Acclaimed Hong Kong actress Carina Lau offered a rare glimpse into the private professional philosophies of two of cinema’s biggest icons, Chow Yun-Fat and Jacky Cheung, explaining why they shun the lucrative world of reality television.
During the latest episode of the mainland Chinese variety program Blossoming All the Way 2, Lau addressed a common perception among mainland actors that their Hong Kong counterparts remain aloof due to their infrequent appearances on unscripted shows. Lau confirmed that despite numerous offers—some she personally relayed on behalf of producers—both Chow Yun-Fat and Jacky Cheung consistently decline participation, preferring to focus exclusively on their core craft of filmmaking.
Guarding Privacy and Professional Focus
The discussion began when mainland actor Ke Chun noted the distance many feel from Hong Kong stalwarts who rarely showcase their genuine, everyday lives in the ubiquitous competitive reality genre. Lau’s revelations underscored a distinct separation of artistic priorities.
“Some individuals simply do not step out in that way—Jacky Cheung and Chow Yun-Fat,” Lau said on the program. “I have approached them several times for variety show teams. They absolutely refuse. They are dedicated solely to making films.”
Lau provided a particularly insightful anecdote regarding her own husband, iconic actor Tony Leung Chiu-wai, an intensely private figure known for his deep, often melancholy on-screen persona. She admitted that inviting Leung to participate in such a chaotic environment would be futile, and frankly, terrifying for him.
“If you asked my husband to come on a show, he’d be scared to death, and it definitely wouldn’t be entertaining,” she joked. “You’d all be talking, and he wouldn’t say a single word. But his spiritual world is incredibly rich. Perhaps his world, accessed through books and movies, is much vaster than ours.” This suggests that for these top-tier actors, maintaining artistic integrity and privacy outweighs the benefits of mainstream reality stardom.
Decrying Unprofessional Conduct on Set
In a separate segment of the show, Lau, a veteran of several decades in the industry, also voiced frustration over encounters with severely unprofessional behavior on film sets. She recalled one incident working with a male actor whose obsession with presentation significantly disrupted production schedules and wasted valuable time.
Lau recounted that this unnamed actor demanded that the camera only ever capture his “three-quarter profile” at all times. This rigidity necessitated constant, time-consuming adjustments to lighting, camera positions, and actor blocking, slowing the entire crew down.
The breaking point, Lau explained, came during the filming of a critical, time-sensitive scene dependent on the rapidly changing hues of a sunset. This “golden hour” lighting is notoriously fleeting. Just as the camera was set and Lau was in position, the demanding actor stopped the shoot to request extensive makeup touch-ups. His insistence on his preferred angle further consumed precious moments, causing the team to miss the perfect light entirely.
“That time is invaluable, it vanishes in an instant,” Lau stressed. “I was freezing cold, ready on camera, and he suddenly announces, ‘I need a touch-up.’ And he took his time with it—a grown man.”
The actress confessed to extreme anger, noting the director was equally frustrated. She revealed that in a subsequent scene where her character was scripted to strike his, she genuinely wanted to land a real blow. However, just as that moment arrived, the actor preemptively called “Cut!” suggesting the scene could be covered via a jump cut. Lau confirmed that even the director later expressed regret that she never got to deliver the deserved hit.
Lau’s candid comments act as both an endorsement of traditional acting focus—as practiced by Chow and Cheung—and a critique of rising unprofessionalism, highlighting the stark difference between performers dedicated to the craft and those overly focused on managing their image.