Hong Kong artist Oscar Leong (梁竞徽/梁烈唯) has been a venerated actor for a long time now. However, as it turns out, his career as an actor under TVB hasn’t been as lucrative as many expected!
Oscar debuted in 1999 before joining TVB in 2004 and departing in 2019. At the time, many assumed he was doing well financially. But, in a sudden turn of events, Oscar recently revealed how much he’d been earning then. Needless to say, the amount left netizens bewildered.
The 43-year-old actor has not been cast in many leading roles, but has made his name with memorable ones. For Oscar, his role in the 2011 to 2013 television series “Tiger Cubs (飞虎) was one of the best. “It brought a lot to my personal career,” he allegedly said.
“Not only did it (get me) more recognition, it also increased my salary from 6,000 Hong Kong dollars (~RM3,400) to 15,000 Hong Kong dollars (~RM8,600) per month,” he stated. It also won him the Best Newcomer in Malaysia award and ensured he was recognised as a TVB male artist.
Although Oscar clearly felt this was a major improvement, fans did not seem to think so. Several pointed out that the salary was “too low” with one even incredulously confirming: “A monthly salary of 15,000 Hong Kong dollars in 2019?”
However, the actor was quick to disagree and explained why. “It has always been like this, and it isn’t much better now,” he admitted. “But it is fair.” Oscar added that TVB was under a lot of pressure, mainly because it is one of the few TV stations that employs the most people from Asia in the world.
Oscar did agree however that as an artist, he wasn’t making much. “Don’t think you can make a lot of money as an artist,” he wryly warned. “That is not necessarily true.” But Oscar believes in cultivating oneself and gaining self-worth.
The actor has since moved on to developing his career in China. In recent years, he’s been working under the Shaw Brothers Pictures International Limited. Oscar has not mentioned his current earning salary. However, he certainly still seems happy to be acting!
Source: China Press
