Raymond Wong Reflects on Career Setbacks
Above: Raymond Wong stars in new TVB drama, “The Day of Days”.
Sixteen years ago, Raymond Wong (黃浩然) was Johnnie To’s (杜琪峯) new found prodigy and with the help of the director, he quickly rose to take up promising roles in movies such as Lifeline <十萬火急>, only to be slammed down just as fast.
There are actors such as Wayne Lai (黎耀祥) struggled for more than a decade to get to where they are now. Then there are the lucky few, like Raymond, who were talent-scouted early, and with nary a finger lifted to start off their road to stardom. Starting his career in the movie industry, Raymond was discovered by Johnnie To in his modeling days, probably due to his good looks and charm. Perhaps because of their quick start, they are more often than not, been harshly looked upon.
Starting All Over
When Raymond’s filming projects continued to decline where he worked for only 10 days in a 9-month period, he knew he had to do something. “I never dreamt of rising to the top. My acting then was bad and I probably couldn’t meet To Sir’s expectations. Since that was the case, I could only try my hands on another job, even if it means starting anew.”
Never one to believe that success comes easily, Raymond knew he had to work hard, even if it means taking many first steps. In 2002, Raymond began his career in the television industry with ATV. Five years later, he had to re-establish himself, this time with TVB. The pragmatic Raymond had not left his head in the clouds but was humble in his job. He said matter-of-factly, “No matter what role I was given, chances are I would grab it. I did not attend any acting class, so any role was a good chance for me to learn. From To Sir, I learned that no matter how successful one is, one still has a lot to learn and especially as an actor, one must have that discipline to maintain a studious attitude.”
Still Working Hard to Achieve Success
Moses Chan (陳豪), who had entered the industry almost the same time as Raymond, has already achieved much compared to the latter, having clinched several awards, most notably the TV King award in 2007. The difference between the two actors is Moses has been with TVB for a longer amount of time. If Raymond was envious, he did not show it. Instead, Raymond said, “Moses is my number one idol of my generation! Not only is he good in his work, he has good social skills too.”
Although not achieved the success of Wayne or Moses yet, Raymond is already content. While Raymond is under contract with China Star, he has been given plenty of opportunities at TVB. Raymond’s hard work has paid off too and together with Wayne, he was nominated for last year’s TV King award. Humbly, Raymond said, “I don’t think I deserve that award yet. My target is to achieve what Wayne has done – to bring in good ratings for a show. When viewers sees his name in the credits, they immediately know it’s going to be a good show. That’s what’s important to me.”
Eventually, Raymond hopes to be able to show his gratitude to Johnnie To. Raymond said, “I wish to be able to work with To Sir again. However, it will be when I can live up to his expectations. At the same time when he helps me, I want to help him back.”
Source: ihktv.com
This article is written by Karen for JayneStars.com.
He’s got the looks when he was younger but for some reason he never really made it, whether its films or tv. sigh, i guess it really depends on luck sometimes too not only acting wise. i mean since it was known he came from a rich family, he should connections too but he’s just never famous.
not enough fans i think,not everyone is so luky as raymond lam.
Luck? Really? No. LOL.
exactly my point, that dude is LUCKY. plain n simple… hes an average actor and singer imo of course, dont kill me hardcore fans haha lol…
There must be some hidden love for Raymond Lam on this site. Somehow this article is about Raymond Wong, but there has to be someone making comparisons to Raymond Lam. People hate RL’s fans for being psycho but theres always two sides to a coin. You leave the man alone, fans won’t attack. Isn’t life simple?
Many people here feel LF is overrated and doesn’t deserve his fame but realize all of you are contributing to his popularity with your remarks. Don’t want him to be famous? Tired of him? Stop talking about him…
There is a song to describer this situation: “Can’t stop loving you”
It is not just looks and talent, but luck connections, timing,etc.. all come into play if you want to be successful. You can also be rich but lack connections as well.
Luck was never played through with Raymond. You can say connections for entering show biz, but his fame was not luck. Luck is what you call Wayne Lai. He was in the industry for how long and he shot up to fame with luck and timing…that is luck. Raymond was an investment for TVB and it paid off. He is a star now, but no it wasn’t luck… perfect timing yes. Connections check. But certainly not luck.
I wish luck was with him somehow so those “scandals” would end. LOL. If you ask me, I think he has horrible luck, if there is any “luck” for him.
