Hong Kong actress Hera chan, a former Miss Hong Kong winner, is opening up about the early struggles of her acting career and the intense pressures she faced following her transition from pageantry [[1]]. In a recent interview wiht Commercial Radio Hong Kong, Chan detailed a challenging childhood, the financial hardships she experienced for years after entering the entertainment industry, and the crippling self-doubt sparked by early criticism of her work . The actress, who initially pursued a nursing degree, also reflected on her unexpected path to becoming a leading lady in popular TVB dramas.
Hong Kong actress Hera Chan recently opened up about the challenges she faced early in her career, revealing it took six years before she was able to financially support her family. The 2018 Miss Hong Kong winner shared her story during an interview on Commercial Radio Hong Kong’s Star Behind the Stars, detailing a difficult childhood and the pressures of navigating public criticism. Chan recalled a shy upbringing, explaining, “I was very active as a child and liked to rush to speak, but my classmates didn’t like it and bullied me, which made me afraid to speak, afraid of offending people. I didn’t say a word for two years in fifth and sixth grade, becoming timid and withdrawn.”
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Chan, who initially planned to become a nurse after studying at the Chinese University of Hong Kong, decided to enter the Miss Hong Kong pageant as a way to accelerate her personal growth. “I always felt like a little girl, easily upset and quick to give up. I would hide and dwell on things when I was criticized, even in university,” she said. “I decided to enter the beauty pageant because I wanted a process, a way to grow quickly before officially becoming a nurse.” She admitted she never expected to win, let alone be cast in leading roles. “I never thought I was beautiful. If I was an actress for a few years, that would be great, I never imagined I’d become a leading lady.”
Chan quickly found herself facing intense scrutiny after her debut in the 2020 drama Network, with critics dismissing her as merely a pretty face. “I was heavily criticized, and what bothered me the most was being told I had a lisp. I wasn’t afraid of being called ugly or being compared to a giraffe, but I was terrified of having a lisp that I couldn’t fix for the rest of my life!” she confessed. She actively worked to improve, taking lessons and seeking guidance while filming The Exorcist’s Meter. The onslaught of negative feedback took a toll, leading Chan to break down in private. “I would hide in the company bathroom and cry on the car ride home.” Chan credits actor Heung Kam-biu and director Qiao Songwei with helping her rebuild her confidence and overcome her anxieties. Last year, she received the “Breakthrough Performance” award for False Alarm, and her recent performance in the hit TVB drama Golden Age has garnered widespread praise, even earning a positive review from the wife of co-star Law Ka-ying. Her transformation has been undeniable.
During the interview, Chan was asked to compare her initial earnings as a beauty queen to a nurse’s salary, a question she playfully deflected. However, she did admit to regretting her career choice at one point. “I entered the industry just wanting to take care of my parents, who had supported my education for so many years. But when I started working, I couldn’t even afford to contribute to household expenses. I wondered if it would always be like that,” she said. “There was a time when I regretted it because I wasn’t earning much.” She revealed she finally felt financially stable “last year.”
Rumors have followed Chan throughout her seven-year career, linking her to co-stars including Heung Kam-biu, Ding Zilang, Law Tin-yu, Fong Lok-tin, Chan Chak-yan, and most recently, Chu Man-hon. She laughed off the speculation, saying the most surprising was the first rumor involving Heung Kam-biu. “Because it was the first one, I was very nervous and my hands were shaking when I answered the reporters.” She added, “Now I don’t care. Recently, there have been rumors about me getting married and living with [Chu Man-hon], but I just ignore what people think.” Regarding rumors involving Chan Chak-yan and Chu Man-hon, Chan explained that she met Chan Chak-yan through a mutual friend who was selling a car. “He’s very popular, so there was a lot of pressure when the rumors started, so I just kept quiet.” When asked if Chu Man-hon is handsome, Chan urged people to look beyond his appearance. “He has many strengths. Ah Zhu is very considerate and attentive to detail. He thinks a lot and doesn’t always express it. His world is very rich, and you really need to get to know him.”
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