Ruco Chan and Linda Chung’s “All That is Bitter is Sweet” Airs September 9
TVB’s new 30-episode period drama All That is Bitter is Sweet <大藥坊>, starring Linda Chung (鍾嘉欣), Ruco Chan (陳展鵬), and Raymond Wong (黃浩然), will premiere on September 8. Ruco promoted the drama at an event, where he spoke about his filming experiences earlier this year.
“It gives me a very special feeling. I have only filmed two Republic-era dramas since my debut – the first one was ATV’s Love in a Miracle <愛在有情天> ten years ago, and the second one was All That is Bitter is Sweet.” Ruco added that the drama was filmed locally, so there would not be outstanding scenery in the series. “The scenery would be prettier if we filmed it in mainland China, but the producer wants to put more emphasis on the storyline rather than aesthetics.”
Earlier this year, while promoting the crime drama Ruse of Engagement <叛逃>, Ruco had rumors that he underwent plastic surgery. Ruco clarified that his bloated appearance was due to All That is Bitter is Sweet’s underwater scenes. “This series broke my record. I had four to five underwater scenes – I submerged in sea water, fresh water, and even lake water.”
Ruco said he filmed the underwater scenes at the beginning of the year when Hong Kong’s weather was at its coldest. “The weather was around 37 degrees Fahrenheit and I had to be in the water. I got sick and had bloating because of water retention. That’s when the plastic surgery rumors started.”
Ruco said All That is Bitter is Sweet is a good series, but asked when he feels confident in winning the Best Actor award this year, he said, “It depends on the right timing.”
During the filming of the drama, Ruco and Linda were rumored to be dating. Paparazzi photographed Ruco taking good care of Linda on set, and even saw Ruco driving her around the city. Ruco maintained that they are only good friends. “Linda is a great colleague and partner.”
On the discussion of Raymond Lam’s (林峯) departure from TVB, Ruco was asked if leaving TVB meant better opportunities. He said, “TVB has always given opportunities to newcomers. I am not exactly a newcomer, but this year’s Miss Hong Kong winners had a lot of chances to appear in dramas.”
Has TVB asked him to renew his contract? “If the company wants an early discussion, we can do that. But I still have a lot of time left in my contract. It wouldn’t be that soon.”
Source: On.cc
This article is written by Addy for JayneStars.com.
Wait, how swimming in water gets you bloated? Was he drinking the water so he got water retention? ….
He got sick. Can’t wait to watch his series.
Hahaha~ I was thinking the same too! Perhaps he drank too much water while in the water.
I think fever was the reason for the water retention?
Oh okie dokie. I’ve heard that some do retains water from flu or cold. He did not look sick in those “bloated d” pics. Or maybe he was really good at supressing his sick side in public.
Btw, what was he accused of getting done? A nose job?
Botox I believe because of his bloated face. He obviously looked unwell when he had that bloated face.
That’s odd, I didn’t know botox is considered to be “surgery.” Loads of ppl use it now aday. It’s like a flu or antibiotic shots now aday lol. Besides, he doesn’t look wrinkly enough to need botox; or maybe he is wrinkly and we’ve been seeing his botox-face lol.
Or some cosmetic procedure hence his bloating face, that was the accusation. Eyelid also if I am not mistaken. Something along that line. He did have a bloated face but like I speculated, he wasn’t feeling well. He couldn’t have since he had to film, fly everywhere, etc. Few months ago was probably one of his most punishing schedule. Botox is often used to maintain I suppose a supple look or line free look. Nowadays I read even children were given botox by hapless parents.
Nahhh he denied any surgery on his face. I believe him.
Yea, I believe he didn’t have cosmetic surgery either for the reasons you mentioned. Idk why they would say hjs eyelids since there’s nothing wrong with them lol.
Yeah i also believe he hasn’t. He looked almost the same as he was 20 years ago. You can tell from his early TVB dramas back in the 90s.
I heard actresses take botox for v-shaped face, not bloated. I believe it’s a false scandal by next mag.
Always thought Linda looked too modern for ancient series. She doesn’t look convincing in that pic above.
