Samantha Ko Only Had $600 HKD in Bank Account at One Point

Receiving buzz for new series Barrack O’Karma <金宵大廈>, in which Samantha Ko (高海寧) plays a Tiger Mom, the 32-year-old actress reflects on her own family and past upbringing in a recent interview.

In contrast to her character who is controlling, strict, and sets high standards — Samantha said her personality in real life is quite the opposite. Even as an actress, she said she is not strict when it comes to her diet and eating habits.

From Nanjing to Hong Kong

Leaving Nanjing when she was only 13 years old, Samantha moved to Hong Kong with her family to start a new life. Even though the family living conditions were meager, in which she had to share the same room as her two brothers, the Kos still had great memories there.

“I never really thought the place was cramped. In fact, I thought it was very cozy. We ate dinner and watched TV together. Being with each other as a family feels very warm,” Samantha said.

Down to Last $600 HKD

Despite catching her first break when she was placed in the Top Five of the 2008 Miss Hong Kong Pageant, Samantha’s earnings were paltry. In order to save money, she would avoid going out and immediately return home after work.

When good friend and former actress Suki Chui (徐淑敏) got married in 2009, Samantha disclosed that she didn’t even have enough money for a decent wedding gift. Samantha said, “We should at least give $800 HKD as a wedding gift at that hotel but my bank account had just a little more than $600 HKD. I took out the money and had to go to the counter to ask for the rest of the change. That day, I went to the banquet with only $600 HKD.”

Luckily for the actress, Samantha’s career picked up in 2010 when she began receiving more job opportunities. She also began investing in properties and renting out apartments for extra income.

Not forgetting her roots, Samantha makes sure her family is living comfortably now that she is earning a good salary. Besides paying for her brothers’ tuition, extra-curricular classes, and personal expenses, Samantha enjoys sharing her own life experiences with them and encourages them to focus on education.

Samantha also remembers to thank her grandmother — who was the person who taught her the value of money. Samatha expressed, “I learned that you can actually do a lot on your own without having to spend the extra money to buy. For example, if something is broken, you can get it fixed. Don’t just throw it away.”

Source: hket

This article is written by Su for JayneStars.com.