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Pretty-boy actor now pulls rickshaw
By Xu Wei |
January 23, 2011, Sunday
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Print Edition
Print Edition
HONG Kong TV actor Sammul Chan has been typecast for years as a handsome playboy and rich second-generation character.
Now the 32-year-old actor is breaking out of the mold and playing the poor illegitimate son in a big family, a role for which he had to learn to pull a rickshaw. The Hong Kong TVB series "Love at Dusk" is set in Shanghai in the 1920s. It began airing in Shanghai on the Drama Channel last Tuesday; it airs nightly at 7:30pm.
In his newest role Chan discards the fancy clothes and dresses like a homeless man, rather like "Brother Sharp," a real-life, outstandingly handsome beggar in Ningbo, Zhejiang Province. "Sharp" shot to fame when his pictures were posted on the Internet.
In his latest role, Chan is involved in a complex web of relationship with his birth mother, his adopted mother, his older sister-like girlfriend and his childhood sweetheart.
Over the past decade, Chan has earned a reputation as one of the "TVB four tigers," along with actors Raymond Lam, Bosco Wong and Ron Ng. TVB is Hong Kong's major television station and it is known for nurturing talent.
Chan gained early fame as the ambitious young lawyer Vincent in the 2003 TVB drama "Survivor's Law" and more recently won attention in his role as a rich man in "Triumph in the Skies," a ratings hit.
"Love at Dusk," a Chinese mainland production, appears to signal a new direction in his career - the mainland.
Q: Tell us about "Love at Dusk."
A: It's a story about love, betrayal and family relationships. An extramarital affair destroys the whole family and shapes the main character. It's very much a story based on hate.
My roles so far have tended to be rich guys, handsome guys. In "Love at Dusk," my character earns a living as a rickshaw puller and has to learn to survive in very hard circumstances. I cannot say if it will be my best acting yet, but it is a breakthrough for me.
Q: How did you become an actor and who is your favorite actor?
A: I stumbled into it accidentally - that's life, you can't always plan everything. I'm glad it happened because I love what I do. Beside acting, I look forward to more voice-over and dubbing work and hosting various shows. I still love to sing and sang the theme song in "Love at Dusk."
My favorite actor is Chow Yun-fat. He has a broad range of acting skills, a sense of humor and has contributed to Hong Kong entertainment. He's an inspiration.
Q: What do you like about acting and what does it take to be a good actor?
A: Acting is fun. You can be different personalities in all walks of life. This cannot happen in real life. I don't have any formal training in acting. I have watched many, many movies. I love to read. I observe and learn from other actors.
The good qualities required for a good actor are passion, devotion, hard work, responsibility, and the ability to observe and absorb what goes on in society. But those qualities are required for success in any field.
Q: What roles do you like most?
A: Roles that are challenging and totally different from what I have done so far. Personalities who have a very complex and unbalanced mental inner world. Roles that are positive and encouraging.
Q: What have you learned from working at TVB?
A: My TVB experience has been valuable and rewarding. I have learned a lot. I started out knowing nothing about acting. I also learned a lot about life and being a better person.
Q: You have worked with many mainland TV producers. What do you think of the TV industry?
A: Most directors and producers have received proper training and they have made great strides. It's very exciting. Many local artists want to work with them.
Q: What's your next project?
A: Many scripts have been presented to me but I haven't decided on which one to accept. I'm sure my manager will know what's best for me. My main focus is on the acting and trying to improve with every project.
Now the 32-year-old actor is breaking out of the mold and playing the poor illegitimate son in a big family, a role for which he had to learn to pull a rickshaw. The Hong Kong TVB series "Love at Dusk" is set in Shanghai in the 1920s. It began airing in Shanghai on the Drama Channel last Tuesday; it airs nightly at 7:30pm.
In his newest role Chan discards the fancy clothes and dresses like a homeless man, rather like "Brother Sharp," a real-life, outstandingly handsome beggar in Ningbo, Zhejiang Province. "Sharp" shot to fame when his pictures were posted on the Internet.
In his latest role, Chan is involved in a complex web of relationship with his birth mother, his adopted mother, his older sister-like girlfriend and his childhood sweetheart.
Over the past decade, Chan has earned a reputation as one of the "TVB four tigers," along with actors Raymond Lam, Bosco Wong and Ron Ng. TVB is Hong Kong's major television station and it is known for nurturing talent.
Chan gained early fame as the ambitious young lawyer Vincent in the 2003 TVB drama "Survivor's Law" and more recently won attention in his role as a rich man in "Triumph in the Skies," a ratings hit.
"Love at Dusk," a Chinese mainland production, appears to signal a new direction in his career - the mainland.
Q: Tell us about "Love at Dusk."
A: It's a story about love, betrayal and family relationships. An extramarital affair destroys the whole family and shapes the main character. It's very much a story based on hate.
My roles so far have tended to be rich guys, handsome guys. In "Love at Dusk," my character earns a living as a rickshaw puller and has to learn to survive in very hard circumstances. I cannot say if it will be my best acting yet, but it is a breakthrough for me.
Q: How did you become an actor and who is your favorite actor?
A: I stumbled into it accidentally - that's life, you can't always plan everything. I'm glad it happened because I love what I do. Beside acting, I look forward to more voice-over and dubbing work and hosting various shows. I still love to sing and sang the theme song in "Love at Dusk."
My favorite actor is Chow Yun-fat. He has a broad range of acting skills, a sense of humor and has contributed to Hong Kong entertainment. He's an inspiration.
Q: What do you like about acting and what does it take to be a good actor?
A: Acting is fun. You can be different personalities in all walks of life. This cannot happen in real life. I don't have any formal training in acting. I have watched many, many movies. I love to read. I observe and learn from other actors.
The good qualities required for a good actor are passion, devotion, hard work, responsibility, and the ability to observe and absorb what goes on in society. But those qualities are required for success in any field.
Q: What roles do you like most?
A: Roles that are challenging and totally different from what I have done so far. Personalities who have a very complex and unbalanced mental inner world. Roles that are positive and encouraging.
Q: What have you learned from working at TVB?
A: My TVB experience has been valuable and rewarding. I have learned a lot. I started out knowing nothing about acting. I also learned a lot about life and being a better person.
Q: You have worked with many mainland TV producers. What do you think of the TV industry?
A: Most directors and producers have received proper training and they have made great strides. It's very exciting. Many local artists want to work with them.
Q: What's your next project?
A: Many scripts have been presented to me but I haven't decided on which one to accept. I'm sure my manager will know what's best for me. My main focus is on the acting and trying to improve with every project.
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