It has been 19 years since Hong Kong based Taiwanese actress Joey Wong Cho-Yee AKA Joey Wang (王袓贤) left the entertainment scene. However, Joey is still fondly remembered by fans, for her beauty, her performance, and her works. After all, she was once known as one of the “Four Flowers” of Hong Kong cinema.
Curiously enough, fans have actually still been holding out for her to return from retirement! It isn’t too far-fetched, Joey has come out of semi-retirement previously to return to the screen. However, Joey herself has since shut down said hopes. It certainly helps that she’s financially stable enough and can do without the work!
Born in 1967, the now 55-year-old, took the world by storm when she first appeared in the 1984 film “Lake Spirit (今年湖畔會很冷)”. Joey’s performance at the time had caught the eye of a Shaw Brothers’ producer. Joey then went on to act in many others films, such as “A Chinese Ghost Story (倩女幽魂)”, “The Diary of a Big Man (大丈夫日記)” and “God of Gamblers (賭神)”.
But, in 2004, Joey revealed some shocking news. Shortly after her film, “Shanghai Story (美麗上海)” was released, Joey announced that she would be retiring. The actress later moved to Canada where she settled to live out the rest of her life. Despite that, fans have been hoping Joey would someday return. Unfortunately, she crushed those hopes herself. “I really enjoy (my) days of retirement,” she reportedly stated.
In fact, Joey has allegedly not worked since her retirement in 2004. But Chinese media claims that Joey can actually afford to do so. Previously, Joey has filmed more than 60 movies during the peak of her career. As such, Joey is supposedly financially sound.
Additionally, there have been claims that Joey has as much as US$1 billion (~RM4.4 billion) with several real estate properties under her name. When interviewed after her retirement, the venerated actress allegedly told the press, “The money I have now is more than I can spend in my (entire) life.”
Well, it’s certainly regretful that Joey will never appear on screen again. However, some feel her retirement at the peak of career may have been the best choice. After all, Joey has ensured she will be remembered as she was, thanks to her past works which are still around for fans, both old and new, to enjoy.
Source: China Press
