[Interview] Linda Chung, Innocent Not Stupid

“The Jade Girl” erupted in one scene, and was recommended for TV Queen by netizens

Linda Chung, this Hong Kong entertainment industry’s “newbie female artiste” had always given people the image that she was just a Jade Girl. Other than the symbolic ‘teh’, weak and refined voice, that causes one to remember her rumours regarding her relationship with Raymond Lam, and even then she only stood by Raymond’s side, smiling sweetly like a good girl, happy to be an accompaniment. However, in the recent airing of the drama [Yes Sir, Sorry Sir], Linda moved the word in the final episode’s “Miss Cool”, and her emotional scene with her crying made others change their negative views towards her. Netizens also recommended herfor the role of TV Queen, causing quite an uproar.

Important Word toNote: Breakthrough
Obtaining the title of TV Queen is fated, I am not anxious about it

Yangcheng Wanbao: The character you portrayed, Miss Cool, in [YSSR] was very well received by the public, and the viewers even want to recommend you for the role of TV Queen. Do you have confidence to get this title?

Linda: I am really very happy! (laughs) But I never thought of getting TV Queen, if I could get the “My Favourite TV Character” award I would already be very happy. As to TV Queen, I would have to leave it to fate. Furthermore, it is only June, and there is a long time to go before the Awards, I think there is no need to be anxious.

Yangcheng Wanbao: “TV Pioneer” Charmaine Sheh will begin to change her contract with TVB. As to being one of the “Four New Best Fadans”, will you make “the top actress” your new goal?

Linda: Recently, there were really many reports comparing Kate Tsui, Myolie Wu, Fala Chen and myself, I think these are just promotional tactics. As to myself, I would most definitely have such hopes for myself, and I hope that I could get more people to approve of this. This time, I feel that my performance has been a good account to viewers.

Yangcheng Wanbao: Having been in the industry for 7 years, do you feel that it is time for a breakthrough?

Linda: Actually I don’t feel that I have been in the industry for 7 years. My seniors say, after 7 years one would be enlightened, but for acting skills to mature, 10 years is required. I personally have not reached the point where I can control my character, a lot of the time it is my character controlling me, so I feel that I am still in the learning stage. Filming is something I really like, and to me, it is not just a way of earning money, but this job brings me much satisfaction, such as the fact that my characters can become role models for children and youth. Because most of the characters I have acted as were Jade Girls, or strong personalities because of numerous experiences, many parents have told me that my characters have caused their children to become more good in nature.

Yangcheng Wanbao: From [Can’t Buy Me Love] to [Yes Sir, Sorry Sir], you have been filming many comedies in a row, would you consider leaning towards this area for future development?

Linda: I would not limit myself in the path that I am to take, I would like to try everything first. However, the ‘sexy look’ would definitely be something that I canno pull off. (laughs) I do not like exposing too much, even if it is only the thought of being sexy would not cultivate the right feel.

Yangcheng Wanbao: In the drama you are currently filming, [Yue Fu’s Hidden Dragon], what role are you playing?

Linda: A pioneer dancer. Upon receiving this role, I was still quite anxious, because dancing is not my greatest strength, but I will put in my best effort to act out this character.

Yangcheng Wanbao: You have had quite a few tries in the area of music, do you prefer singing or acting?

Linda: I like singing, because singers can express their own personality and feelings. When I am singing, I would maintain a very clean and pure image, and be myself. Currently, there are very few girls with this type of image, I feel that I can take this chance to dominate the market, haha!


Important Word to Note: Harsh Training
When I first entered the industry, it was tough and I cried everyday

Yangcheng Wanbao: Have you had any performance inclination since young?

Linda: Actually when I was young, I was a very typical girl. Graduating from high school at the age of 17, I was waiting to enter university. In those two months, I had really nothing better to do and when I was shopping, I saw an advertisement for a beauty pageant and my sister helped me get an application form and signed me up. Initially, I thought that I would finish my studies and go out to teach, I never thought of being an actress. In Canada, I was a very introverted young girl, but whenever I went on stage to perform, I would instantly change into a really confident person. When I first signed a contract with TVB, I was quite uncertain and it took me a lot of persuading to convince my parents to allow me to try out for two years. If I couldn’t make it, I would then go back to Canada to work or get married, who knew that one shot would carry me through all these 7 years.

