thought this way. I wanted to only stay in the industry for two to three years. Gradually, I realized it was very difficult to withdraw from the industry. I grew to love this industry and the people I work with. Now, I can not give up my acting career without care. The good actresses in the field, such as Charmaine Sheh Si Man, Jessica Hsuan, Tavia Yang Yi, and Maggie Cheung Ho Yee invested over ten years to refine their skills, gain a strong footing, and establish their fadan status. This can not be accomplished within a short time. I need to invest a long time in order to acquire their acting achievements. Until then, I will not have the courage to refer to myself as a ‘fadan.’ A leading actress is not an automatic fadan. Currently, I am just a little, little, little fadan.”
Rumors Frightened Away Pursuers
Although Linda’s work schedule was busy and colorful, her love life was boring. Since her debut, Linda had romantic rumors with Raymond Lam Fung, Philip Ng Yun Long, Ekin Cheng, Steven Ma Chun Wai, and Johnny Tang Siu Chuen. Denying these rumors, what was Linda truly looking for in a partner? “My parents have urged me to date, but love can not be forced and worry about. The time will come when God is ready to grant you a boyfriend.”
Linda’s rumors with Raymond were the most persistent. Puzzled, Linda said, “I possess a quiet personality and do not understand why these type of rumors arise so frequently. Each time I film a series, I will be linked with my male co-stars. Since I will be filming with Ron Ng Cheuk Hei shortly, perhaps I will have rumors with him next! Although rumors can be used for promotion, they often frighten away genuine pursuers. Many people thought that my rumors with Raymond were real.”
Although her love life is currently empty, Linda’s ultimate goal is to get married and have a family. “For a woman, the most satisfying thing in life is to get married and have children. I am afraid of loneliness, so I will definitely get married and have children. When I grow old, there will be family to take care of me. In the past, I wanted to get married before turning thirty years-old. Now, I will let God make the arrangements.”
Source: Mingpao Weekly # 2181
Jayne: Despite her achievements thus far, Linda is a still a very modest person. Once there is a taste of fame and the money that comes with it, it is difficult for artists to walk away from the entertainment circle, especially since Linda has not even reached her peak career yet. She is still young and have at least another ten years of her prime at TVB.
At one point, I also believed that Linda and Raymond were truly dating. They look very good together! Hmm…many years ago, Raymond mentioned that he was looking for a girl with traits similar to Myolie Wu, that she is an intelligent girl inside, but can have her playful and doltish side in certain situations. So is Linda not playful enough??
I do not believe she and Raymond dated but I do believe he is very much attracted to her and she maybe to him. I would not deny my hope that they will date one another because they do look great together. But not Ron Ng! Please not him. As for Linda, I feel she is rising very fast but handling fame well. Good for her! Despite whatever comparisons with other rising stars, I feel she is a good actress and that is what counts in the end. And she gives me an impression she is one classy lady.
I have to admit that Linda’s rise in the business is very fast. As the article said, at the age of 20 she’s already in leading roles and her career is very smooth sailing. Compared to the other current fadans, Linda’s younger age is an advantage for her. She only just pushed 26 while many others are 30+ already. Except Fala Chen who’s still in her late 20’s and blessed with a youthful look.
i think linda has a clear head, and understand things in a good perspective to help her stay in this field longer and be regarded in a good limelight and not just simply a lead actress. i wish her luck in this aspect. i dont think raymond’s acts show that he is attracted to her, he just seems like he doesnt want his name involved with anybody. he only look after himself, thats why he doesnt like the rumors. theres too much competition from the pot of starving no names trying to get to him, and those crazy fans of his will shred her to pieces, i’d be scared for anyone. if steven ma was just younger, he seems more linda’s type. i just caution her to stay away from women magnets so she’d have a higher chance of being with a devoted guy instead.
love how linda says she isnt a real fadan yet , and shes so real and down to earth. Just lovee her . And i think raymond was attracted to linda and has good feelings towards her. But i heard that Raymond is not Lindas type as he is more immature ? I really do wish that they do start dating. They are the perfect couple ^___^
Ray is too good for Linda. Linda is just lucky. She got promoted so fast while others need to wait for years. Look at how Tavia wait for 10 years before her leading role and Fala also start from supporting role. Linda too damn lucky to start as lead right away even when she has chicken voice and wooden acting
About the rumour Ray has constanty denied from the beginning but Linda is the one who doesn’t know how to answer reporter’s questions. U guys shud know that originally TVB want EEG to take both Linda and Ray to promote Linda, but EEG only interested in Ray who has talent not Linda who can’t sing, so they dont take Linda in.
