Many famous stars have tried to stay looking young and beautiful throughout their careers, but few have managed to achieve this goal like Hong Kong actress and singer Vivian Chow. From being hailed as Hong Kong’s “jade girl” when she first burst on to the local music scene in the mid 1980’s, to later being referred to as an “ageless goddess”, Vivian has always been admired for her talent, graceful appearance and dedication to charity work. After an extended hiatus from the entertainment industry, last year Vivian made a return to both the big screen and the recording studio. CLOSER recently caught up with her to find out her secrets for long lasting beauty and discuss her career comeback.
Vivian Chow started her entertainment career in the 1980s after winning runner-up in an amateur DJ competition organized by Radio Television Hong Kong and beginning to work for the station.
From the late 1980s to mid-1990s, Vivian released numerous albums and played many roles in films and TV dramas. She made her movie debut in 1988 in the smash-hit comedy Heart to Hearts, and her elegant on-screen image quickly won her the title “the leader of jade girls” in Hong Kong.
However from 1997, Vivian gradually drifted away from the entertainment industry, moving to Canada with her husband, publisher Joe Nieh, to focus on her family, charity work and other hobbies like painting.
From 2003 to 2011, she participated in several charitable activities with organizations like Oxfam and World Vision, as well as campaigning for animal rights and breast cancer awareness.
In 2003, she moved back to Hong Kong and published her debut book, My Son is a Bengal Cat, detailing her daily life with her beloved Bengal cat. The book topped the best-seller list in Hong Kong for many months, generating great reviews and wide support from animal lovers.
In 2006, after 12 years away from the music scene, Vivian gave three sold out concerts at the Hong Kong Coliseum and donated all the proceeds to establish the Non-Profit Making Veterinary Services Society (NPV).
In 2013 she became involved with more charities including World Vision, Green Monday and Médecins Sans Frontières.
And last year, much to the delight of her loyal fan base, she finally made a comeback to the world of entertianment, taking on a role in the Taiwanese movie Cafe. Waiting. Love and releasing her first gospel album HIM. One song from the album, Waiting for someone in a Coffee Shop, was also featured on the soundtrack for the movie.
Testament to her lasting beauty and a enduring appeal, the 47-year-old is currently a spokesperson for Suisse Programme beauty products and the face of their latest product launch and campaign.
Macau CLOSER: Many have praised you for your beauty and seeming agelessness. What are your secrets for looking and feeling young?
Vivian Chow: I do value the importance of taking good care of my appearance. This is something you cannot omit if you love yourself. And I think it is very fortunate for me as an artist that since I started my career, there have been many outstanding brands of skincare products that have invited me to be their spokesperson, especially the Suisse Programme that I am currently working with.
I think I have done very little to take care of my skin. It has been the crews from the brand who do all the hard work so that I can always look my best. Knowing how to choose the right skincare product is crucial.
Moreover, I think that your mood and emotions can have a significant effect on your physical and mental health. Hence, I think that if a person can find a lifestyle that fits them, a place away from the negative energy of society, and have more positive interactions – if they can have a good family life and an opportunity to absorb “spiritual energy”, such as taking part in religious and charity work – then these can keep us healthy both inside and out.
Working in the Hong Kong entertainment industry can be very stressful. How have you handled those stresses over the years?
Before, I would try to just go home, because I think that home is a great place where I can deal with my stress. Home is a place that is full of love – full of my cats and the people I love. I used to be like a fighter. But when I am at home, I can stop being combative and become more at ease. Since I have had my faith, the only method I use now to deal with stress is to take a break and find a space where there is only me, and then pray. I have already trained myself well enough that the moment I say “Amen”, I feel like I have already given all the issues to God and can stop being worried.
Last year you played a role in the Taiwanese movie Cafe. Waiting.Love. Can you tell us more about that experience?
The experience with Cafe. Waiting. Love was certainly different from those I had in the past. I think that the role I played was really interesting and the shooting period was very short too. Therefore, I didn’t think much before agreeing to take part in this project. In fact, I had not played any film roles for a while and had already forgotten the patterns I acquired in the past. But this was actually a good thing, because I have matured over the years and have learnt to experience emotions from different angles and express them in various ways. This meant that I could be more creative in acting than before. And given that I hadn’t acted in a film for a long time, this movie allowed me to experience again the excitement and anticipation of film making.
Are there any other roles or scripts that might entice you to take part in more films again in the future?
There are many roles that I like and I even think about how a role should be played when I am watching movies. But when I realize that shooting a movie means I would not be able to see my cats for months, then I just stop thinking about it. So even if somebody presents me a great script that suits me, I still have to see if I am able to do it and whether I can sacrifice my family time, which is the crux of the issue.
You are well-known for your love of animals and you have many cats at home. How did you come to start supporting animal welfare in Hong Kong?
Years ago, my friend and I talked about the lack of public animal hospitals in Hong Kong and the fact that not everyone could afford to visit a veterinarian. Therefore, when my friend mentioned to me the plan to establish the Hong Kong Non-Profit Making Veterinary Service Society and their need for support, I told them that I would provide them with as much financial and promotional support as I could. Since its establishment in 2006, the Society has opened four non-profit vet clinics.
What are your plans for the rest of 2015?
Actually, the thing that I wanted to do most was to release my gospel album HIM, which is already done. The promotional period will be finishing soon, so I think it is time for me to recharge myself. I want to better manage myself and my family this year. I am going to reduce my workload and focus on being a spokesperson, participating in commercial performances and marketing activities. I did not do a single charity visit last year, so that is something I must do this year. I think it is a place for me to absorb spiritual energy. But I will not cease working altogether because I really need it. It’s what keeps me up-to-date.
Songs to HIM
As well as her recent movie role, Vivian also released a gospel album HIM at the end of last year, after a long break from the recording studio. Since becoming a Christian in 2006, she says her sense of values and life have undergone a substantial change. Last year, she felt that she was ready to step out of her comfort zone and do something for God. Therefore, she chose pop music, something she was familiar with, to testify her faith. She hopes that through combining pop music with the teaching of gospel, she can share her belief with others. Her friend and famous Hong Kong singer Leo Ku, produced one of the songs on the album and Vivian notes that he really guided her with getting back into pop music production and helped her to improve her vocal performance.
The right choice
Vivian is currently the spokesperson for skincare brand Suisse Programme. She comments that the company is famous for integrating natural ingredients with scientific technology. “What is most impressive about this brand is its innovation – the exclusive Biodynamic Cellular Complex. This complex improves skin vitality and allows oxygen to reach the bottom of the skin in order to help cellular regeneration,” she explains. Having been a Suisse Programme spokesperson for two years, Vivian thinks that the brand’s Gigawhite Supreme White Radiance Treatment series is really suitable for her. She believes that women are most concerned about blemishes and wrinkle prevention, as well as maintaining skin firmness, and says that the reason she likes this series so much is because it is very effective in whitening and repairing the skin, and particularly specialises in tackling the causes of skin pigmentation.
Painting the passage of time
In her free time Vivian enjoys painting as it helps her express her emotions. “The truth is, painting is like a single-player game for me. I grew up in my family as an only child, so I really enjoyed the time when I played alone and was not disturbed by anyone. I started painting when I was very young and was always mesmerized by it, even ignoring my mother when she called me.” Vivian particularly likes paintings that can depict the passage of time, like those portraying the “pang uk (stilt house)” in Tai O, Hong Kong. These scenes always inspire her to pick up her brushes because she likes the kind of beauty that is “simple and natural, without pressure; the kind of beauty that gives people the feeling of tranquility and being at ease”.
