‘Sometimes I am in a daze and hide’: 1.5 million follow Hong Kong movie star Tony Leung after he says ‘I am not that special’ in quirky social media message
- The fiercely private In the Mood for Love star’s low-profile approach to social media may require a rethink thanks to a self-deprecating online message
- A reflective, 44-second video clip posted by Leung on the Douyin platform has created a massive new army of online followers
Sexagenarian Hong Kong actor Tony Leung Chiu-wai has become an instant hit on mainland Chinese social media after he posted an introspective 44-second message on the short-video app, Douyin.
While delivering his message, Leung stands in front of a white curtain and is accompanied by background music from arguably his most famous film – director Wong Kar-wai’s 2000 blockbuster In the Mood for Love – which netted him the Best Actor award at both the Cannes Film Festival and the Hong Kong Film Awards.
The video saw 750,000 followers flock to him in just six hours, a number which had reached 1.5 million by Tuesday morning.
In the self-deprecating message, Leung describes himself as “not that special”.
“Sometimes I may be in a daze and choose to hide myself. You might think I can speak with my eyes because I am not good at expressing myself with words,” the actor said.