Hong Kong’s 63-year-old acting legend, Tony Leung Chiu-wai, recently sat down for an interview with fellow artist Edison Chen. During the interview, he candidly admitted that his memory has noticeably declined, now taking four to five times longer to memorize scripts compared to when he was younger. He also revealed his fondness for wearing mismatched socks to add a touch of humor to his otherwise mundane life. The relaxed conversation between the two sparked widespread chatter across the city.
Known for his exceptional acting skills and numerous awards, Tony Leung has rarely discussed his own satisfaction with his works. However, in a rare moment on Edison Chen’s YouTube show “ZONED,” he mentioned that his most satisfying work to date is “In the Mood for Love.” Despite later winning the Best Actor award at the Cannes Film Festival, he remains modest about his achievements. He recalled that even in his first minor role, audiences saw potential in him, leading him to realize his aptitude for acting.
In the program, Tony Leung expressed his fear of watching his own films. “When I rewatch them, I always find aspects that I’m not satisfied with. The audience may not notice, but since I played the roles, I know.” He revealed that he hardly ever watches playback on set, trusting the director’s vision and striving to maintain the purity of acting.
With over 40 years in the industry, Tony Leung now chooses roles based on the people involved rather than just the characters or stories. Citing his involvement in the Marvel film “Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings,” he commented that while the action scenes received praise, what mattered most to him was his rapport with director Destin Cretton. He found the director’s personality appealing and believed working together would be enjoyable.
According to a previous report by “GQ” magazine, director Destin Cretton had Tony Leung in mind to portray “Wenwu,” a multifaceted character in “Shang-Chi,” even before convincing the actor to join the project. During the interview, Tony Leung shared that upon their first meeting, Cretton told him, “You may not be a superhero, but your character has many layers.”
Portraying the character of “Wenwu” in “Shang-Chi,” Tony Leung embodies the film’s primary antagonist and a father figure. He admitted that after meeting the director and being drawn to the complexity of the villainous role, he spent two full months delving into the character’s inner world.
During the program, Tony Leung disclosed that he is currently focused on reading scripts and filming television commercials. When asked about stage plays, he reminisced about starring alongside Chow Yun-fat in the 1980s in the play “Heart of a Bachelor.” He described it as a “terrifying experience” due to the thick script, which used to take him about a month to memorize but now requires six months or at least four to five months due to his fading memory.
Known for his fashion sense, Tony Leung shared his philosophy on dressing, emphasizing that clothing should be enjoyable and pleasing to oneself. He admitted to having a habit of wearing mismatched socks privately, considering it a source of humor that lightens an otherwise dull life. He expressed gratitude to brand ambassador Edison Chen for gifting him a pair of mismatched shoes, which he proudly wore at the Venice Film Festival.
Tony Leung also revealed his love for sailing, water skiing, and off-road driving. Spending much of his time residing in Japan, he highlighted his preference for living there primarily due to his dislike of long flights. He also appreciates the Japanese culture of respecting personal space and avoiding unnecessary interruptions. When asked by Edison Chen where one must go in Japan, Tony Leung promptly answered, “To eat eel rice!”
After viewing the video, many netizens praised the rare relaxed demeanor displayed by Tony Leung, often perceived as camera-shy, during his candid conversation with Edison Chen.