Yangcheng Wanbao: When you first came to Hong Kong alone, without any acting experience whatsoever, that was difficult, huh?

Linda: The first drama I filmed was [Virtues of Harmony], and all the other actors were experienced ones, like Nancy Sit, Louis Yuen, and Kingdom Yuen. Although that was a comedy, I was unable to relax, and simply too nervous, when I didn’t laugh I appeared so serious, everyone around me felt that I was composed and calm, but my heart was pounding so hard in my chest. Then, I acted the most partner films with Steven Ma, and he said that I had the potential, but I wondered if he said the same to every newcomer. (laughs) During the toughest period, I cried every day. After 3 years from entering the industry, I rarely talked to other actors or others in my company, buying food and eating alone. Later, I slowly let myself go, and made a few good friends such as Shirley Yeung, Tavia Yeung and Leanne Li, confiding in each other, and helping me become happier.

Yangcheng Wanbao: Having acted so many characters, which one do you like the most?

Linda: I like too many of them, I am a very greedy person! [Heart of Greed]’s Sheung Joi Sum, [A Journey Called Life], [Legend of the Demigods], [Yes Sir, Sorry Sir],[Twilight Investigation], and another [Heavenly In-Laws], unfortunately this series never aired.

Yangcheng Wanbao: There is a great disparity among the characters of your favourite roles, are you a person that loves challenges?

Linda: I don’t know. I want to try different things, but sometimes in the midst of challenge I would feel very nervous. There was one period of time in which I was continuously acting as a “Super Good Girl”. Many scenes would need me to cry, making me almost faint with the effort of crying! Then, I really wished for a different character. I need to continually accept different characters, before I can progress!


Important Word to Note: Good Good Girl
I am naïve, but I rarely ever get bullied

Yangcheng Wanbao: There was a time in which you became the spokesperson of the “Good Girl” image, were you afraid that the image might stick at that time?

Linda: Linda Chung’s image is “Jade Girl”! Be it in real life or in my work, this is my true personality. Maybe this way, the image might have been too firmly set in the public’s mind, so people might feel that I am doing the same thing over and over again, but these few years, I have actually tried many different roles, such as the wayward girl in [A Journey called Life], [Legend of the Demigods]’s old woman, the rebellious girl in [Gem of Life], the stupid but pretty model in [Twilight Investigation], and [Yes Sir, Sorry Sir]’s cool teacher Miss Cool, but the audience still feel that I am a ‘Good Girl’.

Yangcheng Wanbao: In the entertainment industry, isn’t it difficult to be a Jade Girl?

Linda: There were reports saying that I was on bad terms with some of my colleagues, and there were also rumours that were completely untrue. I feel that I am very fortunate, I do not become the subject of such publications very often. I do not feel that it is too difficult to be a‘good good girl’, maybe this could be something to do with my family background. I did not come from a very wealthy family, and my parents taught me from young to be upright, and showered me with love. Having entered the industry, I do not feel that I have turned bad. Other than work, I do not care at all about the other things.

Yangcheng Wanbao: Wouldn’t this innocent personality of yours be really easy to manipulate or bully?

Linda: Actually this personality would result in two possible effects—you are too pure, and become easy to bully, or people could not bear to bully you, and instead be even nicer to you. I am very rarely bullied. Innocence is not equivalent to stupidity, and I think things to be abit more simple than normal, but would try my best to behave professionally in my workplace, and others would have no chance to knock me down.

Yangcheng Wanbao: You have really never had any incidents of suffering grievances?

Linda: Everyone has unhappy experiences, and I had such incidences when I first entered the entertainment circle. During that time, there were many notices, but those that were arranged to start work the earliest and knock off work the latest entirely did not have time to sleep. I was also misunderstood to be “acting stupid” before, and at that time I was really hurt. But these things only happened once or twice, so I am very grateful.


