5 of Hong Kong star Charmaine Sheh’s most memorable performances, from Line Walker to War and Beauty
Charmaine Sheh Sze-man, one of Hong Kong’s most popular TV actresses, is back making show business headlines for her performance in new TVB drama The Queen of News, which has been garnering rave reviews, locally and in mainland China.
The drama, which focuses on the independence and enterprising working spirit of women in the news industry, has scored 8.1 (out of 10) on Douban, the Chinese review aggregator website.
Shen plays senior TV news anchor Man Wai-sum, who is capable and ambitious, and has climbed the career ladder from newcomer to management with her ability and determination.
“Her body language, the frown, the raised eyebrows and the glare, the tone of her voice, and the subtle but expressive micro-expressions all make her look like a real news anchor,” writes one poster on Zhihu, the Chinese equivalent to Q&A site Quora.
“Sheh shows us a woman’s beauty comes from her inner self-confidence, her strength, and her own unquestionable and irreplaceable professional abilities,” writes another.
Sheh came second runner-up in the 1997 Miss Hong Kong beauty pageant before embarking on her award-winning acting career with Hong Kong broadcaster TVB.
She has played many different characters – from the innocent to the scheming – and is known as a pillar of TVB.
She has also sustained until now the record of winning the most TVB Anniversary Awards – 11 in total.
Here are five of Sheh’s memorable performances.
1. The Heaven Sword and Dragon Sabre (2001)
This TV drama was adapted from Louis Cha’s famous martial arts novel of the same title. It describes a young man involved in a power struggle between different martial arts sects. He discovers his heritage, encounters love interests, and engages in intense battles.
Sheh plays Chow Chi-yeuk, one of this drama’s two female lead characters. Chow Chi-yeuk’s personality undergoes huge changes as the plots develops, which tests her ability and results in an unforgettable performance.
2. War and Beauty (2004)
War and Beauty remains one of the most popular TVB dramas. It sparked an overwhelming response from audiences and was given a high rating, peaking at 44 points. It is also seen as the first palace intrigue drama in Hong Kong, and inspired many follow-up dramas, both in Hong Kong and mainland China.
The story narrates the fight between concubines in a harem and shows the bright and dark sides of human nature. The story is set in Beijing’s Forbidden City during the Qing dynasty, but it reflects real-life issues and warns about the distortion of human nature by power.
Sheh plays an imperial concubine, a woman who enters the palace to repay her foster father for her upbringing. Sheh won the My Favourite Character category in TVB’s 37th anniversary awards, and best the best actress and favourite character awards from Malaysia’s Astro TV.
3. Beyond the Realm of Conscience (2009)
This TV drama tells the story of Lau Sam-ho, a maid in the Imperial Palace, beginning with her experiences in the Imperial Household Bureau. Sheh plays Lau Sam-ho and her character’s catchphrase: “Speak good words, do good deeds, show goodwill”, became a famous line for many years, reminding people to keep kindness in their hearts.
The final episode received a 50-point rating and the drama was TVB’s most-viewed series in 2009. Sheh won the award for most beloved Asian star at the Seoul International Drama Awards, and Hong Kong best star for her performance.
4. Line Walker (2014)
The story follows an undercover police officer named Ding Siu-Ka (played by Sheh) who grew up in a red-light district and is assigned to help find several unidentified undercover agents. She tries to find a way to survive among the chaotic gang wars and confrontations between police and robbers.
Sheh received great acclaim for her role, and set a record by winning the most TVB awards for one drama.
5. Story of Yanxi Palace (2018)
This story was one of the most popular palace intrigue dramas in recent years. It was streamed over 15 billion times and distributed in more than 70 markets worldwide. It follows a palace maid’s struggles in the Qianlong Emperor’s court.
Sheh played Hoifa-Nara Shushen, a charming and sophisticated concubine. Her performance boosted Sheh’s popularity with a younger generation of viewers in mainland China.
