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Times have changed. Playing pure, innocent girls may not win the audience’s heart; rather hateful characters may forge a new path instead. Portraying a pregnant spitfire who scolded everyone in sight in L’Escargot <缺宅男女>, “Kwan Yi So” Mandy Wong (黃智雯) successfully leaped forward. Twenty-nine-year-old Mandy was so convincing in her hateful role, in which costar Michael Miu (苗僑偉) noted that she had the potential to become a true bat por (八婆)!
Filming non-stop at TVB, Mandy in fact already has her own business, investing in a beauty operation with her parents. Mandy was well versed in finances and often dropped by beauty stores to test products and discover new trends. After visiting the flower market the other day, Mandy went shopping in Causeway Bay. She paid special attention to beauty and skincare stores, often testing products.
Mandy Wong Offended by Nasty Role
When Mandy received the script for L’Escargot last year and realized that she will be portraying the extremely hateful character of “Kwan Yi So,” she pondered how to deliver her onscreen performance. Mandy stated, “The character is deplorable. If the performance is convincing, I am afraid that the audience will scold me. I was a bit unwilling at first and did not wish to accept the role.” Since Mandy was not a first-line fadan with the ability to choose her roles, she had to take whatever opportunity TVB offered.
Scolding Herself in the Car
A contestant in the 2007 Miss Hong Kong Pageant, Mandy Wong possessed a weak and gentle voice, the complete opposite of “Kwan Yi So.” Prior to scolding her costars onset, Mandy made sure to prepare in advance. “Kwan Yi So is such a dominant figure and often shouted at the top of her lungs. I was afraid that my voice would not be vehement enough, thus while driving to work in my car, I yelled nonstop, until my voice opened up. Observing my behavior, the drivers in the other road lanes thought I was crazy!”
Aside from scolding thin air, Mandy incorporated numerous bat por mannerisms in L’Escargot. “I added many minor details to my performance, such as scolding people while picking up food with my chopsticks and fidgeted with my nails. I intentionally dragged on the ending sounds in my lines.”
Mandy’s hard efforts were rewarded. Since L’Escargot was aired, Mandy’s performance aroused lively discussion among netizens. During filming, Michael Miu praised her performance. Mandy recollected, “In my first scolding scene, I had to yell at Michael continuously. My lines were 3 pages long, in which I ran out-of-breath scolding. Later, Michael came over and flashed a victory sign, saying, ‘Yi So, you truly have the potential to become a damn bat por (死八婆)! I had less inhibitions afterward.”
Beauty Business Owner
In L’Escargot, Mandy’s character fought with tooth and nail over the family’s public housing apartment. In real life, Mandy’s family possessed stable financial resources. Last year, Mandy invested a 6-figure sum to open a beauty and skincare store with her parents in a Wan Chai mall. Mandy said, “My mother has been in the beauty business for 18 years and was interested in expanding the operations. I took the savings I had from my previous job as a flight attendant and my current salary from TVB to invest in the family business. Together with my mother, we invested $1 million HKD [on the expansion store].”
Last Tuesday, the reporter visited the Wong family’s cosmetics shop. Although the store was only several hundred feet in size, it was very organized. The products sold were perhaps less known, but upscale items. Mandy’s mother attempted to sell numerous products to the reporter, without mentioning that Mandy was her daughter. On the top glass shelf, was a photo of Mandy, in which Mrs. Wong said happily, “Yes! She’s my daughter!” (She is scolded as damn bat por by everyone now!) “It is only for acting.” The reporter waited outside the store for hours and observed that business was slow, with few customers. Perhaps Mandy Wong needed to capitalize on her current popularity to promote the store more!
Four “Little Fadans” Scrambling to Climb to the Top
Recently, TVB lost numerous siu sangs and fadans, thus allowing even Natalie Tong (唐詩詠) and Selena Li (李思雅) to be promoted as first-line actresses. However, there was still a serious shortage of front-line artists. Kate Tsui (徐子珊)、Tavia Yeung (楊怡) and Linda Chung (鍾嘉欣) cannot be cast all the time, which led to the rise of “Four Little Fadans” Nancy Wu (胡定欣), Mandy Wong, Elaine Yiu (姚子羚), and Cindy Lee (李思雅).
Nancy Wu’s Likelihood of Rising to the Top: 80%
In 2008, Nancy Wu won the “Most Improved Actress Award.” For the last 2 years, she was nominated for “Best Supporting Actress.” Her acting in Curse of the Royal Harem <萬凰之王> was praised highly. Nancy has 3 upcoming dramas to be released in 2012.
Mandy Wong’s Likelihood of Rising to the Top: 75%
Mandy Wong was one of the Top 5 Finalists in the 2007 Miss Hong Kong Pageant. in 2008, she started filming TVB dramas and rose in recognition levels after 2010′s Suspects in Love <搜下留情>. In the currently broadcast L’Escargot, Mandy portrayed a spitfire that vehemently scolded people. In 2012, Mandy can be seen in upcoming dramas, The Hippocratic Crush <On Call 36小時>、Flying Tigers <飛虎> and Policewoman Love Battlefield <女警愛作戰>.
Elaine Yiu’s Likelihood of Rising to the Top: 60%
Elaine Yiu entered the entertainment industry in 2002. Despite her female lead status in Safe Guards <鐵血保鑣>, Elaine’s stardom was mediocre. Last year, Elaine’s role in Bottled Passion <我的如意狼君> finally led to greater public recognition.
Cindy Lee’s Likelihood of Rising to the Top: 50%
Cindy Lee competed in the 2005 Miss Hong Kong Pageant and hosted TVB’s Sports World <體育世界> for several years. Portraying Bowie Lam’s (林保怡) labor rights employee in When Heaven Burns <天與地> who committed suicide over her disappointed love with Bowie, Cindy snagged the attention of many people.
Source: Sudden Weekly # 861
Credits: Jayne @ http://jaynestars.com
