Actress Charmaine Sheh is happy that fans have not abandoned her despite having left TVB two years ago, writes Loong Wai Ting
TVB’s most talked about series of the year, Line Walker, was the biggest winner at the recently concluded TVB Star Awards Malaysia 2014.
The 31-episode series which was broadcast simultaneously in Hong KongandMalaysialastAuguststarred Michael Miu, Charmaine Sheh, Raymond Lam, Sammy Sum, Sharon Chan and Benz Hui.
The crime thriller took home 12 awards including My Favourite TVB Drama Series of the Year, My Favourite TVB Actress in a Leading Role (Charmaine Sheh), My Favourite TVB Actor and Actress in a Supporting Role (Benz Hui and Sharon Chan, respectively), My Favourite TVB Most Improved Actor and Actress (Sammy ShumandSamanthaKo,respectively) and My Favourite TVB Drama Theme Song (Love Is Not Easy by Jinny Ng).
Meanwhile, actor Roger Kwok took home this year’s My Favourite TVB Actor in a Leading Role for his portrayal of a wheelchair-bound shyster in Black Heart White Soul.
Held at the newly refurbished Arena of Stars in Genting Highlands, the prestigious event drew a large turnout of fans of Hong Kong-produced drama.
Huge banners and posters decorated every corner of the arena.
Lady Luck seemed to be smiling on someone else for last year’s TV Queen, Linda Chung, who failed to retain her title.
The Canadian-born singeractress lost to Charmaine Sheh, who was favoured to win from the beginning.
Sheh, who made her acting debut after winning the 1997 Miss Hong Kong Pageant, recently announced thatshehasnoplanstorenewhercontract with TVB.
While the news had saddenedfans,Sheh,nonetheless,has stuck to her decision.
Although Sheh’s TV appearances are limited these days, that does not mean that her fans will be seeing less of her.
In Line Walker, she proved that she has not lost her touch, since bidding farewell to the free-to-air TV station.
“It has been two years since my last TVB drama series.
I was afraid that fans might not be able to remember me,” she said, adding that filming the series(LineWalker)wasthemostchallenging project for her.
EMOTIONAL ROLE In the series, a chief police inspector (played by Michael Miu) has to find five undercover officers who are at risk of having their identities blown.
One of them is Ting Siu-ka (played by Sheh), who works at a foot massage parlour.
The hit series also won praise from the local media for its well-written script and realistic action (some of which were filmed using slow motion capture).
Both Raymond Lam and ShehalsotookhomeMyFavouriteTop 15 TVB Drama Characters awards for their electrifying onscreen chemistry.
“When I was offered the role as Ting Siu-ka in Line Walker, my first reaction was to bring a fresh perspective to the audience.
It was not easy because it required a lot of emotional input as well as being involved physically in the action scenes.
It came to a point that I felt that the producers were pranking me for giving me such a hard role,” she says, jokingly.
The 39-year-old actress was all smiles as she walked the red carpet in her white gown with red floral designs on it.
Kwok’s amazing performance in Black Heart White Soul was enough to convince the judges’, who made up 30 per cent of the voting results.
In the series, Kwok played Matt, a lawyer, who helped former inmate May Tam (playedbyKristalTin)startanewafter a wrongful sentence.
Greed clouded his judgment, and it eventually led him to fall from grace.
Commenting on his unexpected win, Kwok said: “It felt surreal the moment my name was called and I had to go on stage to receive the trophy, like I was in a dream, only thing is it was real.
I consider myself to be extremely lucky to have won this and it gives me confidence.” The actor also said that it wasn’t easy playing Matt, even though his character was wheelchair-bound most of the time.
“It was an emotionally- demanding drama.
I’ve never felt thatmyperformancewasbetterinany way.
But that all changed when people I met on the street kept telling me thattheylovedmyactingeventhough they hated my character,” he said.
That’s not all, the actor revealed that he used to cry behind closed doors.
“They were cries of joy.
I loved that feeling of being recognised for your hard work.
It felt great!” SURPRISE GUESTS Half-way through the awards presentation, actor Andy Lau made a special appearance on stage, surprising everyone.
As a guest presenter, Lau whose wife is Penang-born Carol Chu, presented two special awards to veteran actors Lau Kong and Helena Law Lan for their contribution to the Hong Kong TV industry.
Law Lan, 80, who debuted playing mostly antagonistic roles, has appeared in more than 500 films and 100 TV series.
These include The Flying Fox Of Snowy Mountain, Journey To The West and The Return Of The Condor Heroes, where she shared her screentime with Andy Lau.
LauKong,ontheotherhand,began his acting career in 1976 at 33 when he joined the now-defunct Commercial Television.
Lau is often seen playing the patriarch.
His notable works include The Duke Of Mount Deer, At The Threshold Of An Era, A Taste Of Love, Country Spirit, Life Made Simple and more recently, Brother’s Keeper and the Ghost Dragon Of Cold Mountain.
On how to be a successful actress, Law Lan said, “You need to know when to snap out of character before jumpingintoanewrole.Asanactress, you need to be smart and learn how to move away from your previous charspeacter so that there will be no lingering ‘residue’ when you play your next character.” Her most notable role is as the ugly and sinister-looking Kau Chin Chak in the 1983 TV series, The Return Of The Condor Heroes.
In the event leading up to the awards show, a voting campaign took place from Oct 24 till Nov 16, where Malaysian fans were invited to vote for their favourite idols and TV programmes.
Hosted by Hong Kong’s TVB Entertainment Channel hosts, Lai Chi San, Bob Lam, Jarvis Chow and Shermaine Wong, there were also performances by Jonathan Wong, Fred Cheng, Jinny Ng, Mag Lam, Joyce Cheng, Ronald Law and Hoffman Cheng.
Other guest performers included Siu Po, Owen Cheung and Mok Ka Kam.
The TVB Star Awards 2014 was broadcast live simultaneously in Malaysia, Hong Kong, Singapore, New Zealand, Europe, with a delayed broadcast in Australia and United States.
For the full winners’ list, visit www.tvbstarawards.com.my
TREAT FOR FANS
LINDA Chung, the Canadian-born and Hong Kong based TVB actress, will be performing live for the first time in Malaysia.
Linda Chung Most Blessing Live In Malaysia 2014 concert, to be held at the Arena of Stars, Genting Highlands on Dec 20 at 8.30pm will be a treat for all her fans.
“Therewillbeplentyofsurpriseson the night of the concert.
Besides lavish costumes and appearances, I will also be giving gifts to lucky fans at the concert since Christmas is just around the corner,” she says.
T h e co n cer t will be her first i n t e r n a t i o n a l stop after her successful debut at the Kowloon Bay InternationalTrade and Exhibition Centre in August last year.
Currently busy preparing for the concert, the 30-year-old former Miss Chinese International Pageant winner (2004) hopes to start working on her next album.
“If everything goes according to schedule, the album should be ready by next year,” says Chung, who also took home one of the trophies for My Favourite Top 15 TVB Drama Characters at the TVB Star Awards 2014.
Chung will also be sharing the stage with Kristal Tin, whom she had previously worked with in the TVB series, Brother’s Keeper.
The other guest star is professional swimmer-turnedsinger Alex Fong.
Tickets to the concert are priced between RM60 and RM390.
Details at www.rwgenting.com