Whispers of the Stars
My Life as a Star
Article written by Yung Mei Ling
When I was in secondary school, I lived in the UK. After so many years there, it still felt like a place where I didn’t truly belong. Though my mother had settled there permanently, and it had become a second home for me, the word "guest" lingered in my mind. With my dark hair, yellow skin, and a mouth full of "foreign" speech, I could never fully integrate—let alone feel a sense of belonging.
It was, after all, a foreigner’s country. Everyone around me had red beards and green eyes (so to speak), and no matter how long I lived there, it remained an alien land to me.
Yet, when I first returned to Hong Kong, my heart was still uneasy. In the UK, at least I had my mother by my side, taking care of everything—even allowing me to throw tantrums and act a little spoiled. It was a familiar environment, and whether I fit in or not, familiarity never brought fear. But coming back to Hong Kong, the place I was supposed to call home, felt strangely foreign. I had to start all over again.
At first, I gave myself a two-year "trial period." During that time, I was determined to make my way here, no matter what. Entering the Miss Hong Kong pageant was part of that "give it a shot" mentality—I believed life was about trying new things, and winning wasn’t the main point.
Making it into the top 15 finalists and being invited by TVB to host Women’s New Attitude solidified my decision to stay and build a career in Hong Kong. Before the two-year mark even passed, I had gained invaluable experiences and was eager to keep going. Then, when I landed the role of Wong Yung (in The Legend of the Condor Heroes), I knew I couldn’t just pack up and return to the UK. In Hong Kong, I now had my own career, my own friends, and a lifestyle that suited me.
My way of life is deeply tied to my job and my circle. I never dreamed I’d become a celebrity, let alone that working in television would be like this—days and nights flipped upside down, endless work hours (if you could even call it a schedule). I went from being someone who couldn’t even wrangle a chicken to wielding swords and playing a martial arts heroine. After work, there were banquets and events, mingling with people from all walks of life. The hardest part was mustering the patience to endure sensationalized gossip.
In my life, there’s no such thing as a 9-to-5 routine, not even a fixed salary—but I love it. It’s exhausting, but vibrant. Hong Kong’s charm lies in how it allows people to pour their energy into creating a dazzling society. Seeing the city’s progress now, compared to what I remember from over a decade ago, is like night and day.
I believe Hong Kong will continue to thrive, even under the so-called "shadow of uncertainty." Maybe that’s just my wishful thinking—but there’s no use over analyzing it. All we can do is focus on doing our best.
星星私语
我的明星生涯
中学时，我住在英国。尽管在那里生活了许多年，却始终觉得自己是个异乡人。虽然母亲早已定居，那里也算我的第二个家，但“客居”之感从未消散——黑头发、黄皮肤、满口“洋文”，无论如何也融入不了那个红须绿眼的国度。那终究是别人的地方。
然而，刚回香港时，我同样忐忑不安。在英国，至少有母亲在身边打点一切，容我任性发脾气，环境也熟悉——无论是否归属，熟悉的事物总不会让人恐惧。可回到本该属于我的香港，一切反而陌生，必须从头开始。
起初，我给自己定了两年“试验期”，决心无论如何也要在这里闯一闯。参选港姐，其实也是抱着“试试看”的心态——人生贵在尝试，当选与否反在其次。后来入围十五强，获无线邀请主持《妇女新姿》，更坚定了我留港发展的念头。未满两年，我已收获宝贵经验，自然乐意继续尝试。直到饰演黄蓉后，我明白自己不可能再抽身回英国了——在香港，我有了事业、朋友和属于自己的生活方式。
这种生活与职业、朋友密不可分。我从未梦想成为明星，更没想到电视行业竟是如此：昼夜颠倒的工作（如果这算“作息”的话），从手无缚鸡之力到挥刀舞剑演侠女，收工后还要应付宴会应酬，面对各色人群。最煎熬的是需以极大耐力对抗那些耸人听闻的炒作新闻。我的生活没有朝九晚五，甚至没有固定薪水，但我热爱这份透支体力的多彩——香港的可爱，正在于它允许人们倾尽所能，共同打造这座璀璨都市。如今的香港，与我十几年前所见早已天差地别。
即便在所谓“前途阴霾”下，我仍相信香港会继续繁荣。或许这只是我一厢情愿的期许，但多想无益，尽力做好本分便是。
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