behind linda chung's glamour

Transforming in her growth, Linda Chung unceasingly makes every effort to improve in her bright future

Behind Linda Chung's Glamour - Depression Becomes Crazy

[Mingpao 24/05/07]


In other people's eyes, 23 year-old Linda Chung Ka Yan is a lucky girl. The 2004 "Miss Chinese International" pageant winner entered the entertainment industry and in three short years has filmed over 10 series, with a significant part in each series. She quickly became one of TVB's new 'fa dan' (leading lady) with a bright future. This causes people to be envious. However, behind the glamour, it turns out that Linda, who left Vancouver alone in order to develop in Hong Kong, experienced a time when she felt so helpless that she was depressed and ill! Luckily, everything smoothly passed and today Linda happily enjoys the success after the suffering.


In 'Best Bet'

Michael Tse Tin Wah describes Linda as an 'Iron Woman.' Soon after being crowned "Miss Chinese International," Linda received strong support to join Virtues of Harmony II and act as "Hung Bak Lam." In the next three years, she filmed series after series. She knows that opportunities aren't easy to come by. However, the Vancouver-raised, simple-minded girl said there was a time when she found it hard to handle the immense stress.

Enduring suffering makes success sweeter
"At that time, I was alone in Hong Kong. Every day, after work, I'd come home and there'd be no one to talk to. I'd start thinking too much. It was painful and really useless! I'd open the refrigerator and it was empty. There was nothing to eat! Crap! In the early morning at 6 AM, I'd have to go to work all over again. I still didn't have a chance to wash my clothes yet! After I returned home, I'd try yelling loudly, 'I'm about to blow! Someone kill me!' At that point, I was really nearing depression. There are many artists who have similar experiences. They could go out drinking to loosen up. At that time, I was buried in work. The more changes that came, the unhappier I got. However, looking back now in the present, there's no doubt that it was painful, but actually, I should be happy because of my luck. Besides my many opportunities, my pairings were all good. From the start, no one suited or bothered me. There weren't any problems at work. Why should I be unhappy? However, if it wasn't for those days, perhaps right now I would be very haughty! I really appreciate and enjoy my accomplishments."



Self-watched to be a 'good' girl
In the course of 3 years of acting, at first, people criticized Linda's acting as bad and that she had a 'chicken' voice. She gradually improved and gained the audience's approval. Every time she hears praises, Linda feels it is the greatest reward. "Right now the audience gradually thinks that I am improving. I am not too exaggerated or stiff. I hope I can be even more natural in my acting. I know my own issues. Presently I'm only at my progressing stage. I still have to work even harder." In the future, Linda hopes to have the opportunities to try out more different roles in movies and sing.

Linda is recognized as the entertainment industry's "good" girl with a pure nature. She hasn't had negative press to destroy her image. "I always watch over myself. I frequently chat online with my parents and will keep my roots. They don't like me drinking, going out late, or making weird friends. I listen to them. A stable person can make things more beautiful."

Hard to forget family of five
Linda frankly says that her attachment to her family is great. Although her family's circumstances were impoverished in her childhood, the family's warmth was gathered in the same place. In her life, Linda will never forget her happy childhood. "I was born after my parents immigrated to Vancouver. At that time, we were very poor. With my older sister and brother, our family of five rented a very small room. We didn't have luxuries. The whole family slept in the same place, the feeling was so warm. Nothing materialistic could compare to it. My parents worked painstakingly to earn money to provide the best environment for my brother, sister, and I to grow up and study. I think it's already enough if us five have good health."


In 'Virtues of Harmony II'

It's dumb not to bargain buying fresh produce
Her upbringing influences her, so Linda understands that it's very difficult to earn money. That's why she doesn't spend frivolously. She currently rides the subway and bargains when she shops, but she emphasizes that she only gets what is necessary. Newspapers have called her a "Thrift Sister" because she only spends $24 HK a day. "Sometimes I will take a taxi to work and buy a lunch box! Sometimes I will buy drinks, fresh fruits, and order a small plate to watch how other people act. However, I won't carelessly buy very expensive necklaces or garments. Unless it is practical, then I will consider it. Actually, I am very thick-skinned. I don't mind bargaining. It's like buying fruits, if you don't bargain, it's dumb! Being an artist is still a person, there's no need to make a division. People who understand clearest are inside the industry. There isn't a reporter who doesn't bargain!" Linda believes that being ordinary is happiness.


Simple-minded and genuine 'Dak Dak Dei' gives people a feeling of security

Liking "Dak Dak Dei"
One is a pure and sympathetic "Dak Dak Dei" (Moses Chan Ho) and one is "Ching Leung" (Raymond Lam Fung), who has deep feelings, but actually endures arguments. If you were Heart of Greed's "Seung Joi Sum," who would you choose? In real life, Linda would pick "Dak Dak Dei" because she is a girl who strongly needs a sense of security. She hopes there is a man who allows her to be at ease and she can rely on.

