Laughter Forever

Multiple facets of Sandra Ng

     Greedy people are never satisfied with status quo. Even if they have acquired a lot, they still yearn for more. But not Miss Sandra Ng Kwan Yu, an actress famous for her sparkling talents and unique personality.

     Said she: "I am very lucky. My life has been extremely smooth, without any major set-back."

     Sandra's gaiety originates from her simplicity and easy-contented-
ness.

     Sandra knows it quite well.

     To her, being an actress is just a profession. Never did she think that she would have any great achievement. Although Sandra has acted as various characters, she is still perceived by many as a comic actress. "I am very proud when being acclaimed as a successful comedian. It is never easy to make people laugh. That's why I am so welcomed by the audience," she added, chuckling.

     "At present, my biggest desire is to retire in my 40s. By then, with secure financial back-up, I can enjoy a leisured life and choose to do jobs that sound interesting to me," said Sandra with eyes full of optimism and anticipation.

     "Throughout all these years, I have never set specific goals or made deliberate calculations for myself.

     "Opportunities kept flushing in and what I did was just to grasp them," said the enviable Sandra.

     According to many, stardom is rooted in a sense of aloofness and mystery. To maintain their superior image, stars have to avoid, by all means, to be within the reach of the mass.

     In their opinion, Sandra's choice to become a radio personality must be an irreversible mistake.

     Sandra has her own theory. "I must stress one thing. Amassing people's support is exceedingly difficult. So, please stop criticizing that Jacky Cheung is too 'mass'. In fact, he is extraordinarily successful," she said.

     "I always do things following my heart, disregarding what other people may gossip about. Hosting radio programs, comparable to shooting films, is also part of my art life.

     In the past, the only thing I knew was to act. Now, I have a far better understanding of things happening around me. Why? I am reading three newspapers everyday. This does not only enrich the content of my programme, but also makes me full.

     In fact, more people are getting to know about me through the show. So, what should hinder me from accepting this offer?"

     At the time when the film industry was such a prospect, it was not surprising to find Sandra shooting twelve films in a single year.

     "It was vanity at work. You know, it is always delightful to hear people praising you," Sandra said with a bit of shyness in her eyes.

     "My life at that time was comparable to a factory lad, manufacturing standardized products day after day. I gradually felt tired with such a mode," Sandra said dryly.

     Her craving for a breakthrough brought about the four-episode film, Four Faces of Eve, in which Sandra put on multiple faces and went far away from her well-established character.

     Financially, this surreal movie was a complete failure. People in general do not think that Sandra has drawn the right line between dreams and reality.

     However, the shooting of Four Faces of Eve was a fascinating experience for Sandra.

     "The whole thing was quite indulgent. We did not want to be in the mainstream but we were not experienced enough to produce a good alternative.

     "But I never regret. Apart from widening the spectrum of roles I can take, Four Faces of Eve also brought along a few award nominations to me. This would not happen in the past, although I have shot more than 60 comedies," said Sandra.

     The lightness of her voice could not hide a sense of sarcasm.

     For Sandra, home is not only a place for rest, but the source of love and energy.

     She said, "My family life is very solid and makes me feel comfortable. The love from my family is so unconditional that I feel totally obliged to obey them. 

     "Frankly speaking, my parents were not good at bringing up children, but somehow we siblings did not go astray."

     In spite of such an intimate relationship, Sandra seldom exposes her gloomy side to her parents.

     She said, "As children, we have a responsibility not to make them sad and worried."

     Apart from providing a loving environment, Sandra's parents also left her with some priceless insights.

     "By looking at my parents, I realize that a married couple can love each other that much."

     With a mischievous look, Sandra added, "I have observed my mother for a very long while. I discovered that she sees through people and things. In fact, she is very bright, yet she intentionally chooses to be the foolish one. This 'selective intelligence' may be the key to maintaining a marriage."

     After working in showbiz for so many years, Sandra is now a veteran who knows the survival skills well.

     "Our industry is very realistic. When you succeed, people will rush in to give compliments, making you believe in your talents and competence. When failure comes, boos and discouragement will be forthcoming. However, you would be over-confident at that time and lay all the blame on fate and chance."

     "Now, I no longer give mind to those film critics," Sandra said, sounding serious, but following with a childish giggle, "Because they rarely criticize me!" A gag? Or is Sandra really so confident about herself?