Hong Kong actress Wu Qianyu recently achieved a major personal milestone, completing an arduous two-week expedition to Antarctica alongside her husband, entrepreneur Brian Shi. The journey, which marked the final continent for the adventurous couple, served as a rare and intense period of quality time, even as Wu addressed speculation regarding her on-screen presence, recent film projects, and future family planning.
The 10-day trip to the South Pole represented the culmination of two years of planning, solidifying a “life achievement unlocked” for the actress. Documenting the extreme environmental conditions, Wu shared a vivid account of plunging into the near-freezing waters, an experience she described as intensely challenging, relying purely on willpower to return to safety.
Navigating Marriage and Modern Relationship Dynamics
Beyond the exhilaration of polar exploration, the trip provided a much-needed respite from the couple’s demanding professional lives, fostering an opportunity for “intensive togetherness.” Wu, who often requires daily office attendance for her demanding schedule, noted that the intensive holiday allowed them substantial high-quality time, a luxury afforded by the parallel work rhythms of her husband.
Addressing prior social media commentary where she mentioned preferring a degree of “appropriate distance” from her spouse, Wu clarified that she advocates for maintaining individual space within a relationship. She humorously suggested that excessive closeness could lead to more frequent disagreements, finding a balanced separation key to maintaining harmony.
The discussion quickly shifted to recent observations regarding her appearance, which some commentators linked to potential pregnancy preparations. The actress swiftly dismissed the rumors, attributing a slight weight gain to increased carbohydrate consumption while traveling, exacerbated by a restrictive dress.
“Funnily enough, I might have gained a small amount of weight from eating carbs on holiday, combined with a very tight dress,” she commented.
While maintaining that she is not actively trying to conceive, Wu confirmed that she is letting nature take its course. She also acknowledged having considered egg freezing (oocyte cryopreservation) as a proactive step, though she feels the current timing is not quite right. While her husband’s family has not overtly pressured them, she admitted to sensing subtle encouragement regarding starting a family.
Responding to Film Critiques and Comparisons
In the professional sphere, Wu addressed the release of her film, Demon Lord Witches’ Descendant Ma Xiauling, which was distributed exclusively online rather than in cinemas. The actress did not express disappointment, viewing the release on any platform as a positive outcome given the project’s turbulent production history, which required two separate shooting periods and extensive reshooting.
Wu also responded directly to online critiques regarding her wardrobe in the film, particularly complaints about overly large protective shorts visible during wirework stunts.
“It was non-negotiable not to wear them,” she explained, emphasizing the necessity of safety gear during intensive flying and fighting sequences.
The film has elicited inevitable comparisons to the previous iconic iteration of the character, played by Joey Meng (Wan Qiwen). Wu acknowledged the difficulty in surpassing established classics but reiterated that her character shares only the name, not the entire backstory, of the original. She indicated that she accepts both positive and negative feedback, stating that she is accustomed to online criticism, even those who claim that the film “ruined childhood memories.”
Regarding past professional connections, she confirmed that she has not yet seen A Step into the Past, the film adaptation of the classic A Step into the Past, starring her former partner Raymond Lam, but expressed pleasure at the success of Hong Kong cinema generally. She noted that she rarely attends films with her husband, preferring to enjoy them with friends.
