Sandra Ng, 56, Says A Bad Break-Up Was What Made Her Decide “To Be Beautiful”
Hongkong actress Sandra Ng, now 56, started acting when she was just 16. She would go on to make her name in comedy, and has since appeared in more than a hundred films and dramas.
In a new interview with Hongkong magazine Madame Figaro, Sandra admitted that she lost her joy for comedy and acting in 1996 and almost quit the industry altogether.
“Even I did not find myself funny anymore, so how could I continue to amuse my audience?” she said.
According to Sandra, she was playing roles she didn’t want, and the scripts she received were incomplete and she often had to improvise her lines. Those reasons, including a bad break-up were why the star, who was then known for looking more comical than glamorous, wanted to have a total makeover.
Though Sandra did not say who she broke up with then, the man is believed to be Hongkong singer Alex To, now 60. Apparently, that split was the push Sandra needed to lose weight and get healthy.
“I decided that I wanted to be beautiful. Every woman wants to be beautiful at least once [in their lives],” she said. She revealed she came under a lot of criticism during that period, though she chose to ignore it. She also challenged herself to see if she had enough willpower to get fit.
At that time, Sandra went on an all-fruit diet consisting of watermelons and oranges and exercised religiously. She eventually lost 14kg in four months, which she said helped shed the impression people had of her as just a comedian.
Sandra with her dad, veteran actor Ha Chun Chau
People often forget that Sandra’s father is veteran Hongkong actor Ha Chun Chau, 90. In the interview, she admitted that being the kid of a famous star gave her an easier start in the industry.
Sandra, who graduated from TVB’s 12th artiste training class, said: “Everyone had to go through an entry exam. Only I didn’t, because my dad knew director Liu Fang-Gang, who was in charge of the course.”
She did, however, had to work doubly hard to prove herself.
Supportive mum Sandra with her 16-year-old daughter Jillian
When asked how she would feel if her daughter Jillian chose a career in showbiz, Sandra, who is married to director Peter Chan, said that she would be definitely be supportive.
She would even pull strings because what’s most important is that her daughter finds a job she loves.
Sandra also shared that she has encouraged her daughter, who is into singing and dancing, to start off as an extra, because she wants her to understand the importance of putting in time and effort.
“It takes plenty of hard work and luck to be in showbusiness, it’s not an industry where you can be a part of just because you want to,” she said.
But we're sure having a famous mum helps, right?
Photos: Chinapress, Sandra Ng/ Instagram
