Hong Kong film star Tony Leung Chiu-wai recently appeared on Angelina Cheng’s YouTube show “The Do Show,” where he not only shared snippets of his life with his wife Carina Lau, but also revealed that he once faced a career bottleneck and even planned to completely exit the entertainment industry in Hong Kong by fleeing to South Africa.
At the age of 61, Tony Leung Chiu-wai signed with Asia Television Limited (ATV) in 1990 and starred in several ATV series such as “Fatal decision,” “Dragon in the sky,” “Magic hand blessings,” and “Master of the law.” Addressing the long-standing rumors about his departure from ATV due to work pressure, Tony Leung Chiu-wai set the record straight on the show. He disclosed that while filming on location in Canada, he unexpectedly received a call from ATV informing him that his contract would not be renewed.
Describing himself as “at a loss” at that time and completely unprepared for the news, the sudden blow became a significant turning point in his career. Despite subsequently signing a successful contract with Television Broadcasts Limited (TVB) through a stroke of luck, he was mentally and physically exhausted, so he immediately took leave, claiming to visit family. In reality, he was already prepared to leave the Hong Kong entertainment industry for good. He chose to live in South Africa for several months, distancing himself from the noisy entertainment circle. While past reports often portrayed his experience as “fleeing to South Africa” after a low point in his career, hearing him recount it personally shed new light on the importance of this decision.
Fortunately, Tony Leung Chiu-wai successfully adjusted his mindset and returned to the Hong Kong screen a few months later. Upon his return, his role as “Kam Long-hung” in the classic series “Heroic Legend of the Heroes” propelled him to fame, marking a significant turning point in his acting career.
Subsequently, Tony Leung Chiu-wai continued to star in high-rating series like “Healing Hands,” “Bianguts 4 Gentlemen,” receiving acclaim for his acting skills. He also successfully transitioned to the film industry, winning the Hong Kong Film Award for Best Actor twice.
During the interview, Tony Leung Chiu-wai also shared insights into his loving life with his wife Carina Lau. He admitted to having very low material desires, with his watch priced at just a few thousand Hong Kong dollars, and his biggest recent expense being the purchase of an antique car. When it comes to financial management within the family, he expressed unconditional trust in his wife Carina Lau, stating that he has no knowledge of investment management. He leads a modest lifestyle and comfortably entrusts the financial management of their home to his wife.