Hong Kong actress Carmen Tong (袁嘉敏) recently appeared on the ViuTV program Late-Night Talks: Club of Vexed Women (晚吹－怨女俱樂部) to confront enduring public misconceptions and media rumors surrounding her career, physical appearance, and personal life. During the segment, broadcasted last night, Tong offered candid insights into the challenges she has faced since entering the film industry, particularly following her roles in Category III films.
The discussion, hosted by Yu Dik Wai, began with scrutiny of Tong’s physical appearance. Wai jokingly sought to “verify the authenticity” of her features, particularly praising her clean, white teeth. Tong maintained that her current appearance is largely the same as when she competed in the Miss Hong Kong pageant, attributing her consistency to a reluctance to undergo aesthetic surgery due to a low pain tolerance. She emphasized that all her features, including her prominent bust, are natural, even suggesting hosts verify this claim with veteran actors Sandra Ng and Eric Tsang’s collaborator, Lawrence Chou.
Dismantling the ‘High-Life’ Image
Addressing her romantic life, Tong surprisingly revealed she is not highly sought after, despite her public image. She described herself as a “simple person” who is often mistakenly perceived as complex, largely due to sensationalized media reporting. She recounted years ago attempting to cultivate positive relationships with journalists by personally buying gifts and hosting tea sessions around Christmas. However, she was dismayed when these acts were twisted into stories portraying her as engaging in a decadent lifestyle—”drinking red wine, smoking cigars, and not working”—leading to a growing rift with the press.
Regarding her dating history, Tong made a staggering admission: she has “never had a formal boyfriend.” She revealed that for eight years leading up to her role in the controversial film The Gigolo (鴨王), she had never even been asked out on a date. This isolation and lack of romantic prospects, she claimed, influenced her decision to take on the potentially career-defining, explicit roles, reasoning she had “nothing to lose.”
The Impact of Explicit Film Roles
The conversation transitioned to Tong’s decision to act in Category III films. She affirmed her respect for all levels of Hong Kong cinema and stated that her full-frontal nudity in The Gigolo stemmed from her trust in director Wong Jing. Tong asserted that displaying the natural human body should not be shameful.
However, she revealed the on-set reality deviated from the script; the number of sexual and nude scenes exceeded what was initially agreed upon. A vividly recalled sex scene filmed on a yacht was particularly impactful, ultimately leading to her being typecast and developing what she characterized as Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) related to explicit filmmaking.
Following these roles, rumors of her being commercially supported or “kept” began to circulate widely. Tong acknowledged her decision to move to a mid-level area residence for privacy was a misstep, as the perceived high cost of housing in that area fueled media speculation and reinforced the “kept woman” narrative. She exposed instances where pure dinner dates evolved into uncomfortable solicitations, with male companions unexpectedly bringing “bosses” in anticipation of her agreeing to “entertain them.” Furthermore, Tong disclosed receiving direct monetary offers from wealthy individuals in Hong Kong seeking to enter into de facto transactional relationships, which she firmly refused. Her appearance offered a critical look at the persistent challenges faced by actresses navigating the pressures and misconceptions of the entertainment industry.