Rise up and be the best that you can be because your world is waiting for you.
not planning to watch this series, and yeah linda does not look convincing. her role does not fit her
Surprise surprise, another TVB drama with Linda and Ruco. Honestly the pairing is so boring that I felt bored just reading the title of this article. By the time I clicked on the link and saw the picture I was half asleep. TVB, how bout trying something daring. Let’s start small, just pair up people who we don’t see together too often, like Nancy Wu and Ruco, any two but these two. Gosh, it’s just so bloody boring and predictable. It’d be funny if it’s not so pathetic.
ah…linda chung again. okay, i won’t be watching this one.
@ Mt: lol.
Wasn’t this suppose to be a “tailor made” role for Linda? I’ve read in other forum that this is the role she’s supposedly will ride to get the BA. Of course, there’s also Tiger Club 2.
Well, unfortunately, those who dislike Linda will have to suffer for 2 months straight, as Tiger Cubs 2 is already confirmed to air in October (it will be taking the weekend timeslot again, so might even run into November….)
I personally am not looking forward to All That Is Bitter…but I’ll probably give it a try because of Ruco, Raymond, and a few veteran supporting actors who returned to TVB to film this series.
Is tvb punishing the audience
She’s also in one with Lisa and Alex Fong. I’m not sureif that series will air this year. I find her avting annoying but I’ll still watch het series bc fortunately forhher, I like her partners such as Joe, Ruco, and evenSAlex lol.
I FEEL LIKE EVERYONE IN HERE ARE REALLY QUICK TO JUDGE. -_- smh
don’t judge me
Agree completely. People do improve you know. Right now, I’d take Linda over Fala/Kate(not consistent enough) any time. Linda has proved to be a much more versatile artiste then many other fadans.
exactly!
Linda’s not the best actress but i prefer her over the other actresses such as those you mentioned. Even Myolie is getting unbearable with her affected manner of speaking in that cutesy voice and “gwing” face she likes to make.
Ah, I remember Love in a Miracle. Really good, and Ruco was the villain (as usual) and that show was the one show I paid attention to him.
I really did enjoy my time without Linda, though…
Same here
Ruco Chan and Raymond Wong… again…
Can’t wait to see this series because of Ruco – One Dollar Man. Eager to see him swimming in sea, lake, pool….
Me too
Looking fwd to this. Been a few dry months since ROE finished its run. My fave pair PanDa <3
Agree
Everyone is quick to judge about Linda before the show even airs lol. First of all, Ruco and Linda have only paired once.. Second of all, I have seen Linda doing other roles such as Gem of Life, A Journey Called Life, Legends of the Demigods and so forth, I solely believe TVB is just giving her the same roles over and over again. I will check this out and see if it’s different before I comment. Always have an open mind! :]
Her acting is just not convincing. Even with same roles, it is her job to make her character be alive & be more creative, words on paper does not mean anything. She should think of how to act differently even with the same types of roles and not stick with the same acting style. Her drama & acting tells me that she can’t do that at all
@TVBfan88: actually her roles have been pretty different. She was a spoiled rich girl brat in Gem of Life. And then in Witness Insecurity, she was “mental handicap-ish” girl. She was rich and spoil in a different way in WI, but very different in GoL where she was loud and obnoxious. In L’Escargot, she was an innocent hard working OL who caved in temptation. Then in Moonlight Resonance, she was an innocent, smart, pure doctor. So really, she had so many chances to shine in different ways.
As @kim said, I feel like she had the same acting style in every series too. True that one should given time to grow; on the other hand, she had been given many opportunities. And you know that TVB favors her heavily. I really hope she does grow, but as of right now, I’m sick of watching her lol.
To me she isn’t the same every single drama. She didn’t disappoint when she had to play the antagonist in Gem of Life. I hated her character but admired her acting there. I think every role is different and she has tried her best to make every role a new one. I think she will improve since she is one of the youngest fadans now. We will see if she can carry a role like this and in Tiger Cubs 2.
I believe your statements are contradicting between “I solely believe TVB is just giving her the same roles over and over again” and “I think every role is different and she has tried her best to make every role a new one.”