“Look at how Tavia wait for 10 years before her leading role.”
That is untrue. Tavia’s first lead was in ‘The Vigilante In The Mask’ which is a 2003 series. Tavia graduated from acting class in 1998. Yes, Tavia waited longer than Kate, Linda, Fala, but, not a decade long. I always find fans like to exaggerate the ‘mistreatment’ of Tavia by TVB and the hardship Tavia faced in her path to success.
“Ray is too good for Linda.”
Both Ray and Linda benefited from their partnership. They earned more when appeared as couples in events.
“U guys shud know that originally TVB want EEG to take both Linda and Ray to promote Linda, but EEG only interested in Ray who has talent not Linda who can’t sing, so they dont take Linda in.”
It’s really ironic that EEG who churned out many talentless singers rejected Linda because of her lack of talent. I think the situation turn out well for both. Maybe if Linda has joined EEG, she would be able to participate as much in her album production. The smaller company she joined now let her composed her own songs even for her debut album. I personally find composing is a stronger forte of Linda’s than singing. She should develop in this area. Maybe later, she can compose with a piano instead of humming into a recorder since she’s supposed to have a level 5 or 6 piano skill.
I always laugh at the RayDa rumours since it was so obvious that TVB paired them up to promote Linda. Linda sure gained from it, Ray? I don’t think so. He was already mega popular. Perhaps, he did increase his fees but who’s to say he couldn’t have earned it through a different way? It’s also obvious that he’s sick of getting linked to Linda and is now constantly distancing himself from the whole thing. Maybe TVB finally relented their gag order. To me, there has never been any indication of RayDa dating aside from fan-wanking.
Tavia was under-appreciated by TVB but I don’t think her path to success was particularly harder or longer than others. It’s true that there have been less deserving ones rising faster than her, but what comes fast can easily be lost just as fast. Myolie, Sonija and Bernice are examples of actresses who were once heavily promoted by TVB, and now they have been replaced by Fala, Linda and Kate.
IF Linda is better at composing then good for her. Because her singing is atrocious
“I always laugh at the RayDa rumours since it was so obvious that TVB paired them up to promote Linda. Linda sure gained from it, Ray? I don’t think so. He was already mega popular. Perhaps, he did increase his fees but who’s to say he couldn’t have earned it through a different way? It’s also obvious that he’s sick of getting linked to Linda and is now constantly distancing himself from the whole thing. Maybe TVB finally relented their gag order. To me, there has never been any indication of RayDa dating aside from fan-wanking.”
True Ray is already mega popular when TVB paired Rayda. He doesn’t need a couple to promote himself. It’s Linda who need the scandal. If it’s for Ray TVB could’ve easily faked a Charray scandal but instead they choose Rayda to promote the newbie Linda.
I don’t know that humming is considered composing. She can easily accidentally humming someone else’s song
Charray wouldn’t look good on Ray because the one known as Char has been linked to too many people. Linda’s image would suit him, if it is true.
I’ve always been a Rayda shipper, though I would be the first to admit that it is clear Ray holds a major soft spot for Linda more than the other way around. He has said over and over again that she is the type of girl he looks for and once when Sandra Ng retorted on a talk show “So why don’t you chase her?”, he bashfully / uncomfortably said “I don’t know…”. Linda has said Ray has the qualities that she looks for in a guy (family-oriented, etc.) but I get the feeling she is now focused on her career. Am a fan of both – agree with Funn that Linda always gives me an impression that she is a classy lady. The vets such as Ha Yu think very highly of her as well.
Linda is quite respectful to other established artists in the industry. The way she speaks reminds me a lot of Raymond, who is quite soft-spoken in his interviews too.
