Beijing Youth Weekly Special Edition (July 01st, 2007) commemorating the return of Hong Kong SAR to China [1997-2007]. Scanned article is courtesy of Megan@Gallen Baidu Board. Thank you Megan!
Read this article in Vietnamese
Gallen Lo Ka Leung - The New Good Man of Hong Kong ShowBiz
Our mutual friend, Tian Hai Rong, introduced us. She was his co-star in their TV soap “Permutation”
Gallen’s manager arranged for us to meet at a quiet and elegantly furnished eatery near Wan-chai. The time was thoughtfully set in the late afternoon, when not many people would frequent the place. Gallen was absolutely punctual. He walked into the restaurant in white shirt and a beige khaki, effortlessly charming. He purposely brought along two more outfits, so that I would have more options when it was time for the photos. Personally I think Gallen is most dashing in business suit, but the casual outfits would do just as fine, especially when Gallen looked totally at home in them.
Image courtesy of Beijing Youth
Prior to our appointment, Gallen had taken care to ask for some sort of “agenda” from me through his manager. He was afraid his Mandarin was still raw, and had wanted a chance to prepare before hand. Of course I didn’t exactly follow the so-called agenda, and occasionally Gallen would say “You’ve mentioned that you’d like to know…” He was serious about doing his “homework”, indeed.
Gallen gave me the feeling of being somewhat a shy man. He smiled every so often, and once or twice avoided my eyes. Another mutual friend, a producer named Choi, would certainly back me up on this point. She had told me that Gallen is very “pure”, while Hai Rong said on more than one occasion “Gallen is very “well-behaved”!” What Hai Rong wanted to mention was the time the two of them filmed “Permutation”, where Gallen was expected to throw his star power around the set. Quite on the contrary, he was extremely cooperative if not too obedient to all the requests made by the soap’s director and producer. A very well-behaving student! Gallen smiled admittedly but added that he benefited more from being “good”. Back to the days when he had just started stepping down the entertainment business, he had listened obediently to a recommendation which steered the path from singing to acting. It was a single key change! 1996, TVB’s Cold Blood Warm Heart shot his name to fame.
As his career just reached high point, Gallen decided to walk into the marriage hall with his long-lasting first love. He smiled again “I’m not an “idol” actor by any chance. I don’t think the audience would turn their backs on me!”
“But you’ve since become an idol for so many fans. Your image is indeed very attractive. Has it ever crossed your mind that the reason behind your first audition might well be your look?”
“You couldn’t possibly use the adjective “attractive” on me, especially back then. I was very thin, tall, and almost hunch-backed. Well, it’s good to be obedient, as I ate everything people suggested. I started gaining more weight, became fitter.”
Image courtesy of Beijing Youth
The strongest impression Gallen left in me was his “Yip Wing Tim” in ATE - shrew and cunning. Has he learned many tricks of the trade from playing Tim? “No, my understanding on business and trading is by no mean deep enough. If I have to use them, I shall surely set myself for disastrous failure.” He doesn’t keep up with all the technologies involved in trading nowadays. He isn’t even into computers and games. His free time is devoted to a few hobbies, one being a sound system. At home he has a sophisticate set-up. Gallen loves music and is admittedly a fan of classical.
In Hong Kong showbiz, there is not much rumors about Gallen and his co-stars, and he agrees with this. He did not, however, deny that as a normal person, one could easily develop feelings for his/her co-stars in the process of filming. After all, they were lovers in the drama itself. At instants like these, one has to use his/her rationality to battle emotions, and to jump back into reality as soon as possible. “Fortunately, I have a busy filming schedule and it’s always one drama immediately after another, so I won’t have the time and opportunity to bring forward my emotions for the previous drama.”
Gallen commented smilingly that subjectively and objectively he did not have the conditions required to breed his emotions.
Off screen, his emotional life has been uneventful. The decision to give up his bachelorhood came quickly and naturally, as did his decision to become a proud parent. His son will soon turn seven. Work has kept Gallen from being with his son all the time, but their relationship is an affectionate one.
As for his take in life, Gallen shares Julian Cheung Chi-lam’s feeling. A loving wife, a playful son, and great health for his parents are all that Gallen wishes for. There is nothing more gratifying than the warm scene of three generations gathering around the dinner table on New Year’s Eve.
He is whom I would call the new good man. Gallen smiled embarrassedly as I told him so, but it’s really nothing new! My Hong Kong colleagues have given him the same tittle, the good guy of HK showbiz, for quite a while.
Wang Jiang Yue, reporter of Beijing Youth Weekly [BQ]
This is an article in the special edition of BQ, commemorating the 10th anniversary of the HK-SAR’s handover [July 1, 1997 - July 1, 2007].
My special thanks to sis Megan for the scanned article, and to my sister Mouse for helping me with part of the translation [The part where Gallen spoke about co-stars, in blue. I didn't want to take any risk with that highly sensitive part, naturally!]
Hope you enjoy the article!
::: Mimosa :::
