HK Star William Chan and Mainland Chinese popular actress Zhao Lusi starred in the new drama “Let Me Shine”, which has gained massive popularity since its recent broadcast.
Although William Chan’s portrayal of the role of “Shen Haoming” in the drama has received high praise, he admitted during a livestream that he initially did not want to take on the role of a domineering CEO. The reason behind his decision sparked curiosity among viewers.
“It’s risky to play a CEO, as it’s easy to be seen as too slick, which could be a fatal blow to an actor’s image.” It’s hard to imagine that William Chan, who is considered to have successfully embodied the character of “Shen Haoming,” confessed during the livestream.
William Chan further explained that CEO roles are often perceived by audiences as “slick” or “pretentious,” presenting a significant challenge that could affect an actor’s reputation. Faced with a plethora of similar drama scripts in the Mainland Chinese entertainment industry, William Chan revealed that when the director initially approached him for the role, his mindset was already set as “didn’t want to do, but dared not refuse”.
In fact, William Chan’s concerns about the risks associated with such roles are not unfounded. As he has emphasized multiple times, the highly stereotyped CEO character, from the fixed slick hairstyle to exaggerated cool lines, can easily lead to audience fatigue, making an actor’s career vulnerable to being labeled as “slick” or “pretentious” at the slightest misstep.
However, William Chan disclosed that when the director first saw the script, he immediately thought of him as the ideal actor for the role and personally discussed the storyline with him. After careful consideration, William Chan believed it was a challenge worth trying and ultimately decided to take on the role. He responded to the director by saying, “Hmm… I’ll think about it. I know it’s difficult, but I’ll give it a try.”
William Chan gained fame in the past for his roles in dramas like “Ancient Sword Fantasy” and “The Mystic Nine”, but his popularity has waned in recent years due to a decrease in the number of projects he has worked on. His collaboration with Zhao Lusi in “Let Me Shine” has once again propelled him to fame.
The reason behind William Chan’s acclaim lies not only in his nuanced acting that brought the character of “Shen Haoming” to life in a compelling and fresh manner but also in the heartwarming gestures towards Zhao Lusi. Despite her dispute with the entertainment company “Galaxy Cool Entertainment,” many people are reluctant to interact with her. However, Zhao Lusi revealed during a livestream that William Chan frequently messaged her, asking when they could shoot together, which warmed many people’s hearts, earning him praise for his character.
William Chan and Zhao Lusi previously participated in the reality show “Fairy Tale” together. At one point, they were tasked with folding balloons with children, but Zhao Lusi kept popping the balloons, making the kids ask in frustration, “Why do all the balloons pop when you’re here?” Embarrassed, Zhao Lusi blamed herself, but William Chan tactfully diffused the awkward situation by saying, “She just loves going viral, the queen of virality, wherever she goes, things go viral!” At that time, fans suggested they collaborate, and now their wish has finally come true.