Bridget, in those two interviews you mentioned where Raymond and Linda spoke about each other, was it during the height of their rumors during Moonlight Resonance? Perhaps TVB PR told them to respond in such a way, to leave some creative imagination to fans. They probably mutually like each other enough, but it’s hard to tell if there were more feelings that could have developed deeper or both of their fast-track careers did not leave room for romance.
In some tabloids I read, allegedly Raymond was interested in Linda, but he did not give her the confidence that he was the right man to date. Allegedly this was due to his extreme popularity, rich background, and frequent rumors with female artists. The tabloids made it sound like Raymond was interested in Linda, but she held back. I don’t remember the tabloid title, it was either Face, Sudden Weekly, or East Magazine. The article also sounded more speculation than fact. But I do believe they never dated, whether there were early mutual feelings or not.
1st time I saw Linda on screen, I knew that she has the potential to become one of the top of TVB. TVB did gave her a push but the past 2 years, TVB sort of backed off a bit on and change their target to Fala. Both very deserving, Linda and Fala are definitely the future of the business.
I am not Chinese but I love watching Hong Kong series. I always love Linda ever since watching her very first series. She just have the down to earth personality. In Heart of Greed I” I loved her character when she acted with Moses Chan. She can play in many roles (sweet, gentle, witty). I haven’t seen her in a mean role yet but I think if she does play that role in one day she will pull through.
As I watched over and over the movie scene in the Ghost Story series on the episode when she gave Steven a preserve egg to eat and then later tied him to the tree and tried to get the answer out of him if not she will put him on fire. It was just so hilarious each time I watch that part….
She takes her fame well and stay within the boundary compare to other actress. At least that she gets to the leading role by herself and the promotion of the TVB. Not like other actresses trying to date Lead Actors or rich men to get the lead role even their acting is suck…or trying to get a scandal with famous directors to get fame to themselves….
I think Linda is extremely lucky ever since entering the industry. She was very heavily promoted by Mrs. Lok who love her very much. I don’t think her acting is that great but she is a good girl, so even if you don’t like her, you feel compassion for her for trying. One thing that I do admire about Linda is the fact that she is still very grounded despite her rise to fame. She is very modest and down-to-earth. And I don’t think Rayda are a couple, it was purely for promotion. Even Ray said that they were pushing for the couple thing so much that he even thought they were a couple LOL. Fungyi still my favorite 😉
linda is a great person, very down to earth and handles her fame well. No offence to Fala fans but as we all know now… fala is being promoted alot now.. but i still don’t think she is as good of a person as Linda although she is very nice. Sometimes I think Fala is a bit of a showoff.. or the kind that will be like “omg im famous!! yes ! haha!”
So Linda didn’t go to college/university??
I really do like Linda’s character and personality. Even if her acting and singing is not the best, I admire her for being a modest and genuine person. Fame can really change people. But I feel that she was not affected with the temptations. This I think will be the biggest factor in her long-term success in the industry. She gets along well with everyone, so I think many people will help her develop. Her “yun yeun” is great and I think that is why she has a lot of people supporting her. Fala is a very confident person, but I can’t tell what kind of person she is behind camera. I think she knows how to kiss-up to the right people and to the veterans. Kate without a doubt is show-off and acts as if she is all that. You can tell just by the way she responds in interviews. No modesty whatsoever. Even veteran actors like Michelle Yim, Susanna Kwan, Susan Tse, or Kara Hui are more modest than her when they are praised for their performances.
I really like Linda’s modest attitude and down to earth personality. I really hope that she will continue to be that way even when she gets even more famous. Many people let fame and fortune get to their head.
Linda appears to be pretty religious since she keeps on mentioning God all the time. I think that she should have her own mind and take the initiative to do things instead of constantly saying that everything is up to God. I believe in fate as well, but sometimes when the opportunity is there, you have just got to go for it instead of saying that “God” says that it isn’t time yet… Sorry, but some people let religion literally control them and get to their head which is sort of sad…
Jayne, they both did indeed talk about each other at the height of MR rumours but the interesting thing is that Ray’s side has stayed consistent since. The Sandra Ng interview as well as an interview at one of his fan events (both of which he explicitly said Linda was the type of girl he likes) were from last year, so a good 2 years after MR. I can post the link to both when I find them. I get the feeling Ray wanted to chase her but never really “took action”. I think what also fuels the rumours is that the vets and their co-workers even thought they were together and keep asking both if the rumours are true. You get that very rarely with other rumoured couples (Charray, FungYi, etc.).
