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Name: Flora Chan Wai-shan

Birthplace: Hong Kong

Birthday: May 30

Occupation: Actress/singer

What have you been doing  recently? And what are your plans?

I've been recording my new album for quite a long time. There was a slight delay because on the day we were supposed to shoot pictures for the cover of the album the weather went bad, and in order to shoot better pictures we then had to schedule it for another day.

And there are two more songs to finish as well.

I've also been doing a couple of commercials.

Next month I'm going to shoot a new TV series and also do some promotion for my new album. This will involve quite a lot of work, including a show trip to Singapore.

I'll be very busy for the next few months.

As an ex-journalist, how  would you compare reporting  attitudes in Hong Kong and in  the US? (asked by YP reader Claudia from Taikoo Shing)

Actually I worked as a reporter for only a short time in the United States, doing mainly feature news, because I liked feature news. I did work as an entertainment reporter for Pearl when I first came back to Hong Kong in 1996. I remember back in the States when I had arranged to interview someone, I would try to find out as much  background about this particular person as I could. I guess it's important for a reporter to do more research.

What kind of news did you  mainly do back then?

I worked as a temporary reporter on one of the cable TV networks for around half a year. At that time I took a special interest in feature news instead of hard news.

How do you handle everyday stress?

Sometimes I stay alone at home at the end of the day and try to forget all the stresses and strains of the day time. I will listen to music, or, if I feel bored, I will call my friends to come over to my place for dinner. Or sometimes I will talk to my friends on the phone for hours on end to relax myself.

Did you ever imagine that  one day you would live such a  rich and eventful life when you  came back from Boston?

No, absolutely not. Actually I came back from Boston with nothing, and I had to start everything from scratch. I remember when I first came back I hardly spoke or read a Chinese character, let alone Putonghua, and that put me at a big disadvantage, especially when I wanted a job in the local media. I managed to handle Cantonese only after I started making TV dramas. But at last I was lucky enough to be given the opportunity to work for Pearl, because they just needed some new faces to join them. And I had a slight edge over others by       having worked as a reporter before, because most of those who had joined Pearl before me hadn't had much experience in front of cameras.

What gives you the energy and moviation to be so dynamic in the ruthless entertainment  world? (asked by YP reader Michelle via e-mail)

Well, first of all I am very interested in show business, and that motivates me to keep working. You can't survive if you don't like it at all, because you have to work around the clock and sometimes you can't even finish a proper meal. The only thing that can give you momentum is the love for the business. You must also be a highly motivated person. And it is the challenge of acting and singing that keeps me here, because you can always play a role in different dimensions and it often relies on the actor or actress to bring the role they play to life. And actually I enjoy the challenge. It is a business that you have to rely entirely on yourself.

If one day you feel like you  have enough of being an actress  or singer, what would you like  to do and why? (from YP reader Tiffany via e-mail)

Well, I think there will be a lot of uncertainties and everything is subject to change, therefore I prefer not to make any choice at this moment. I guess the most important thing is to stick to  what you have right now and to make good use of every single day. You must treasure everything you have achieved. I guess I will still be around in the business for quite a while therefore I will leave it to the future.

Do you prefer school life or  working life? Are students with good academic records more  likely to succeed? (from YP reader Gloria Ting via e-mail)

They are different stages in the life of a person. In retrospect, life back in school was pretty enjoyable and is a memory that I'll treasure for the rest of my life. However, as I grow up I also find working life pretty enjoyable because all the challenges that come up daily can give you life and energy. So basically you will have to do different things in different stages of your life. Therefore I would say I enjoy the time when I was in school, but as I grow up I also start to enjoy working.

I guess studying in university can help you discipline yourself. This is the most important thing that you can learn in any university. However, I do have some friends who haven't got a university degree but who also know how to discipline themselves through their work.

If you had a one-day holiday tomorrow, how would you spend it?

If I felt stressed out I guess I would just stay at home doing nothing. But if I felt really good I might come back to the studio and meet some friends I rarely have a chance to talk to.

Who are your favourite  actors and actresses? And what  are your favourite books? (from YP reader Stephanie via e-mail)

Well, actually I don't have any idol, but I would say I admire some actors and actresses like Robert De Niro and Meryl Streep. They are good by all accounts. As far as books are concerned, frankly I don't have any favourite writers. But I do like to read best-sellers, and I often choose a book to read on my friend's recommendation.

What would you be doing right  now if you had not joined the TV network?

I guess I would still be working in the media, probably as a journalist. I had always wanted to be a journalist since I was small. My father was a journalist and this inspired me throughout my childhood.

Go to the News and Stories section of http://ypost.scmp.com /entertainment for the full version of the Flora Chan interview.

Healing Hands  and was a medical/legal expert in  Untraceable Evidence.

Both turned out to be smash hits. Besides acting, Chan has also  ventured on stage as a singer.

In just a few short years Flora Chan has become a household name in Hong Kong - a name representing glamour and charm.



Busy career keeps Flora on the hop