Crystal,
He definitely has the worst luck in the industry when it comes to rumors and press news and can’t leave out the speculators. Admit he isn’t the best in his game, acting/singing, but nonetheless a worthy artist, at least in the industry now. People need to ride off his ****, but I guess him being born rich has to do with it. “He’s rich. He don’t got to work for ****. He sits back, relax and all the fame comes to him because he is lucky.” <— Stripped from a commentator on another website. 5 minutes later the comment was flagged and user was banned from accessing the site. I guess the moderators were die hard Raymond fans too.
Crystal:
Why was Raymond Lam an investment for TVB? Because he was lucky. Luck has played a large part in his level of fame currently no doubt.
His “scandals” are due to his own mistakes, not due to unluckiness. Maybe it was unlucky for his scandals to be uncovered but then again, he is lucky that it didn’t affect his reputation as much as it did for Ron Ng.
Raymond Lam fans find the weirdest ways to justify his lack of talent.
Jessica,
Before the media caught up with his fame, he barely had any negative news. His so called scandals are nothing more than a regular person day to day personal matters. But thats okay since everyone loves to judge celebrities like their speculations are iron clad rules.
His investment wasnt luck that was probably due to connections. He appeared on screen in 1999. Tvb invested in him because of his rising popularity and kept promoting till the star he is today. Business works that way, the more popular an artist = more revenue for tvb. That is a win win situation for both sides.
Now with ron ng, before his personal matters surfaced, he wasnt the most filial tvb artist. There were plenty of negative press news surfacing even before his scandals came about. People dont notice those things because it just wasnt WOW enough for attention.
Before you make an assumption that I come up with the weirdest things to defend raymond because im a fan, which im not afraid to admit, but do realize what I said was nothing more than an opinion just like everyone else. I simply disagreed with some other commentators because I dont see how he is “lucky.” Conncections yes. Timing check.
And to add, his fame came from his fans. Not his luck. Unless you want to start the “thats why he is lucky cause he has fans”. So luck is going to be the excuse for other daily matters, because a man is rich he is just lucky to have money or you ace an exam that was basically luck…there were absolutely no other factors contributing to these results?
Also I am very much well aware the man isnt the best in his field but he isnt dirt poor at it. He is worthy enough. Is he the best vocalist? No. Is he a fantastic actor. No.
I agree with many of your points. Raymond has an extremely solid fan base, they literally will cry and cheer with him regardless of how others view him.
Like you said, he isnt a legend in his respective fields but definitely bareable. Also, ive always been a fan of his work ethics. He knows he is not the greatest and far from it but he continues to give his works 100%. To me, that is respectable and admirable.
I dont like using the word luck because it becomes too much of an excuse. Idk if his fame is from luck or connections or maybe both but his hard work and giving everything he has most likely attributed for something.
Linda Chung is almost like his counterpart. Mediocre in singing and acting but works so very hard. Thus, she is rewarded with quite a fanbase as well. Btw, if anyone has footage of their trip to Seoul, please share them. I heard they were extremely close.
Each time I see the word “Raymond” in this topic, I immediately put it on Raymond Wong. Isn’t it an article about Raymond Wong? It’s such a weird style.
And @jessica: Luck is a part of everything, but luck alone can’t bring anything. Do you ever think why Ron’s luck can’t really save him but LF can? Because it isn’t the matter of luck at all.
To say that LF dun have luck isn’t correct, but to say luck play all or majority to his success, I’m afraid it’s such a jelly comment. Fans can’t be gained through luck. Giving his works to others to do and let’s see if they can earn that many fans like LF did, we’ll know. For example, let Wayne open a concert in HKC, how many ppl will buy ticket, can you answer me?
fox,raymond lam was already heavily promoted when was a rookie in acting,in 2000 he was the second lead behind louis koo in a step into the past,after this he got only lead roles,so tvb already have arranged him to be the next top siu san at all cost.that is luck.for other actors like ron,bosco,kenneth they have to prove himself first in minor roles and fight his way to the top.that is fait.
He was given chances in A taste of love and ASITP and he passed, then why dun promote them when at this moment, Txb was lacking of male leads? Maybe you don’t know but LF got the praises from the role in An Era of something I dun rmb name although he only appeared in 6 mins but after that, he was still sent to do host job in 6 months before having a chance. Like all others, LF had a lot of minor roles before the real chance come to him.If it’s luck or fait, then only can’t blame why he did so well when he has just started. It isn’t his fault or luck if others can’t do the same thing or prove themselves like him until recent years. All others, once being famous, be promoted heavily by Txb as well.
i think you are a die hard lf fan?,i didnt even criticise him,only said he has much luck in his life.and its true that he has much luck,but it doesnt mean he cannt act or sing.i may mention any one i want and i cannt help that you cannt deal with it. its not my problem,yeh im tired now.