Hellokitty, Linda attended University of British Columbia but I think finished just her first year as she joined the Miss Chinese International pageant at age 19. She wanted to become a teacher before stepping into the biz. Who knows, maybe she’ll pull a Selena Li, who has since gone back to Toronto to finish her university degree.
” I think she knows how to kiss-up to the right people and to the veterans.”
If Fala is so good at ass-kissing, wouldn’t she have gotten promoted a lot sooner like say, Linda?
“The Sandra Ng interview as well as an interview at one of his fan events (both of which he explicitly said Linda was the type of girl he likes) were from last year, so a good 2 years after MR.”
What else is he supposed to say? That he hates her and could never dream of dating here? Do you believe everything you read in the newspapers too? These celebrities don’t always respond honestly. Ray has always been a generous person, of course, he could never dream of saying something bad about someone else, least of all a good colleague. Besides, he said her type, not her, right?
I think Fala still got promoted pretty fast. Maybe not as fast as Linda, because she was the MCI champion, and like Bernice Liu, it’s understandable that she will be cast in a lead role sooner. And Linda has the sweet, girl-next door look that people are looking for in a lead. If Fala didn’t know to kiss-up to the right people, she may still be playing roles like she was at the start, kind of like what Queenie Chu and Koni Lui are stuck in. Because she knows to get favor from the right people, ie, Stephen Chan, she sudddenly got a boost and got best supporting actress, got likeable roles that was able to showcase her acting abiliies. I feel bad for the actual MCI winner Leanne Li. She is still cast in supporting roles to this date although I do think she is pretty and elegant. Unfortunately, Leanne’s fate is not the same as her fellow MCI from Vancouver ladies like Bernice and Linda because Fala knows how to “market” herself in front of the influential people, thus overshadowing Leanne even if she was not the winner that year. So to me, she is still lucky and got a fast promotion. But I do think she has talent. If not, she will not get promoted for long.
Rising quickly in TVB means having the right people skills. Fala definitely comes across as confident and knows how to market herself. Looks can only get you so far and talent still needs opportunity to develop and showcase. She comes across as very ambitious; I really think she ultimately would make films. She really reminds me of Michelle Ye in ambition, without the complicated family background.
Linda may be modest, but she still has good people skills, just a different style than Fala’s. Linda also has ambition; she seems to have the mentality that hard work (focusing on polishing her acting skills) will get her there, while Fala will focus more on grabbing the right opportunities to climb faster.
I agree with Jayne that there are more things to be done to rise fast than just “good acting” onscreen. I don’t mean it in a negative way. Of course there are the negative things such as sleeping with film directors and company higher ups, becoming escorts, get an influential boyfriend or lover, but there are also some necessities such as work attitude behind the stage, cooperation with film crews including producers and directors, obedience to the company, respect for the higher ups, doesn’t speak unnecessary things and many more. These things exist outside TVB and entertainment industry too.
The thing with TVB is, we don’t know these artistes personally and only seeing what they potray themselves in cameras and what “other people” are saying about them and build our own imaginary thoughts of how they are. Maybe we are right, maybe we are wrong.
Fala is rising fast enough. Maybe we can say that she knows how to use her confidence and getting to the right people to rise. But who knows that maybe behind these she might be a hardworking individual behind the scene who commit herself to her dramas and get along with everyone and not simply a girl who “knows how to market herself in front of influential people” 😛
“I feel bad for the actual MCI winner Leanne Li. She is still cast in supporting roles to this date although I do think she is pretty and elegant.”
This is what I still don’t get. Leanne Li is tall, beautiful, elegant and from what little I see of her acting (her roles are always small), she’s a decent actor. How come she was never promoted? TVB usually promoted the winners of MCI and MHK. I don’t remember her having any bad rumour that might affect her promotion either. I recently saw her in MOL. She was very elegant and classy in the series.
