HONG KONG (ANSA) – Actress Jessica Cheung drew a crowd of dedicated fans at a health brand event on Tuesday, some flying in from Singapore and mainland China bearing her favorite pandan cake. The warm reception prompted the star to share plans for an upcoming indulgent vacation, while a recent television re-run sent her memory reeling back to one of the most physically punishing shoots of her early career.
A Culinary Escape
Cheung revealed she is preparing for a two-week self-drive tour in Bangkok, with the primary itinerary focused entirely on food. “I’m putting the diet on hold,” she said happily, eager to temporarily leave behind her strict health regime, face masks, and hats. She dismissed safety concerns, citing her history of moving freely in cities even late at night.
Nostalgia for a Sweat-Soaked Set
The conversation turned nostalgic when Cheung mentioned TVB’s current late-night re-run of the 1998 drama Legend of Deception, starring her alongside action star Nick Cheung. While she enjoys reliving the comedy, the behind-the-scenes reality was far from funny. She recalled shooting in sweltering summer heat over 30 degrees Celsius, burdened by thick period costumes.
“We were only getting two or three hours of sleep a night,” Cheung recalled. The intense glare from the set’s reflector boards constantly made her eyes water. Exhausted, she and co-stars Nick Cheung, Michael Chin, and Yuen Leung-dan barged into the producer’s office to renegotiate their schedules. “I understand putting all four of us in a scene makes it look better,” she explained. “But without sleep, it was impossible to keep up.”
Reading Lines Off a Back
The lack of rest severely impacted her memory. “I couldn’t hold my lines,” she admitted, recalling multiple NG takes. For a sequence where Nick Cheung’s character knelt to be scolded, she found an unconventional cinematic solution. “I wrote the entire dialogue on paper and taped it to his back,” she said. “I could walk around him, delivering my speech, while peeking at the cheat sheet.”
She was full of praise for her co-star, calling him lively and quick-witted. “In the show he plays such a hateful guy, but when he wears women’s clothing, he looks really beautiful,” she laughed.
Pets, Preparedness, and Louis Koo
Reflecting on her current life balancing work with three dogs and three cats, Cheung revealed high veterinary costs drive her to work. “I often tell them I need to earn money for their food,” she joked. She maintains a six-month stockpile of pet food and emergency bags ready, with clear instructions for her domestic helper to secure the cats in carriers during a disaster.
Turning to industry inspiration, she praised actor Louis Koo for joining Angry Birds 3 as an executive producer. “He creates jobs and helps so many people. His whole life is an inspiration, it should be a book,” she stated.
A Career Rebalanced
“I can’t pull all-nighters anymore,” Cheung reflected. “Even if my mind can function, my face shows the exhaustion.” As she balances her grueling past with a healthier present, the upcoming Bangkok trip symbolizes a hard-earned pause for an actress who has mastered the art of juggling public demands, professional nostalgia, and the private responsibilities of pet ownership.
