June 2009

A New Horizon

After a decade in front of the camera, Hong Kong actress Myolie Wu has embarked on a new adventure — finding her musical voice

A New Horizon

WORDS NAN-HIE IN
PHOTOGRAPHY: ANDREW J. LOITERTON

After a series of girl-next-door roles, actress Myolie Wu unleashed high kicks in martial arts dramas, gained weight for a role, sang nine TV theme songs over the last four years and is now recording a studio album. Her insistence on not being typecast is an important factor in mapping out her career and choosing acting roles. “I find it hard to believe in this world that someone is perfect,” she says. “I’d rather play someone with character problems and imperfections, which I find more realistic.”
When asked which of her roles has resonated with her most, she has an interesting response: “I’d rather say what I’m not similar to and that’s playing these optimistic characters, these girls that are ‘so good, so perfect, so willing to sacrifice everything for the guy’ types. Personally, I find all that hard to believe. Actually, I find those characters hard to play.”

This may come as a shock as Wu has become This may come as a shock as Wu has become synonymous with bright-eyed, sunny characters. synonymous with bright-eyed, sunny characters. There was the perky and bubbly airport employee There was the perky and bubbly airport employee in 2003’s in 2003’s Triumph in the Skies Triumph in the Skies and a doe-eyed and a doe-eyed farm girl in the more recent farm girl in the more recent War and Destiny War and Destiny that won her TVB’s Best Actress nod. that won her TVB’s Best Actress nod.

Most memorable was her breakthrough Most memorable was her breakthrough performance in 2002 as the naïve and performance in 2002 as the naïve and mentally challenged Tan Tan in mentally challenged Tan Tan in Golden Faith, a touching portrayal that won, a touching portrayal that won her critical acclaim, and lifted Wu her critical acclaim, and lifted Wu from a beauty pageant winner from a beauty pageant winner (she was second runner-up (she was second runner-up in Miss Hong Kong 1999) in Miss Hong Kong 1999) to being an actress with to being an actress with great potential. great potential.

Throughout our interview, Wu breaks her interview, Wu breaks her sentences with sudden laughs and an open, warm smile. But dig below the surface and you’ll find a woman clearly amused by the discrepancy between her acting roles and reality: “Now that I’m growing up, I don’t feel like I need to do those sweet characters anymore.”

The first sign of risk-taking and expanding her horizons was rapidly gaining 20kg to star in 2003’s To Grow With Love. The press had a field day on hearing such news and expressed shock and criticism of her transformation. “I wasn’t scared of looking ugly,” she says. “The only thing that made me reluctant to take on this role was how I could actually gain the weight since I’ve always been naturally slim and have eaten as much as I wanted since I was young.

I also had only three months to do it!” Nutritionists and doctors monitored her health for what she described as “a psychological battle”. She says that it’s the toughest role she has ever taken on.

Having worked with several experienced actors throughout her career, she cites Francis Ng Chun-Yu in Triumph in the Skies as having the most influence on her. “Before, I thought acting was simply putting on expressions, but now I don’t. He taught me how to have that character inside you, to create a personal history for that person to explain the way she talks and why she has these habits and expressions. This technique lets you act smoothly throughout the drama.”

Her confidence in her acting skills has driven Wu to take a chance in a more eclectic mix of projects that have made her progression all the more interesting. Aside from dabbling in sword-fighting martial arts for the latest costume comedy Chau Heung Angers Tong Bak Fu, she’s also emerging as a singer with her debut EP, Evolve, released this year. “People expected this sweet, girl-next-door person who sings cantopop love songs.” She shakes her head in mock surprise. “Then, they hear my rock ballads. They don’t expect my strong voice.”

So far, Wu’s transition to singing has been well received, and she has collected a handful of newcomer and breakthrough artist awards. Her prior experience, singing the theme songs for the TV dramas she’s starred in, such as War and Destiny, has ensured a smooth transition and given her confidence in performing musically.

Her musical inspirations include Taiwanese soulstress Zhang Hui Mei because of her powerful vocals. “Singing has always been my passion. I’ve sung in choirs since my primary school in Hong Kong and while studying in Belfast,” reveals Wu. She now has a sharpened focus and determination to become an artist. She’s already recording her second album and has plenty more expectations to defy.

Viewers outside Hong Kong can catch Myolie Wu on cable channel TVB 8.

MYOLIE WU’S PICKS

Hong Kong: She loves karaoke. “At Neway’s Karaoke Box, my friends and I hang out singing pop songs and have lots of fun!”

Singapore: Recently in Singapore to present a trophy at the Star Awards, she loved the picturesque views from her room at the Mandarin Oriental. As an animal lover, getting close to the animals on the Night Safari is her top tip for tourists.






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