TVB (Television Broadcasts Limited) was Hong Kong’s 1st wireless commercial TV station which has been around for more than 50 years.
Many stars from Hong Kong and China started their careers at the station through drama series produced by TVB, and they achieved further success through the platform.
Malaysian beauty queen-turned-actress Serene Lim (林宣妤) is one of the latest talent to join the Hong Kong TV station.
The 2016 winner Miss Astro Chinese International Pageant made her acting debut in director Chiu Keng Guan’s “Think Big Big”, and is set to star in the film adaptation of Tan Twan Eng’s award-winning novel “The Garden Of Evening Mists”.
Now based in Hong Kong, Lim was scouted by TVB early last year after winning 1st-runner-up for the station’s Miss Chinese International beauty pageant.
Getting signed on to TVB is a huge deal in Hong Kong and China and not a lot people get to do so. Lim is actually one of the few Malaysians who get to sign contracts with the giant Chinese station, but she is definitely not the 1st.
In the past years, there are several local stars who found success at TVB station, and here we are 5 famous ones that we found.
1. Mimi Chu (朱咪咪)
Mimi Chu is a veteran TVB actress from Ipoh, Perak who launched her singing career in Singapore in her early teens, and moved to Hong Kong in 1978 to further expand her singing career, but instead she landed herself an acting contract at TVB. She is the sister-in-law of famous Hong Kong actor and former policeman Joe Ma.
Some of her notable works include “Word Twisters’ Adventures”(鐵咀銀牙), “The Ultimate Crime Fighter” (通天幹探), “Wars of Bribery” (廉政行动组), and “Beauty Knows No Pain” (女人最痛).
2. Angie Cheong (張慧儀)
After winning Miss Chinese Malaysia in 1992, Ipoh-born Angie Cheong flew to Hong Kong to compete for the Miss Chinese International in 1993 and scored herself a contract with TVB. She was one of the top actresses in the early 90s and late 2000s, but she dropped out of the entertainment business in mid 2000s.
Some of Cheong notable works at TVB include the 1st and 2nd season of “Journey to the West” (西遊記), “Ultra Protection” (非常保鑣), “Happy Ever After” (金玉滿堂), “Showbiz Tycoon” (影城大亨), and “The New Adventures of Chor Lau-heung” (新楚留香).
3. Vivien Yeo (楊秀惠)
Johor-born Vivien Yeo has been staying in Hong Kong after participated in TVB’s Miss Chinese International pageant in 2004. Though she failed to get in the top 3 placing of the competition, she managed to earn herself a deal with the station.
She acted various series such as “Sunshine Heartbeat” (赤沙印記@四葉草.2), “Into Thin Air” (人間蒸發), the 1st and 2nd season of “Forensic Heroes” (法證先鋒), “The Drive of Life” (歲月風雲), “Men Don’t Cry” (奸人堅), “Beauty at War” (金枝慾孽貳), “Fashion War” ( 潮流教主) and more.
4. Jacqueline Ch’ng (庄思敏)
Though born a Malaysian, Jacqueline Ch’ng has been living in Hong Kong since she was 5. She is the daughter of Malaysian property tycoons Datuk Bill Ch’ng Poh and former actress Datin Kong Yuk Chu, and niece of Hong Kong director To-hoi Kong. Besides acting, she is also a model and a host for TVB “All Things Girl“ (姊妹淘).
She acted in “A Change of Heart” (好心作怪), “Raising the Bar” (四個女仔三個BAR), “Come Home Love” (愛·回家), “Fashion War” ( 潮流教主), “Two Steps From Heaven” (幕後玩家), season 3 of “Heart and Greed” (溏心風暴3).
5. Lisa Ch’ng (莊思明)
Lisa is the younger sister of Jacqueline Ch’ng and twin sister of model Mona Ch’ng (庄思华). Lisa was the 2nd-runner-up for Miss Hong Kong pageant in 2010. She is currently in a relationship with actor Mat Yeung (楊明).
Some of her works at TVB are “Come Home Love” (愛·回家), “Fashion War” ( 潮流教主), “ICAC Investigators 2016” (廉政行動2016), “Two Steps From Heaven” (幕後玩家), and “My Ages Apart” (誇世代).
Sources: Star2, 88razzi / Featured Image: Zi Xun Ding Zhi, Discogs
