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 think a huge part of it is also “goon jung yuen” (audience fate). There are many questionable talents (Kevin Cheng, Moses Chan) who get promoted by TVB simply b/c the audience likes them or likes watching them. Part of the audience fate is what the audience perceives to be the artist’s personality (e.g. Linda Chung being classy / modest). Then you got the very talented ones who everyone acknowledges as talented but never quite ‘make it’ in terms of being a big star and promoted by TVB (Wayne Lai before ‘Rosy Business’, Louisa So, Akina Hong, Florence Kwok). Then you get the big question marks who don’t really seem to have audience fate nor talent, but still get forced down our throat by TVB (Kate Tsui would be my pick here).
Kate Tsui might not be your cup of tea, but, there are people who like her a lot.
Kate Tsui is just lucky to be able to act under Johnnie To in her first movie. She sucked in everything else and has only one expression while acting.
Kevin is just a pretty face who poses in every series most suitable to be a couple with Niki Chow. He look unconvincing in many many series and totally out of place in BTROC. I don’t know what to make of Moses anymore his acting turn out isn’t that great after all.
I agree with you with Kate Tsui’s acting,
but she is good when she plays a killer with a cold dead face or wearing her silk like mask!! overall in my opinion here acting has be average to poor.
@ kidd, there are people who like her. But not nearly as much compared to other fa dans. But she still gets promoted.
“@ kidd, there are people who like her. But not nearly as much compared to other fa dans. But she still gets promoted.”
How do you know? Any statistics?
Kate Tsui is an arisen star in Hongkong. There is a place in Hongkong called Sino center where you can buy artists’ pictures. A famous artist will have many stuffs sold in this place because people will go there to buy them. Kate Tsui has more pictures than many other fa dans, it’s the best statistic for the fame. Recently, Raymond Lam and G.E.M are the most popular in Sino Center and I’m proud that I’m fan of both.
I’m watching The Beauty Of The Game atm, and Kate’s acting is horrible. Aside from all the excessive pouting, I also hate the way she talks. Sorry, I almost think Kate is worse than Linda – which says a LOT! I have heard that she’s supposed to be better in movies though, perhaps, the filming style in movies suit Kate more than TVB’s style. I didn’t completely hate Kate’s acting in MR or The Four, but in BOTG, she’s just terrible.
My thoughts exactly!!!
Linda is weak as an actor she can not hold the show or the audience but Kate is so much worse watching her makes me want to stab my eyes out as she destroys the hard work and effort writers put into the script. Kate is only acceptable putting out/being her slutty self and “acting”/natural botch-botox injection self for no expression.
“There is a place in Hongkong called Sino center where you can buy artists’ pictures. A famous artist will have many stuffs sold in this place because people will go there to buy them. Kate Tsui has more pictures than many other fa dans, it’s the best statistic for the fame”
She’s famous among HK guys because she keep wearing revealing clothes and doing sexy dances. Being famous doesn’t relate to her actual talent, it just means she’s overpromoted by TVB and knows how to sell her skin to get guys to notice her.
From stella:
“there are people who like her. But not nearly as much compared to other fa dans. But she still gets promoted.”
From Macy:
“Kate Tsui is an arisen star in Hongkong. There is a place in Hongkong called Sino center where you can buy artists’ pictures. A famous artist will have many stuffs sold in this place because people will go there to buy them. Kate Tsui has more pictures than many other fa dans, it’s the best statistic for the fame. “
Vivien:
“She’s famous among HK guys because she keep wearing revealing clothes and doing sexy dances. Being famous doesn’t relate to her actual talent, it just means she’s overpromoted by TVB and knows how to sell her skin to get guys to notice her.”
So, egg first or chicken first?
“She’s not as well liked as other fa dan, but, TVB still promotes her. ”
Macy shows statistics that she’s popular in sina.
“She’s popular because TVB overpromoted her.”
Hey strippers get fans too but do the audience make the strippers or do the strippers make the fans…
^
Kate’s not well liked but since TVB keep overpromoting her and shoving her down people’s throats with her skimpy outfits of course she will gain some fans.
I’m watching Linda in CBML. She’s stiff in delivering the ancient dialogues and rhymes and her ‘comedy’ expressions are fake. Linda shouldn’t continue doing comedies. She’s not funny. I think she’s just goofing around in CBML instead of acting.
@Vivien
Well, i don’t know about Kate since I don’t like her and hence don’t watch series with her in it except for MR but I think she’s kinda expressionless in her performance..
