Four years after settling in Taiwan, Hong Kong star Chapman To recently made his debut in the Taiwanese drama “ZERO DAY”. At the drama’s press conference on the 23rd, To introduced his character as a Hong Kong person sent by the Chinese Communist Party to infiltrate Taiwan, stating that the role had low difficulty as he had seen many similar people in Hong Kong, sparking laughter throughout the audience.
Starring Chapman To alongside Japanese actor Kazunari Tachibana and Taiwanese actress Lien Yu-Han, “ZERO DAY” revolves around a hypothetical scenario where the Chinese military takes action against Taiwan, exploring the potential social implications during a conflict in the Taiwan Strait.
During the press conference, Chapman To revealed that he had gained around 10 kilograms during his years of residency in Taiwan. Known for his comedic roles in the past, he expressed his excitement at fulfilling his “villain dream” this time, with his character playing a significant role throughout the drama. Jokingly, he introduced his character as “a Hong Kong person sent by the People’s Republic of China (PRC) to infiltrate Taiwan,” stating that the role was not very challenging as he had encountered many such individuals in Hong Kong. He humorously added, “Because I’m getting older, I won’t choose difficult roles to tackle,” and quipped, “It’s quite awkward for me, Chapman To, to play such a role,” drawing laughter from the audience.
After the infamous imposition and enforcement of the “National Security Law” in Hong Kong by the Chinese Communist Party, Chapman To, holding a British passport, relocated to Taiwan in November 2020 and obtained Taiwanese citizenship in 2022 under the category of “special achievements”.
A staunch supporter of the Hong Kong democracy movement, Chapman To had faced censorship from the Chinese government since 2014 due to his cross-border support for Taiwan’s Sunflower Student Movement. Despite a drastic reduction in acting opportunities, he has never bowed down to the Chinese Communist Party, considering anti-communism a moral and responsible stance. Years ago, he took an unconventional path by launching the online talk show “Chapman To’s late show,” which continues to satirize current affairs.
Having previously starred in Taiwanese director Chung Mong-hong’s film “Parking” in 2008, this marks Chapman To’s first foray into Taiwanese drama at the age of 52, portraying a well-known internet celebrity named “Qiangge” who misleads the Taiwanese public, with the biggest challenge being Mandarin fluency. Chapman To humorously remarked, “Mandarin is my third language, I don’t understand every sentence in interviews and acting would be even more difficult. This role requires fluent Mandarin, so I must have offended the producers in a past life.”
Thriving in Taiwan since relocating, Chapman To not only established the “Guangfu Entertainment Company” and founded the “Xiao Du’s Goodies” brand, but also set up the non-profit organization “Taiwan-Hong Kong Cultural Exchange Association” to provide scholarships and support Hong Kong students pursuing further education in Taiwan. After a six-year hiatus from acting, he announced his comeback in March on Facebook and took on his first Taiwanese drama project.