Important Word to Note: Relationships
I am not a ‘small woman’, I am a ‘middle woman’

Yangcheng Wanbao: Your career has taken flight, what about your hopes for relationships?

Linda: I place much emphasis on my relationships, I must be friends with that person for two years before I could consider dating him, and once I start dating him I would already be thinking of marriage. Although I really do want to date, and hope to get married and have children, this cannot be rushed and I think I would leave it to Mother Nature to decide.

Yangcheng Wanbao: Having been in the entertainment circle for so long, you have not had feelings towards anyone?

Linda: I would hide it even if I did have feelings for someone, and I would not tell anyone about these things. When it comes to relationships, I always deal with things in a very low-profiled way.(laughs)

Yangcheng Wanbao: If you date, would you choose to develop the relationship in the ‘underground relationship’ way?

Linda: This is a matter of time, when both parties feel that it is time, the members of the public will know.

Yangcheng Wanbao: In the face of relationships and work, how would you make a decision?

Linda: I have a ‘little woman’ side, but I could not say that I am entirely one, I should be considered a ‘middlewoman’—when I am in my late teens or early twenties, my career definitely comes first, but after that family is important as well. If I meet someone I love very deeply, I would surely choose family.

Yangcheng Wanbao: What is your idea of an ideal better half?

Linda: The most important would be that he is practical, compassionate and good to his family members, and could give me a sense of security. He must be willing to start a family, and cannot be going around with a playboy attitude. As to appearance, this is completely not important, as long as he looks good to me. I will also not consider his wealth.


Reporter’s Impression

Each time there is a promotional event, Linda Chung is not a hot spot for mass interviewing, but each time she definitely gives one the feeling of familiarity and warmth, she will not be false or try to catch media attention, but will answer according to the questions posed to her,and makes people feel good towards her. This telephone interview was done while Linda was attending the Blessing Ceremony for [Yue Fu’s Hidden Dragon], during the break. On the phone, Linda was busy preparing by setting her hair, putting on makeup, but she still seriously and conscientiously answered each and every question. Although her Chinese is not good, she still tried to force out words of Mandarin here and there, and was really cute. As she said herself, naïveté is not equivalent to stupidity, and in this really colourful entertainment circle, maintaining a innocent and pure heart is not easy at all, how could she be a stupid woman?


Column Captions
Innocent Girl vs. Bad Girl

3 years into entering the industry, Linda Chung had the chance to take part in the large-scale production [Heart of Greed]. In the drama, she acted as a “Good Girl”, Sheung Joi Sum, who was loved by many people. She and Raymond Lam acted as partners in the drama, and in the process many rumours were started regarding their relationship.

[A Journey Called Life]
Linda acted as a “Wet Girl in Mongkok” (wayward female youth) Sze Ka-ka, and her character progressed from a bad girl lacking the warmth of family relationships, to a positive one. In the drama, Linda even had fighting and pregnancy scenes, and the filming was quite much of a challenge.

[Legend of the Demigods]
This drama was another of Linda’s breakthroughs, her character as “Ho Choi Mui” (meaning lucky girl) had a great range of ages to act. She had to act as a youth in her late teens to a 70+ year-old woman. Although she sacrificed her image for the production, the character helped Linda to attract many younger fans.

[Twilight Investigation]
Linda acted as a“Pretty Model” Zhong Tak-yi, and had many cute ‘gwing’ facial expressions during the show, and the muddle-headed, silly acting brought great comic relief.

[Yes Sir, Sorry Sir]
Linda acted as a cool-on-the-outside, warm-on-the-inside female teacher Miss Cool (extreme right), and was cheated of her feelings by a police officer (Moses Chan). This character that experienced such a depth of emotional trauma caused many viewers to adopt an approving stance towards Linda, and she finally managed to drop the “vase” image.

Translated by ibellchu@Linda Cottage
Source: LindaGarden@Weibo

Thoughts: Thanks to Bell for the awesome translation! Really enjoyed this article ;) Linda is so modest. It must have been hard for her during the first few years of acting =( Can't imagine how it is to live in a foreign land alone. Glad to know that she've loosen up since then and made friends =)