By [Your Name], ANSA News
Hong Kong – Rising Hong Kong actor Lam Yiu-Sing, best known for his breakout role in the 2016 sports drama “Weeds on Fire,” has traded the film set for a construction site. The 37-year-old performer recently shared images of his work environment and an injured finger on social media, prompting a wave of public encouragement from fellow actor and construction worker Wu Ho-Hong.
Wu, who has himself been open about working in construction since 2023, reposted Lam’s photos on Tuesday (Oct. 8) with a heartfelt message. “Lam Yiu-Sing, one day I will see you again on the big screen, for sure. Take care,” Wu wrote, indirectly confirming that Lam is now engaged in manual labor on a construction site. Lam later acknowledged the attention by sharing media coverage on his Instagram stories, candidly stating, “It’s tough to make a living. Hang in there! I will see you all again.” In a moment of self-deprecating humor, he referred to himself as “the new rising voice in the scaffolding and material delivery world.”
Lam’s path to the construction site has been a long and winding one. Discovered at age 17 by director Heiward Mak while playing on a soccer field, he landed the lead role in the 2008 film “High Noon.” But his career hit a nearly eight-year dry spell immediately afterward. Without backing from a major studio or manager, Lam survived on sporadic acting gigs. In past interviews, he revealed he has worked more than 30 different odd jobs—including delivery driver, office clerk, kitchen helper, waiter, warehouse worker, air-conditioning repairman, terrazzo polisher, sushi apprentice, and hairdressing trainee—just to keep his dream alive. Friends jokingly called him the “king of part-time jobs.”
“A construction site is really a great place for losing weight and training your willpower,” Lam posted on social media late last month. His willingness to take on physically demanding labor reflects a broader trend in Hong Kong’s entertainment industry, where even established actors are seeking alternative income streams amid a sluggish film market.
Industry observers note that Lam’s story highlights the precarious nature of life for mid-tier actors in Hong Kong. Without a safety net, many must choose between full-time work and the flexibility to audition or shoot. Lam has said that whenever he gets a film offer, he must quit his day job—a cycle that has repeated for over a decade.
Wu Ho-Hong’s public gesture of solidarity underscores a growing camaraderie among artists who have turned to manual trades. Since posting videos of his own construction work, Wu has inspired other performers to share their struggles. For Lam, the support is a reminder that his time on screen is not over.
“Hang in there! I will definitely see you all again,” Lam vowed. His next steps remain uncertain, but his resolve—and his willingness to work behind scaffolding as readily as before a camera—suggests an actor determined to keep both dreams and reality in balance.
