Sex symbol, bombshell, bimbo in bikini – descriptions typically associated with Hong Kong actress Dada Chan, 27.
She flaunted her bodacious curves and E-cup assets in a string of infamously sexy, crass and ribald Hong Kong films, playing a sexpot.
Chan went from a hot executive working in an adult toy company in Microsex Office (2011) to a promiscuous party girl in Lan Kwai Fong (2011) to a body double for an ageing actress in a soft porn flick in Vulgaria (2012).
But she told The New Paper last week that she’s “done” with her sexed-up image.
Sorry, guys. It’s unlikely she will flaunt her deep cleavage on the big screen again as she said her career goals have changed in the last couple of years.
In a phone call from Hong Kong, she told TNP in Mandarin: “When I first started acting (around 2008), everything was new, fresh and exciting. I was bold and dared to try roles that pushed the boundaries.
“Now I know I love acting and my aim is to be a good actress. I don’t want to repeat whatever I’ve done before, so I’m definitely more selective with my roles.
“I want people to see a different side of me.”
In Hong Kong crime thriller S Storm (NC16), which is showing in local cinemas, Chan plays a pub waitress who falls for a kind-hearted assassin (Taiwanese star Vic Chou).
Her character is modestly dressed, mostly in a black-and-white waitress outfit.
Chan’s determination to ditch her sultry image means she has to turn down job offers that require her to tread the sex bomb path.
“I’ve rejected a number of scripts with such roles. It’s not a huge loss because, in return, God has given me other roles I truly want,” she said.
“I’m very glad my management company Jasco Entertainment is on the same page as me.
“Of course, my bosses want to make money, but they also want me to progress in my acting career, to be more versatile as an actress.”
S Storm director David Lam sang Chan’s praises.
On Internet talkshow Paco’s Celebrity Club, he said in Cantonese: “Towards the end of the movie, there were scenes where Dada was held hostage by bad guys and her life was in danger.
“She brought out the fear and concern for her older brother’s (Julian Cheung) safety really well.”
In 2013, at the peak of her popularity, Chan won Best Newcomer at the Hong Kong Film Awards for her performance in Vulgaria.
‘RETIREMENT’
Then, she shocked fans by suddenly announcing her “retirement” from showbiz, sparking rumours of depression and deteriorating psychological health.
She returned after a three-month absence.
Looking back at the unfortunate incident, the bachelorette told TNP: “Through that, I’ve learnt that having a life outside of work is very important. It’s okay to slow things down.”
And while she is eager to present herself as a serious actress, Chan is not embarrassed by her sexpot past. She told news website HK01: “I don’t regret anything I’ve done. Every step I’ve taken in my career has its own meaning.”
One of the perks of working on S Storm for her was having Mandopop quartet F4 member Chou, 35, play her love interest.
“Zai Zai (Chou’s nickname) is my favourite F4 member. When I watched Meteor Garden (2001 idol drama that shot F4 to fame), I loved him the most out of the foursome,” said Chan.
“When we were filming, I always joked with him, ‘I watched you on TV when I was growing up!’
“Zai Zai doesn’t speak much on set, he’s very serious and professional,” she said.
“There’s a scene in S Storm when we had to race down a street on a motorbike. He was the rider and I was riding pillion. It was a little scary, but I felt safe in his hands.”
This article was first published on September 17, 2016.
Get The New Paper for more stories.
