Anne Heung

Anne Heung Hoi-lam (born 2 October 1974) is a Hong Kong-born Canadian actress and model, formerly under contract to the television station TVB. She's also aunt to fellow actor Vinci Wong. She left TVB in 2008 and currently resides in Shanghai.

Life & Career

Early Days & Hong Kong Pageant Competition

Anne was born in Hong Kong, but later went to Canada, where she studied economics at the University of British Columbia. She later returned to Hong Kong and competed in the Miss Hong Kong in 1998, where she was crowned and won three awards. She later represented Hong Kong in Miss Chinese International Pageant 1999 and was crowned the second runner up.^[1] She also competed in the international pageant, Miss Universe 1999, but did not place in the top 10 semifinalists. However, she did make the top 10 Miss Photogenic polls. Like many before her, the top ranking winners of the beauty pageant will be given an opportunity to contract with HK TVB and be promoted as one of their new featured actresses.

A Decade with TVB

Anne often starred in action, comedic, and political TVB drama series. She has starred in many drama series like Detective Investigation Files, Riches and Stitches, The Charm Beneath, Seed of Hope, and most notably The Legend of Lady Yang, in which she played Yang Guifei, the beloved consort of Emperor Xuanzong of Tang. While at first heavily promoted, Anne noticed a slow-down in potential roles and felt her value had diminished as she's placed in third-line roles by the 2007's. By 2008, she had no jobs available for nearly four months and when she finally had an available role, it was an executive position; she'll be sitting most of the time. Feeling under-valued and her career had peaked with TVB, she began to look elsewhere for new career opportunities. After completing her TVB filming commitments, Anne quietly parted ways with TVB.

Retirement & New Paths

After retiring from TVB, Anne decided to venture into business. Anne is friends with 1977's HK pageant winner, Loletta Chu. With the help of Loletta's businessman husband, Vincent Lo, Anne worked under the couple's property development company in Shanghai and later used her own funds to start her own wedding planning company. Although she left the entertainment industry, she is still remembered. Several media companies and businesses had approached Anne to work for them; she would also occasionally appear on media, non-acting roles such as food tourism, commercials, and being a spokesperson for a beauty salon in between her public relations work. However, it wasn't until recently she seriously considered making a return to acting.^[2]

Possible Comeback

In a recent interview in mid-2014, Anne expressed interest in returning to acting for TVB if the role is right for her.^[3]

Awards

• 1998 Miss Hong Kong Pageant - Miss Hospitality
• 1998 Miss Hong Kong Pageant - Universal Beauty Award
• 1998 Miss Hong Kong Pageant - Miss Photogenic

Filmography

• Detective Investigation Files IV (1999)
• The Legend of Lady Yang (2000)
• Legendary Four Aces (2000)
• Love is Beautiful (2001)
• Seven Sisters (2001)
• The Stamp of Love (2001)
• Golden Faith (2002)
• Life Begins at Forty (2003)
• Perish in the Name of Love (2003)
• Riches and Stitches (2003)
• Seed of Hope (2003)
• The W Files (2003)
• Hidden Treasures (2004)
• Love Bond (2005)
• The Charm Beneath (2005)
• Bar Bender (2006)
• Au Revoir Shanghai (2006)
• Face to Fate (2006)
• Devil's Disciples (2007)
• Best Bet (2007)
• Fathers and Sons (2007)
• The Building Blocks of Life (2007)

References