Doesn't seek fame and fortune, doesn't need luxury
"I am quite passive, so I need someone who can push me and take care of me. It's not important whether or not he has money, in my eyes it's all the same. I don't need fame, fortune, or luxuries. The most important thing is that he has to care about me. 'Ching Leung' can easily touch his girlfriend with sweet actions. However, there are times when he is very cold. I don't want someone who is so cold. 'Dak Dak Dei' always appears in times when I most need him. He's quite good."


'Shui Mak Mak' offered herself up to 'Ching Leung' and annoyed the audience and was criticized as a slut

Before, the plot talked about Yoyo Mung Ka Wai's "Shui Mak Mak" becoming a third person by invading the relationship of "Ching Leung" and "Seung Joi Sum." Carrying on, the villainous "Sai Kai" Susanna Kwan Guk Ying is cursed angrily by audiences as a vixen. Linda says, "It's acting! If it were me who experienced this kind of thing [as my character], I would be very upset. I would break up. However, if I know that he feels remorse, then perhaps I will give him another chance. If it happens a second time, I won't."


'Ching Leung' and 'Seung Joi Sum' always argue, causing people to feel fed up

"Seung Joi Sum" has once been criticized as being very annoying, cries whether or not she's moved, and being too obsessive. Linda takes "Seung Joi Sum"'s defense: "In fact, 'Seung Joi Sum' represents very much many girls' experiences. Once they've invested in a relationship, they will lose logic. For no reason at all they are angry and unreasonable. Furthermore, if they find out there's another party, [you expect that] they won't cry? I've had a number of girlfriends who became so thin after they've been heart-broken. It turns out that the pain of losing love is very big! For the time being, Linda has only experienced love once in Vancouver. She still hasn't really understood the strong grip of love's charm.


In 'Always Ready'

Carefully selecting a boyfriend, scared to wrongly choose
Linda frankly says that she longs for marriage. It is her goal in the future to have a happy family that is her propelling force. "I understand that 'fate' can be met, but not pursued. Although I really want to quickly have a boyfriend, but being anxious won't work. I don't want to choose wrongly, so I have to be careful in selecting." Usually, when she meets a gentleman who she has feelings for, she will observe him for quite some time. After understanding his character, she will then consider again.


"Miss Chinese International" 2004 Linda is a success story

Pageant winner, progressing in rank quickly
Linda was born on April 9, 1984 in Vancouver and was a 2nd year student at UBC. She went from a "Cover Girl" to the pageant winner of "Miss Vancouver." In 2004, she represented Vancouver in the "Miss Chinese International" pageant and won. This was her path to becoming an actress. Her first series was Virtues of Harmony II acting as "Hung Bak Lam." She received great support and had a part to act in series which include Always Ready, Forensic Heroes, Heart of Greed, The Gem of Life, and many other major series. In 2006, Linda was branded as "Queen of Newcomers." In that same year, she won "Most Improved Actress" at the TVB Anniversary. Her future is full of endless potential. In terms of her love life, she was once rumored with Ekin Cheng Yi Gin, Moses Chan, Raymond Lam, and so on by the press. Linda says that none of it is true. Her love life is still a white, empty sheet.


Linda hasn't let the entertainment industry corrupt her

My thoughts: I never imagined that Linda would have another full-length interview/article so soon. I have to say that these long articles don't scare me anymore. In fact, I find translating them easier the more I do them. It's all worth it for Linda's sake. Heart of Greed is really doing wonders for her career and is boosting her popularity and credibility in many different areas - and I'm loving it! She's starting to see the harvest of all of her hard work.

This was another good article. It's again quite positive and representative of her career thus far. However, I am getting a bit tired of how all of the articles on her so far are so similar. It's like rehashing and repetitive. Still, it's a nice piece regardless because there are some pieces of new information. Besides, you can never complain about 'too much' good press. I love the interview pictures that Mingpao shot of Linda for this interview. She looks really good. The one thing that I like about this article that sets it apart is that it truly does expose what's behind the "glamour" of being a star (in this case, with Linda). People think that celebrities have it so easy, but from Linda's recounts, it is a difficult job. To stay in this business, you have to be at the top of your game at all times because very little people are "irreplaceable."

Linda surely has a good head on her shoulders. She hasn't changed one bit since entering the industry three years ago. She's still so sweet to us fans. She is truly a humble girl and it shows in all of her interviews. She isn't haughty and continues to work hard to perfect her craft. I eagerly wait what the future has to hold for her.

P.S. - Linda, if you don't mind a brother/sister relationship, hit me up. I fit your descriptions of your 'dream boy' exactly... well besides the height thing. But that's okay because we can work things out. Haha I'm just kidding! I feel content enough having the chance to 'know' you by being your fan.