Kidd, although I find Leanne Li to be pretty, her acting still needs a lot of improvement. Her acting in “The Mysteries of Love” still left a lot to be desired.There are countless beauty pageant winners and past contestants, all with pretty faces and good figures. Christine Kuo is also very pretty and still doing a lot of small roles. Behind the scenes, there are so many factors which could affect whether an artist is promoted or not.
I read an article about Mandy Cho (after she announced her engagement and intention to leave TVB). She was quite vocal in stating how TVB only tolerated certain personalities who followed management orders obediently (teng wah). That artists with only certain personalities thrived there. Throughout her career, Ms. Lok spoke with her a few times and questioned why Mandy did not follow orders. For example, TVB wanted to have Mandy appear on Super Trio and other game shows several times, but she refused. Mandy said that personally she did not like game shows with such frequent contact with other male stars, where she might have to roll around on a mat while hugging another man. When she refused to appear on these type of shows, her behavior was considered disobedient. After she returned from a year-long study break in the USA, Mandy gave another attempt to adjust to TVB’s management style. But she said that many fresh faces had appeared at that time and there was more competition. What didn’t change was that she could not change herself to mold to the work environment.
Mandy came from a pretty well-off background and I don’t know if this impacted TVB’s decision to initially promote her. But Mandy had strong preferences and dared to question TVB’s management. Since TVB has the power and resources to promote anyone they wanted, they didn’t want to deal with an artist who had such strong personal preferences where other producers or higher level management had to accommodate personal preferences. A new artist is like a little peon in a big company, if they don’t do what they are told, they will not be tolerated for long. More established artists had more clout (such as Liza) in filming on their own terms of course.
Mandy’s interview was very interesting to read because it is infrequent that an artist dares to come out and criticize TVB so openly. A person’s personality (coupled with some talent and some hard work) determines success at any work place, including TVB. Maybe many behind-the-scenes social interactions determine opportunities. That’s why beauties such as Leanne Li and Christine Kuo didn’t make it to the top or may never will. Marseilles Ma Choi, on the other hand, seems to be heavily promoted recently. Busty or not, I find her features to be only average. But her personality appears quite bubbly and extroverted, so perhaps she is favored by management.
In the 1980s when TVB actually had actor training classes, perhaps talent played a more important factor, instead of personality, in actual casting opportunities. It was the norm for new artists to start out in very small roles and move their way up. As TVB became a bigger corporation, the work place also increasingly became more political and their promotion of artists still seem more of a “push marketing” where they decide who to market and slowly the audience accept the artist over time.
This is why I have problem accepting TVB’s way of promoting. Being “promoted” in TVB has its pros and cons. Sometimes TVB overworked the “promoted one of the moment” and leaves them with no time to grow their skills, and sometimes TVB push them when they are not ready, and most of the “promoted ones” just follow TVB’s direction. Perhaps they are just obedient like a dog which is why we might see some actors having some roles you wish they didn’t take. TVB artiste management is horrible.
^I agree.
My impression of Fala is that she wasn’t “obedient” enough in the beginning which was why she only started getting promoted after Stephen Chan took her under his wing. She was too “troubling” for the other managers. On the other hand, Linda seems like a very obedient girl and that’s why Miss Lok loves her. Of course, these are all just impressions we get from reading articles which do not always represent the truth.
But I definitely think it’s ridiculous to say Fala only rose fast because of her “kiss-up” when we know she kinda floundered in her beginning years and wasn’t straight away “adopted”.
Any kinds of promotion requires you to make yourself visible – there are lots of hardworking people in any industries who are bypassed promotion because they aren’t visible enough. It’s hardly a bad skill if you know how to stand out and network with the right people as long as it doesn’t cross an ethical line of course.
^ Theres this one china actress Fan Bing Bing is her name I think? She really flirts and sit on director’s laps and get big movies
At least Fala don’t do that.
Fan Bing bing? Seriously?
