Gillian Chung

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Gillian Chung Yan-tung (born 21 January 1981) is a Hong Kong-based actress and singer. She is best known as a member of the Cantopop group Twins, alongside Charlene Choi.

Biography

Chung was born in Hong Kong as Chung Dik-saan. It was later changed since the character Dik (狄) was believed to be too strong. So her family renamed her as Chung Ka-lai. At the age of 1, her father died. She initially grew up in a single parent family until her mother later remarried when Chung herself was in high school. Chung is a graduate of Kowloon True Light Middle School and briefly attended William Angliss in Melbourne, Australia.[6] She was given the English name Gillian while in high school.

Career

Early years

In 2000, one of the model agencies that Chung worked for as part-time while in HK contacted Chung about a job opportunity offered by Emperor Entertainment Group (EEG). She accepted the offer in 2000, becoming a contracted artist, and underwent training before her debut.She was advised to adopt Chung Yan-tung as a stage name by her manager Mani Fok, after consulting with fortune tellers. The name was supposed to enhance her business abilities. On 18 May 2001, the management company assigned her to form a singing duo, Twins with Charlene Choi. They released their first album three months later.

Solo-acting

Chung made her solo-acting film début in U Man, which was released in 2002 and has since proven her acting skills in a number of films like Beyond Our Ken which earned her critical acclaim as well as a nomination for Best Actress in the Gam Zhi Ging Awards.

In the film Beyond Our Ken (2004), Chung played Chan Wai Ching, a spurned girlfriend of the eponymous Ken. The film had its world premiere at the Tokyo International Film Festival and took HK$3,886,355 at the box office. By January 2006, the film 49 Days had exceeded the HK$10 million (US$1.28 million) mark, earning a spot in one of Hong Kong's best box office films for 2006.

2006 invasion of privacy incident

During a Twins concert in Genting Highlands, Malaysia, a reporter surreptitiously photographed Chung in the changing room. On 22 August 2006, Easy Finder published the photos as a cover story. Hong Kong celebrities such as Jackie Chan and Andy Lau staged a public protest denouncing the magazine. The Obscene Articles Tribunal classified the published photographs as "indecent". On 1 November 2006, Easy Finder lost its appeal against the obscenity ruling. The appeal panel declaring the article was a "calculated act of selling sexuality which is corrupting and revolting". Jimmy Lai, founder of Next Media (Easy Finder's publisher), apologized to Chung and offered to return all the negatives.

2008 photo incident

In January and February 2008 sexually explicit photos of Edison Chen with a number of Hong Kong starlets were released on-line. The scandal involved Chung, as well as Bobo Chan and Cecilia Cheung amongst others. These tarnished her "squeaky-clean image", and she apologized to the public for being naive and silly. Her subsequent TV appearance on Jade Solid Gold triggered over 500 complaints to TVB, while Hong Kong Broadcasting Authority received over 1200. Other promotion events were cancelled.

She was dropped from performing in the 2008 Summer Olympics Opening Ceremony by director Zhang Yimou. She was originally set to appear in Chen Kaige's film Mei Lanfang and Oliver Stone's W., but her scenes were left on the cutting room floor.

Post-scandal career

Return to industry

After withdrawing from public for more than a year following the incident and later confessed to having contemplated suicide, apologising for hurting those around her, especially her long time band mate Choi. During the hiatus, she took classes in many areas, such as kung-fu gymnastics and acting, which she hoped would serve her professionally. In March 2009 she participated in an episode of Be My Guest to talk about the scandal. Though the episode received 679 public complaints. Afterwards she returned to work as spokesperson for TOUGH Jeansmith in the Asia region with a seven-figure pay-check. She flew to Taiwan, Shanghai, and other places for promotion. In July 2009, it was disclosed that she would get a 7-figure sum for the endorsement of botox treatment clinic, Dr. Pro. She also appeared on stage in an adaptation of Neil Simon's I Ought to Be in Pictures, produced by Emperor Concerts, part of EEG, for a budget of HK$2 million. She still continues to receive endorsements including Veva mobile phones, JazBeer, Eruner, Elne and Chung Yuen Electrical.

Silent expression art

On 13 September 2009 Chung showcased an emotional performance art video at the Harbin Ice Snow World carnival singing competition The silent video, previously filmed in Hong Kong, was shown at the fair lasting 8 minutes 43 seconds. The video showed Gillian Chung switch from laughing to crying. This attraction drew hundreds of visitors each day. Many in the audience thought that Chung used the art expression to reveal her apologetic attitude However the video was only meant to show how attitudes are expressed through art, according to artist and video creator Jiang Zhi.

Début solo album

On 27 March 2010, Chung released her début solo EP, which was sold as part of the package of Twins' fourth compilation album (人人彈起). The EP includes six songs, including début solo single More Hearts (心多) that was released a year prior to the album release.

Films

2002 U Man Candy

Summer Breeze of Love Kammy

If U Care.. Gillian

Just One Look

2003 Happy Go Lucky

Colour of the Truth

The Twins Effect Gypsy

The Spy Dad

The Death Curse Linda Ting

2004 Fantasia

Protege de la Rose Noire

Love on the Rocks Mandy

Moving Targets

The Twins Effect II Blue Bird

Beyond Our Ken Ching

6 AM

2005 House of Fury Natalie Yue

Bug Me Not! Auntie/Master

2006 49 Days Siu Chin

2007 Eastern Legend

Twins Mission (aka Let's Steal Together) Pearl

Naraka 19 Rain

Trivial Matters Wai

Rough Addiction

2010 Just Another Pandora's Box Sun Shangxiang

Ex

The Fantastic Water Babes

Super Player

Television series

2001 The Monkey King: Quest for the Sutra Purple Rose

2003 All About Boy'z Tina

2004 Kung Fu Soccer Guest star

Sunshine Heartbeat

2006 Fox Volant of the Snowy Mountain Cheng Lingsu

2007 The Spirit of the Sword

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