Linda is actually quite bad in CBML.. Like you said, she’s really stiff and her ‘comedy’ isn’t funny at all.. And she looks a bit out of place in ancient dramas, both she and Fala have very modern looks and look and sound weird in ancient series.. but i thinks she does well in rebellious roles like in AJCL..
“Kate’s not well liked but since TVB keep overpromoting her and shoving her down people’s throats with her skimpy outfits of course she will gain some fans.”
Again, where’s the statistics? Macy at least show some stats in sina that she’s popular. Not all fans like her because of her skimpy outfits.
“I think she’s just goofing around in CBML instead of acting.”
Good that she’s goofing around since this this series need to bring in a happy atmosphere. Honestly, I think Linda’s acting is fine in this series. She suits the character of Sei Duk.
Chung Ka Yan is a pretty small girl .
I agree that Linda is terrible in CBML. I believe I have watched sufficient to make a fair assessment. She’s just so expressionless, so bland. She’s like an even more boring version of all her previous boring roles. She’s the stereotypical naive (read: stupid) girl with a heart of gold. If the show wasn’t full of bad performances already, her bad acting would stick out like sore thumb – as usual.
“Good that she’s goofing around since this this series need to bring in a happy atmosphere. Honestly, I think Linda’s acting is fine in this series. She suits the character of Sei Duk.”
She’s goofing around but not as in being funny, more like out of place in the series. The character looks like it was written to make Linda appeal as cute jade girl to audience but I agree with Advo she turns out stereotypically naive girl with a heart of gold with fake expressions and stiff dialogues.
actually it is quite obvious that kate isnt the really loved fa dans out there. whenever shes doing promotions for her songs or w.e not many ppl go to see her. Kate gets really less leading roles, and she has really less fans on fan pages. Most ppl that do like kate are people who like her image . i know lots of people who HATE kate.
Most ppl that do like kate are people who like her image
Can be, but there are also many who like her for her strong screen presence in movies. I’ve noticed that Kate is more suitable for the big screen 🙂
“actually it is quite obvious that kate isnt the really loved fa dans out there. whenever shes doing promotions for her songs or w.e not many ppl go to see her. Kate gets really less leading roles, and she has really less fans on fan pages. Most ppl that do like kate are people who like her image . i know lots of people who HATE kate.”
I agree with u
I’m not sure if Kate isn’t well liked in HK or elsewhere but I know that I don’t like her.. It’s not so much her acting skills or lack of it, for me it’s more about her looks.. Not to sound mean or to offend anyone but Kate just doesn’t have a good look about her..I mean she’s quite pretty but somehow her looks don’t seem to sit well, she doesn’t look sincere or trustworthy to me.. She doesn’t have good ‘guan zhong yuan’ i feel..
I don’t know how many people hate Kate but people around me LOVE Kate. You have to watch 14 Blades to know how good Kate is. She is very attractive.
Some people in here are trying to bring Kate down. However, she is still rising very fast, has many leading roles, appear in everywhere. It will make some in here cry silently.
Go Kate!
My housemate also loves Kate (and NOT because she dress skimpily). I think Kate has a movie face.
Okay some may love Kate not because of her skimpy dress but this dont change the fact that Kate can’t sing and should stop her singing at once. Her dancing with Ray and Ron at the MHK 2010 competition is horrible too.
“Okay some may love Kate not because of her skimpy dress but this dont change the fact that Kate can’t sing and should stop her singing at once.”
Of course, it doesn’t. But, at least, we prove the point that there are people who like Kate (instead her not being well-liked and hated by everyone) and not all because of her skimpy dress (which is the point of contention all long). 😛
In 14 Blades she doesn’t wear any skimpy dress but she is loved. Her dancing in MHK2010 is better than Ron. Ron is the one who ruined the whole dance.
Linda is only 26 and she is the youngest of TVB’s new “Fa Dan”. She has a good attitude toward her work and the general public in HK like her. She has so many opportunity because most of the behind-the-scene in TVB love her and will use her again for their new TV series.
At this time, other than Sheren Tang, Jessica Hester Hsuan, Maggie Shiu and Charmine Yu, there are not many “Fa Dan” of the 90’s left.
TVB is now promoting Linda, Kate, Fala, Myolie, Charmine. It depends on luck for any of them to get a break-through role. 常在心 was the first that pushed Linda ahead of the others. She has a contract with TVB, they will continue to promote her. Although, things could change very quickly if TVB is sold to another owner in the near future.
