Veteran Hong Kong film star Tony Leung urged to make way for younger talent by top city movie director, sparking debate
- ‘In the Mood for Love’ star picks up his 6th gong at recent Hong Kong Film Awards
- Director says fostering young talent vital to keeping movie industry on track
Multiple-award-winning Hong Kong actor Tony Leung Chiu-wai has been told to make way for younger talent after picking up his latest award at the city’s recent film awards.
Leung, 61, was crowned best actor at the 42nd Hong Kong Film Awards on April 14 for his performance in the film The Goldfinger. It is the sixth time he has won the award.
However, fellow Hong Kong film industry luminary, director Wong Jing, said it is time for Leung to step aside in favour of the younger generation.
Wong’s comments, made a day after the awards, have sparked a heated debate on mainland social media.
Wong said on Weibo that he attended the ceremony to show his support for the Hong Kong Film Awards.
After commenting on several other award winners, Wong took aim at Leung’s acting in The Goldfinger, saying it was not his best performance.
“He overacts a bit, much worse than his restrained performances in the films Lust, Caution and 2046,” said Wong.
“If I were Leung, I would follow the famous Hong Kong actors and singers Alan Tam Wing-lun and Leslie Cheung Kwok-wing who, decades ago, said they would stop accepting awards to give opportunities to the younger generation,” he added.
Leung was not at the ceremony because he was shooting a film overseas. His wife and actress Carina Lau Kar-ling accepted the award on his behalf.
Leung enjoys enormous popularity in both Hong Kong and the mainland for his exceptional acting skills and his “melancholic” eyes.
His previous five wins at the Hong Kong showpiece film industry event were for Chungking Express in 1995, Happy Together in 1998, In the Mood for Love in 2001, Infernal Affairs in 2003 and 2046 in 2005.
Last year, he won a Golden Lion for Lifetime Achievement award at the 80th Venice Film Festival.
Wong, 68, is an accomplished Hong Kong film director and has produced a string of blockbusters such as 1989’s God of Gamblers starring Chow Yun-fat and Andy Lau Tak-wah and the 1992 film Royal Tramp which starred Stephen Chow Sing-chi.
Wong’s remarks have been viewed 90 million times on Weibo and 8 million times on Douyin.
“I agree with Wong. If old stars give up accepting awards it will give young actors and actresses more chance and serve as encouragement for the young,” one online observer said.
“Wong Jing is considering the prospects for the whole of Hong Kong’s entertainment sector. If young actors lack motivation, Hong Kong show business won’t have a bright future,” said another.
Others took a different view, with one saying: “Young actors should fight for the award by themselves, instead of relying on the ‘surrender’ of others.”