I even dun replied to you at first place, shu. But more than 1 time you drag someone else in something dun related, and I feel it’s too ridiculous. And when you call me out, I answered you. If you can’t deal with that, sorry, we are both tired so let’s end here.
P/S: I haven’t said a word that you criticize LF or Raymond Wong, dun put word to my mouth :D.
Raymond Wong comes from a rich family too? Wow, never new that.
Chriselle,
Raymond Wong’s wife is wealthy and for some time there were rumors of him eating soft rice, since the apartment the couple lives is owned by his wife’s father (?). But Raymond claims that he pays his father-in-law rent.
So he isnt wealthy wealthy? Lol.
Crystal,
From reading earlier tabloids, it appears that Raymond Wong’s wife’s family is more wealthy than his. Otherwise, the press wouldn’t accuse him of eating soft rice earlier.
Oh I meant it as, is he wealthy like the royal kind of wealth or just more well off than the average upper middle class?
Raymond Wong’s wife is wealthy, he isn’t. When he was in ATV, before his marriage, he can’t afford a flat and a car, I read in an article so
Oh, so his wife’s family is wealthy… No wonder some were accusing him of eating soft rice… I find that sad because if a girl can marry into a rich family and be ok, why can’t a guy marry a rich wife without complaints?? That is just not fair…
I bet he does pay his father in law or else they would look down on him…
Rumour that he can has a position in Txb all thank to his father-in-law’s relationship with Txb. And he is under the management of his father-in-law’s company. This is why he is called eating soft rice, not that because his wife is rich.
However he is providing that he is having a happy family. Do you know about the case of Bobby Au Yeung, HTS? He is called eating soft rice for a long while and until now, but he did well with the family.
@Fox,
Thanks for the info even though most of it are rumours. Some of it may be true. I almost forgot about Bobby… Sorry but all I know is that Bobby’s wife is rich. However, that is all I know so not sure if her family liked him or not but I guess they do since they have been married for awhile now…
Bobby’s wife is rich and helped him a lot with his career (when he wasn’t famous). Moreover she can’t give birth but Bobby still with her. This is why the media attacked him.
If I rmb rite, Raymond Wong’s management contract is really under his father-in-law’s related company.
Are we talking on the wrong raymond here?raymond Wong not raymond lam
I remember him from movies like “Love Undercover” and the Infernal Affairs parody “Love is a many stupid thing” where he played Andy Lau’s character and had that triad guy feel him up under the table when he gave him his mobile phone to tip his boss off.
I like Raymond Wong,,, he did a good job in every single series,,
yeh i also like him,i think his acting is better than raymond lam.
Bad timimg for Raymond Wong! I think he is a good actor but TVb did not give him many good roles. Bottled Passion is his best, but bad luck it was put in a poor time slot so it cannot help his career too much.
as i said not everybody is so luky as raymond lam,its fait that determine one’s life.
Have you ever felt tired of dragging LF into anything?
im not a lf hater, i even like his acting but there are also other artist who work hard and didnt recognised by tvb,like stephen ma,who doesnt have the luck of the heavily back up from tvb management,thats why he left tvb.and now they are begging him back,thats fait.and many others left tvb on the same reason.
Steven Ma, please. I really can’t understand why someone like some artists but can’t even pronounce or write their name rite?
So if LF leaves Txb and come back, what you will say?
However, it isn’t related at all. I’m asking if you are tired to drag LF in a thing that dun even related to him. This article is about Raymond Wong and there is no mention about LF.
is it true Raymodn starred in Cat III ?
Who was he in Lifeline?!
Detective Wong. Not a leading character.
His voice really puts me off.
Agree. I don’t like Raymond Wong’s voice ……. very flat and monotonous.
He looks good though.
that’s the problem i have with him as well. he can be spot on with the facial expressions and body language but his voice ruins everything
I don’t find anything wrong with his voice..
Yeah… I find nothing wrong with his voice…
I will always remember Raymond Wong as the man who killed this cute guy in Central Affairs with Michelle Ye. =/
I quite liked Ray Wong’s role in “The Other Truth”…. as the carefree wealthy lawyer who didn’t practice much law lol
I like Raymond Wong very much. Just wondering, why they down graded him from lead actor in Bottled Passion to second or third lead in series subsequent to that.
if inbound troubles are getting lots of praises and noise, and high ratings, this series along with sunny, raymond and sonija are getting bad reviews for the acting and script from hk netizens.
Really? I actually find Days of Days to be more watchable than Inbound troubles…