Actress-singer Joyce Cheng Yan-yee, the daughter of late comedian Lydia Sum Tin-ha and actor Adam Cheng Siu-chow, had a bumpy start to her show business career. Poked fun at by audiences from an early age because of her weight, Cheng fought for years to make it as an actress, despite being a talented singer.
In 2008 she made her acting debut in the TVB sitcom Off Pedder. Her new drama, 7 Days in Life, is receiving positive feedback. The 23-year-old recently launched her singing career with the successful release of her first Canto-pop album.
Tell us about your debut album
I stepped out of my comfort zone to try Canto-pop songs. I listen more to R&B music. The first single shows a side of me that I've tried not to show before. Singing it forces me to shed my armour and put myself in a vulnerable place. It's both challenging and therapeutic. You don't often show a weakness like that or find a way to channel that sort of negative energy. When I sing that song, it's like I'm getting it all out of my system.
What do you want to achieve with this album?
Any artist would be very happy to receive an award for their work. But for me, that's just icing on the cake. What I want to achieve most is to gain recognition as a singer. I think a lot of people recognise me because of my background, but they are not sure whether I'm an actress, a singer, a host or a comedian.