Sandra Ng
With a career spanning more than two decades, award-winning actress/comedienne Sandra Ng is a beloved figure on Hong Kong’s screens. She has appeared in a string of Hong Kong cinema classics such as “Golden Chicken” and “Echoes of the Rainbow,” and is the voice of Mrs. Mc in the animated “McDull” film series. The humble and charming screen veteran talks to Penny Zhou about childhood, career and the downside of being labeled a “funny lady.”
Although my dad [famous TV host Kenneth Ng] worked in showbiz, my childhood was incredibly normal and our household wasn’t very wealthy. It wasn’t poor, either, not like the family you see in “Echoes of the Rainbow” [a 2010, 1960s-set drama starring Ng], which depicts the era I grew up in.
Dad was extremely hard-working and would take on several jobs at the same time. I didn’t get to see him that much but every Sunday the family would do something together. We have very good relationships in our family.
Back in school I was neither a good student nor a rebel. I liked dancing so I’d represent the school in dance competitions, but I wasn’t the type of kid that would seek the limelight, not at all.
I never thought about becoming an actress as a kid. My mom basically forced me into it. She thought I had the talent and right personality for a career in showbiz. Plus, a Chinese fortune-teller told her that I’d be very successful if I chose this path.
She first wanted me to enter the Miss Hong Kong Pageant, to which I responded with “Give me a break!” So she suggested I go to acting school, which I did. I always know my own limitations very well, what I am and what I’m not. And I think that’s a good thing.
When my career first started, I did a few conventional, lady-like female roles. But one time people saw me on a variety show and thought I was funny, so I began to get parts in comedies. My first big comic role was in “The Inspector Wears Skirts” (1988), which was a success.
At the beginning I wasn’t confident about my acting skills at all. But it got better over time. After all, I’m an open and cheerful person by nature, so it wasn’t a huge stretch for me to act funny on screen.
I think to have a good sense of humor, firstly you have to be born with funny genes, then you have to be mean, and finally, you need to be very observant.
I have a lot of favorite comedians, such as Siao Fong-fong, Eric Tsang and Stephen Chow. In mainland China there are comedians with very distinctive styles, like Ge You. They’re all great. I watch all of their movies.
Making people laugh is not an easy task. Every time I work in a comedy, I try very hard to figure out new ways and better ways to do it. Professionally it’s a good thing because the pressure polishes my chops. But off screen, it’s such a pain that people always expect me to be like my characters, and I have to put on this “funny lady” persona all the time. If I’m not being funny, people think I’m sick or upset.
Another tragic truth is that my screen image makes guys think I’m a crazy, wacky girl in real life, too. It’s not that much of a problem now but when I was a young woman I had a tough dating life. All the boys were after pretty, elegant girls, and didn’t think I was their type.
Pulling pranks on set? Oh yeah, I did it so many times back in the day, especially with Eric Tsang. He liked to nap between takes so we’d draw things on his face. Another popular one is stealing your co-stars’ shoes during long flights when we shoot abroad. They got me back hard many times, too. Once on a trip to Canada, I had to hold my shoes in my arms throughout the whole flight because I was afraid someone in the cast would steal them. It was a wise move, though—there were people walking out of that plane barefoot!
Thinking back, we were really childish. But those were good times.
Motherhood has made me a mellower, calmer and much more patient person. I guess that also makes me less funny.
When I was a student I really disliked school. Now I have a daughter, I have to go through it all over again. I often feel like the universe is punishing me for not studying hard back then! But as a result of helping my daughter’s language learning, my English and Mandarin have improved so much.
My daughter’s personality is totally like her father’s. She’s very cool-headed and a bit introverted, and she thinks a lot. I often wonder what’s going on in her little head.
I’m afraid of getting Alzheimer’s, so when I’m not working I want to be learning something to keep my brain sharp. Doctors say that the best way to avoid Alzheimer’s is to play mahjong, but I don’t like it. I was learning the piano on and off for years, so when my daughter turned six I signed her up for piano classes, and now we can practice together.
I don’t think I’ll ever retire from the screen. I love acting too much to quit. I want to keep doing it till I die.
