After quietly cultivating her career in the Hong Kong film industry for 17 years, Wei Siya finally won the Best Actress award at the 43rd Hong Kong Film Awards in 2025 for her performance in the movie “Broken Hell.” Behind this glory, she experienced lows such as being mistaken for other people, roles being changed, and her dreams almost shattered. She had to make a living by obtaining over ten professional licenses and even faced discouragement from people around her to quit the entertainment industry. However, she never gave up on her original aspiration of being an actress. From her early days in youthful idol dramas to shouldering lead roles with maturity, she carved out a path that belonged to her step by step.
This edition of “Drifting Legend” takes you into the world of this actress who had been overlooked for many years, showing how she struggled between real-life pressures and her inner passion, ultimately defying the odds and creating her own screen legend.
Being in the industry for 17 years, Wei Siya is still frequently called by the wrong name. She candidly admitted, “If people remember Wei Siya, I hope they would first think of her as an actress. I wish others would recognize me through my work.” In fact, many mistakenly believed she was a model, singer, or even a YouTuber.
In February 2024, Wei Siya appeared on a radio show where the host, Xue Jiayan, joyfully congratulated her, mistaking her for another actress’s wife. The awkward situation left Wei Siya denying the pregnancy rumors, as Xue Jiayan quickly apologized for the mix-up, making light of the situation by saying it wasn’t the first time people had mixed them up.
Born in 1984 in Sheung Shui, Hong Kong, Wei Siya worked as a part-time model from the age of 16. After completing high school, she worked as a diamond saleswoman while continuing her modeling career.
At the age of 16, she met Mani, a manager from Emperor Entertainment Group, through an appearance in “Yes!” magazine. Despite Mani’s invitation to join the girl group Twins, she politely declined, opting to explore other industries such as selling diamonds, being an office lady, and becoming a lifeguard.
Aware of her average singing abilities, Wei Siya self-deprecatingly remarked, “My singing can be considered a ‘biological weapon’; once I start singing, everyone starts feeling sick… it’s quite destructive.” Although she collaborated with Wilfred Lau on the song “Really Want to Be with You” in 2008, she still considers it a “stain” in her life due to criticism of her voice and body. Despite other criticisms being unable to hurt her, playing that song undermines her self-esteem, urging others not to play it.
In 2008, at the age of 24, she auditioned for the TVB youth drama “Four Leaf Clover: The Battle of Love in Full Swing,” which marked her first foray into acting. It was during this time that she discovered her love for performing.
Reminiscing, she said, “From the very first scene, I knew I loved acting. While ‘Four Leaf Clover’ was just a youthful idol drama, it felt like a child trying ice cream for the first time. Wow! This world has something like this?”
Her passion led her to pursue acting and dream of making a film that would change audience perspectives. Initially cast in supporting roles in romantic movies, her acting skills struggled to shine. It wasn’t until her role in the horror film “Insomnia” in 2017, directed by Herman Yau and starring Anthony Wong, where she played the tragic twins, that she broke out of the romantic film mold.
She thought this would be a turning point in her career, possibly leading to a nomination at the Hong Kong Film Awards. However, she ended up only receiving a nomination for the Film Critics Society’s “Best Actress” award.
She stated, “After that time, I never really thought about any awards. I will continue to work hard, but I won’t think about awards anymore.”
With an unclear future in the industry and unstable income, she had to explore other options. Colleagues jokingly called her “King of Licenses” because she held multiple licenses, including car, boat, diving, tour guide, pet telepathy, and basic Chinese medicine certificates. Her rationale was, “Just in case there’s no food to eat.” This led her to consider transitioning careers as a tour guide or pet groomer. Fortunately, many of these licenses proved beneficial for acting, with her diving and lifeguard certifications allowing her to portray characters requiring swimming skills.
In 2018, at the ten-year mark of her career, she made a documentary reflecting on her life. She described feeling insecure in the entertainment industry but found a sense of security in acting with scripts. There were times when she went for two to three months without pay, relying on savings and living with her mother to save on expenses.
In 2018, she started a YouTube channel, which has now amassed 240,000 followers. Initially suggested by her team to explore new paths, she was disheartened by others advising her to give up acting. She recalled that moment with some sadness, questioning why others thought she should abandon acting, understanding the hardships but having no intention to give up something she loved so dearly.
During a low point, actor Sean Lau praised her acting skills, boosting her confidence while filming “Madness.” Following this, director Chan Muk becomes discovered her potential from “Madness” and invited her to star in “Marriage Pending.”
Initially, due to insufficient funds, the company suggested a recasting, but Director Chan insisted, “Each script has its destiny.” Four to five years later, she couldn’t forget the script and personally recommended it to Emperor Group, leading to the release of the “Marriage Pending” series in 2021 and 2023.
With “Marriage Pending 2,” she received her first nomination for the Hong Kong Film Award for Best Actress. Though she lost to Yu Hongning from “Under the Sun,” the nomination helped the industry recognize her dedication. She expressed, “This nomination at least shows that someone within this industry sees and understands what I am doing.”
Interestingly, Wei Siya was initially cast to play the lead in “Under the Sun.” She had accompanied Director James Yuen to court as research for the film, but due to funding issues, the project was delayed, eventually being produced by Louis Koo and starring Yu Hongning.
In 2024, she collaborated with Chan Muk again, winning the Best Actress award at the Hong Kong Film Awards for “Broken Hell.” She trained rigorously for nine months for a specific ritual in the movie, and her hard work paid off in the end. A line in the film, “Bro, we did it!” seemed to reflect the joy she felt in winning the Best Actress award.
Wei Siya once said, “My dream is to make a film that changes the audience’s perception.” Each script has its destiny, and each actor has their fate. If Wei Siya hadn’t recommended “Marriage Pending” script to her management company, there might not have been “Broken Hell,” let alone Wei Siya’s award-winning performance.
Her life story serves as an inspiration, showcasing that with perseverance, there can always be hope. #