Bottom line, she has room to improve. Also, yes she’s one of the better ones in the current fadan list.
If everyone thinks highly of Linda Chung’s acting as a spoiled rich girl in “Gem of Life” which was filmed between 2008 and 2009, i.e. 5+ years ago, it means that Linda has not improved much in her acting skills. She started her acting career in 1994, i.e. 11 years ago. If she was good in “Gem of Life” in 2008/9, she should be a pretty good actress by now, 5+ years later.
??? You mean 2004 right? That’s 10 years ago.
@Andrew
You are right. It was my mistake. Linda Chung started her acting career with TVB in 2004, and not 1994. She was only 10 years old in 1994. Sorry for the mistake.
True
Linda is still better than Kate though
So true. Linda is the “lesser sucky” half lol
can’t wait for this film!!! i hope is going to be a awesome film!!!!! 🙂
Loved Linda in Witness insecurity and many other dramas like Moonlight Resonance and the prank she put up with Johnson Lee. I didnt like her recent dramas, in her pairing with Jason, Missing You and Pairing with Ruco Brother’s Keeper.
Why are So many people So quick to judge Linda eventhough the drama has not even been aired yet? And its also not Linda’s fault that she’s been given mostly the same roles over and over.
It is her job to make her character be alive & be more creative.She should think of how to act differently even with the same types of roles and not stick with the same acting style. Her dramas & acting tells me that she can’t do that at all
I also think that Ruco Chan looks better in the last year or so. Does it have to do with plastic surgery, special makeups,or resulting from bloating in the water? I guess most artistes will not disclose the real truth, especially if it is plastic surgery.
Personally I don’t believe an actor would change much (face area) suddenly at the age of 37. Ruco Chan always looked the same, though aged a bit now, since his first debut, ATV’s Love in a Miracle , ten years ago. If an actor looked the same in the last ten years, he should not change much in the last year or so. I just have to “assume” that it is special and better makeups.
Really really can’t wait to watch this series. I believe it is a romantic drama
I look forward to this series. Please don’t disappoint me Linda Chung. I think you have a like-able, down-to-earth personality, unlike some fadans out there. But that BK role was so disappointing.
I recall that I loved Linda in Heart of Greed, I enjoyed her acting so much and it was so fresh and her pairing with Raymond Lam was the most romantic ever. I remember I cried buckets coz of their tragic romance. But since then, she sort of stalled and did not expand her acting chops. Maybe because she has such a memorable and successful debut, she was not able to rise above that and the high expectations. She does have many different roles but somehow they way she delivered them were very much in the same mould and forgettable. Sad that she ended up as one-tricked pony…
I totally agree with deb. Linda has had various of roles but she has delivered them in one way. Maybe that’s a major reason why some thinks she has the same role all these times. Regardless, she did show potential in the beginning, but then her performance stalled.
Yes, I share same sentiment as deb and jj. Linda does get a variety of roles (she IS a TVB internal favourite afterall) but her portrayal and delivery always seems to reflect her same “acting” persona and not of the individualistic characters.
But then again, looking at her rank of actresses, they all seem to have same acting ability limitations so by comparison, Linda has lucked into a very comfy position. I’ve written off Kate personally cos of her seeming unwillingness to breakout of that one look she has created for herself. Myolie and Tavia are still doing decent enough but they seem to be acting less. Fala who started off as my personal favourite, had tried to be more different in her last few roles before leaving TVB but eventually, came across to me (as her fan) as obviously trying so end up she’s not that natural in her roles.
Nancy Wu is by far, still showing the most promise and is very consistent but as many have noticed, she has always been relegated to supporting roles.
What’s worse is the new batch of actresses who seem all to be acting as the same “type” (sweet, a little sassy but nothing too individualistic). Nobody stands out so I think we may have to watch this current rank of fadans for a long while.
Linda Chung is definitely a hardworking actress, but she does not seem to have too much talent. Moreover, she keeps the same long hair do in every single drama series and acts more or less the same, it is very hard to give her audience freshness and new images.
Linda wears a big pigtail in this drama series. Hopefully she will give us a new image and new acting styles.
Pls dont dissapoint me in this series