^ There were news and photos of her flirting a few years ago. Now she’s famous in china so maybe she doesn’t do it anymore
There are also news about less popular TVB artistes mostly from pageants Miss and Mr HK becoming escorts to rich people to gain money
yeah whatever said about or said by christine kuo, leanne li and mandy cho, the truth is that (with exception of christine) leanne and mandy are actually a terrible actresses. wooden and expressionless. take leanne in TMOL, she is struggling to show the right emotion to be jealous of tavia when tavia gets close to raymond. and also Mandy in You’re Hired is another classic example of talking too much on how bad TVB treated them but they also let go good opportunities that they are worthy actresses.
fala carried herself very well even when she first appeared in Forensic Heroes I. although she was later casted in few other kelefes role before Steps, she gave good performances although she is just new then. about linda, i dun really like her acting but i must say i like her down-to-earth personality that earned alot of praises by the veterans such as lee sze kei n michelle yim
Leanne Li look jealous enough in MOL to me. The only part I think she need to work better on was the part where she block the door because she was scared.
Mandy Cho was cute in ‘You’re Hired’. I don’t. I find her acting in YH way better than her awful performance in ‘Guts of Man’.
Agree on Fala. She did pretty well even with the small roles she was given.
I guess these days it is not just talents and looks, but connections, marketing, people skills and many other things… I sort of feel sad that it seems that times have changed since back in the 80s, it was more of talent and hard work.. But now it does not seem that way anymore.
HeTieShou, it is the same even if in any job. Maybe less on connection but definitely on image and people skills. But even if you got the job because of connection and people skill or image, to win the hearts of the viewers of colleagues is all about oneself. So temperament is very important. As in real world as well.
Funn, You are totally right! IT is pretty much the same thing in any job, but I think it is even more complicated in the circle. In the circle, you have to put up with a lot more like rumours, privacy issues, and so many other things that you may not have to put up with in any other jobs. But then again, a lot of the same problems are there in any job. However, they seem to occur in different shapes and forms…That’s the real world for you..
If you were in the entertainment industry, specifically TVB, which to you prefer? Be heavily promoted and become famous and earn a lot, but will lost your privacy (due to paparazzi), and have to be absolutely obedient and bind yourself to a long management contract, or, not promoted and get stuck in supporting roles and earn less (but will always have work to do since lots of supporting and minor roles to fill), but, can have more freedom to do what you like and more privacy (since you are not famous enough for paparazzi to follow you).
People miss the fact that TVB’s style of production now does not allow its promoted actresses any range to develop. They are always made to play the same characters to convey a handful of emotions and character types, thus the less talented ones get a lack of good training. Only veteran artists know how to convey and interact with other actors during a scene, that’s why Linda and others always seem wooden in their performances.
But yes, thanks for reminding me of Christine Kuo and Leanne Li. Two very beautiful ladies that are movie-material or news anchors. Too bad to get anywhere in HK entertainment you either start in TVB or you need connections. If it wasn’t the problem that TVB has too many artists compared to the number of programs these days, certain actresses may get a better shot. I think Aimee Chan (minus her tomboy haircut) shows good potential to reach the level of Linda, Fala and Kate. She’s showing that personality HK audiences could like and TVB could promote.
^I do agree that a lot of it is TVB’s fault, but I also feel that it’s the actor/actress’ responsibility to develop more range. Yes, they get many similar parts, because TVB might want to promote a certain image for them, but nuances in the characters are up to the actor/actress.
Personally, I have noticed both Linda Chung and Gigi Lai only have one method/style of crying.
^ agree! Linda isn’t like Tavia who has good range in crying and cry differently for different scenes! Linda and Gigi only have one type of crying for every scene and it makes their crying scene unbearable.
Linda also has one type of cute acting and that’s what she’s doing in CBML. I can’t stand her limited acting skills. Thank God Fala Chen singlehandedly saves CBML.
Kidd, to answer your question, I’d prefer to be heavily promoted for the sake of the entertainment industry. You just have to get the exposure and popularity in order to survive in this business, and that’s why some actors are more promoted than others-because they give their all to TVB and accept whatever jobs are given to them. To the management, that is considered “good work ethic” and “obedient”. You have to have connections and good people skills to get promoted, and of course, you also have to work hard to show that you deserve to be promoted. If you are the target of the paparrazzi, that shows that you have “news value” because if you don’t, then that obviously means that the media and viewers don’t care too much about you. And having news doesn’t have to be gossips, rumors, or scandals all the time. The lost of privacy is the cost of fame for entering the entertainment industry. If someone cannot take that, then they are not suitable for the industry.