All the luck to Linda Chung who works very hard to get to where she is now. And praise for other TVB female artists who put their hearts into their works.
There is too much bickering on the TVB forum laterly between fans of male and female artists. At the end, it is the artist that gets the end of the sick — look at poor Raymond Lam…..
RAYMOND,
Since you said you are a Hong Konger and I assume you live in HK. What is the HK public reception of other fadans beside Linda?
Fala Chen
Kate Tsui
Myolie Wu
Bernice Liu
Aimee Chan
Charmaine Sheh
Sonija Kwok
Tavia Yeung
Selena Li
Nancy Wu
Just curious.
I agree with Kidd.
I actually dont’ mind Kate and i dont’ understand why people hate her so much, and i personally think her acting is not that bad, i really loved her role in Moonlight Resonance, and her acting is terrible in The beauty of the game? really? I’m not a big fan of her, but i don’t think its bad to the point it was “terrible”. It was fine. and i also like Kate in “When Lanes Merge”, i know, she may not be as good as others like Sheren, Tavia e.t.c but she’s not to the point that its “terrible” like how some of you guys are saying. There are much, much worse.
And also, i quite like LInda’s character in CBML as well, she really suits the character, i mean you can’t possibly put Sheren Tang, or Kate Tsui as “seh dak”, whereas linda fitted in perfectly. and i quite like the little love story between linda and raymond wong there, it was quite cute.
I agree.. I think people who says her acting is terrible in Beauty of the game are just PURE kate haters. I’m not a HUGE kate fan or anything, but tbh she’s not that bad.. and she has a very blunt personality which I like.
Oh and I also agree with you Joanne.
Linda’s acting was REALLY foolish in CBML, but you gotta consider her Character “seh dak”, she’s suppose to be foolish and “soh ha soh ha” (bit nonsense). There are many series where Linda acted really well, just unfortunately most of her roles are the “goody good girls”. I liked her role in Gem of Life. I wish Linda could act in more serious roles.
I like tavia yeung and her acting skills. She wasn’t any of those pageant girls. Linda is pretty but her acting and singing skills suck so much that she’s embarassing herself. Don’t even know what the public see in her. Maybe because she’s from overseas and TVB seems to like people from overseas. Kate is very seductive looking from her eyes to lips. You can tell that she’s quite the bitchy type. For Charmaine, I don’t even know who she slept with that she’s the main character in a lot of series. They over promoted this girl that you get tired of watching her. I like Fala’s character in Dance of Passion. She looks very sweet with cute dimples.
Hong Kong people just love to be other people and tries to be in all the time. They don’t know how cocky and lame they are. They want to be Japanese and English. They try to do hip hop but it’s so lame. Please give up!!!!!! All the Cantonese songs are so similar. Seems like they’re all soft rock. TVB needs to recruit real talents and not just a pretty face or from family jewels. Those scriptwriters makes every series so obvious that u know what’s going to happen.
Moses is so…corny!!! Hate his voice and he tries to be cute. Can people stop putting Linda and Raymond and Linda together?!?!?
The recent Hong Kong singers can’t sing at all !!!!
Where’s another Jacky Cheung and BEYOND talents???
@Fayau, I don’t recall seeing Fala in Dance of Passion. LOL
I agree that Kate suits the big screen more than on drama and she’s really lacking on goon jung yuen. But of lately, she seems to be looking prettier than when she first started out on TVB. I guess she found which kind of make-up and the combed-up-showing-her-forehead hairstyle suits her best.
Most of the artistes look better than when they first entered the industry, an example would be Charmaine Sheh too. They lost the “baby fat” and like you said.. used make-up that suited them.
I rather like Kate and her looks. She seems to have that mysterious look and makes you wonder what she’s thinking about. As for Linda she seems to be the bright and cheery type. Sometimes she tries a bit too hard in her acting, like in Forensic 2, but then she is still very young and has lots of time to brush up her acting.
Kate is really unique, her acting might not be that good now, but you can tell over the years, she is improving tremendously.
And you can’t really blame Linda in FH2, it was one of her earlier series… I’m sure many artistes that first entered the industry had worse acting than her.
in my opinion, Linda’s acting has improved a bit, but I don’t like her acting. She has a kind looking face a , but don’t like her voice althought sounds kind even when she shouts, lol
ps: Linda however looks stylist in the above photos, and should stick to modelling catwalks!!