Again, some supporting actors may enjoy their status really because they enjoy acting and performing, not to gain fame or money, and have the freedom.
But most importantly, I think it’s important to stay true to yourself and be humble regardless of your success because having a diva attitude won’t cut it for long. That’s what I like about Linda regardless of how much her acting needs improvement. She truly was lucky to be promoted and play lead roles immediately, but she seems like a humble, modest and hardworking person. Just this attitude will help her.
^To a certain extend, I disagree with you. Or rather, I do agree that being modest will help her, but will it be enough? Like in any business, having a good attitude is the first step, but if you don’t have the talent, you just don’t have the talent.
But, to get promoted, you not only have to work hard, you also have to do whatever TVB tell you to do. Like Mandy Cho, she has valid reason to not want to participate in game shows like Super Trio. So, she become disobedient. Btw, I’ve never seen Linda Chung or Raymond Lam participate in super Trio show. I didn’t follow the latest season. But, I’ve never seen these 2 in other seasons. In fact, I’ve never seen Raymond Lam in any TVB game shows. Linda Chung, at least, has participated in that game show hosted by Carol Cheng on investment and properties.
Before this Mandy Cho news I’ve always thought that people go on Super Trio on invitation by Eric Tsang and there are really some crazy-heads that just love to go on the show and have fun. I was naive then to think that way haha since it turns out some expecially unknowns are “forced”. Of course some still go on friends card with the hosts thus the repeating of faces.
Is it because of Linda’s jade girl image that she has never appeared in any “rough” game shows?
I’m not saying talent is not important. Of course it is, but I think personality stands out. I see a lot of stars that clearly have talent but have not been promoted because they don’t have the right people skills. For example, Hacken Lee has always been a talented singer from the start, but at some point in his career, he hit a low and didn’t do much singing but ended up mainly hosting JSG. Why??? As he admitted after his career was reboosted again, it was because of his bad attitude. He knew he was a good singer and thus developed the cockiness that led him to go down. Now, he has a much better attitude. So I’m not saying that just kissing up or just having a good attitude is enough, talent is just as important. But on the other hand, just having talent but not the right attitude is not enough either. They need to have it all.
Aly, I think you are referring to “image” not really personality because we don’t know any of these artists personally, therefore, we do not truly know their “personality”. We can have an idea based on their interviews, news,etc… but is that really their true “personality”??? It is the “image” that they convey to the audience and media.
what do you guys think of charmaine who’s consider as the 1st sister of tvb. I noticed that she never won most improve actress award instead taking the best actress and favorite character in the same year.
Kidd, Raymond was on 15/16 thingy with Charmaine hosted by Sam Mei and Siew Yii. Years back he was in Dayo’s Wong game show where the loser had to drop down a hole and he seems to be invited mostly with Ah Lek’s (Chan Pak Cheong’s) shows most – one game show on quizes which he appeared with Bernice, Sharon Chan, Toby and Joel Chan and the investment talk (not a game show). He has been on game shows but mostly those that requires brains and he is quite good too with the answers. He lost out once it came to physical – like basketball etc. Reminds me of Kingsley:-)
HeTieShou, yes, I mean to say the image and impression they give to the audience. We don’t know any of them personally, but it’s the impression they give from their interviews, the way they interact with others, what other artists say about them, etc. I am sure there are sides of artists that we don’t see behind the cameras. We leave that for their colleagues and management to judge, and I guess that would reflect the amount of opportunity and support they have. And again, some may be fake in front of management and their peers, and a completely different person at home, but again, I think if they are able to get the support of people around them, that means they have the people and social skills. And I think over time will people be able to tell if that person is genuine or not. Not only in the entertainment industry, but in any field, people may be really nice at first, but time will show who really the “nice” and genuine people are. Some people become different people once they get promoted or get a lot of opporutunity. I’ve seen so many people like that. So again, my impression of Linda is what she conveys onscreen. I don’t know her personally. It’s just I compare her with other female artists around her, and I think she presents herself as a well-mannered and modest person despite her success and popularity compared to the others, “onscreen”. We will have to see how long that lasts 🙂