Grace Chan: “I Will Use Criticism to Build Confidence”
Grace Chan (陳凱琳) was more than ready to set aside her stresses for the day to take a walk around the Lunar New Year Fair, a festival held on the last week of every lunar year. The former Miss Hong Kong was recognized when she visited the fair, but the 25-year-old didn’t mind the attention at all, and happily chatted and took photographs with her fans.
“[The first time] I visited the fair was in 2013, after I competed in the pageant,” shared Grace. “I went with my dad. No one really knew who I was then, so I felt very free. It’s definitely a different atmosphere now. I can feel everyone’s passion and enthusiasm, and it makes me really happy. It still feels like a miracle.”
Grace said she once thought of putting up her own vendor in the fair to sell eggettes. “Just imagine a couple—the girl is holding a bag of eggettes, and the boy is helping her hold her boba tea. It’s so sweet and romantic! The thought of it just makes me so happy!”
Spends Lunar New Year with Kevin Cheng’s Family
The 25-year-old Brother’s Keeper II <巨輪II> star has been dating 47-year-old Kevin Cheng (鄭嘉穎) for two years. The couple are publicly affectionate, and are often a popular topic to cover among tabloids. Asking Grace if Kevin would walk the fair with her, Grace laughed and said, “It’s going to be a vain attempt. He’s completely not interested. I’d just go with my mother and aunt.” (Not even if you ask him?) “To be honest, entertainers like us tend to avoid crowded places. I am pretty much walking to my death right now! Haha!”
Grace and Kevin spent their Lunar New Year’s Eve together, eating dinner with their families. The actress is not worried about Kevin’s parents pressuring her to marry into the family, saying, “His mother is very happy that we are in a very stable relationship. It is blissful thing—to have the opportunity for us to get together whenever we can.” (Does Kevin’s mother recognize you as the family’s daughter-in-law?) “I would hope so! I wouldn’t want her to dislike me, right?”
Wants a Casual Beach Wedding
Last year, Grace’s seniors such as Linda Chung (鐘嘉欣), Tavia Yeung (楊怡), and Eliza Sam (岑麗香) have individually announced their marriages. Asking Grace if she had ever dreamt about her own marriage, the 25-year-old said, “I am still very young. Marriage is a huge step in life but it’s still something that many girls would dream about in the future.”
Grace doesn’t want a huge wedding or ball. She prefers a quieter, more intimate celebration, inviting only close friends and family to witness the event. “Maybe a small wedding at the beach, so we can play in the sand. There’s no need to look really official and serious. I want everyone to be more free and casual.”
Would she consider a “flash wedding” with Kevin? The actress said, “I don’t know, but it wouldn’t come suddenly. Everything would have been planned out. It wouldn’t be a big party.”
Learns How to Let Go of Criticism
2016 was a whirlwind year for Grace. Receiving negative remarks on her acting in dramas such as Blue Veins <殭> and Brother’s Keeper II, Grace was also teased when she uttered the wrong Chinese idiom during a live broadcast for the TVB Anniversary Gala.
“I’ve started to realize that no matter how well or bad you do, you’ll always get different feedback,” she said. “Hopefully they can build up my courage.”
Taking criticism seriously, and not personally, is not an easy task. The angry comments were hard to face at first, but Grace has learned to let them go. “The more people notice you, the more stress you have to take, but it can also be seen as an encouragement. You have to use it to better yourself, so you can be the right role model for those who support you. Some are constructive criticism, but some are there for the sole purpose of hurting you. I rarely read comments by netizens, but I will intently listen to the words said by producers and actors, because [their words] give me a positive direction to run toward.”
On her plans for 2017, Grace said she will continue to focus on her career, and work on improving her performance. She shared that she will be spending the next six months filming the TVB epic drama My Ages Apart <跨時代>, which stars Bobby Au-yeung (歐陽震華), Moses Chan (陳豪), Maggie Shiu (邵美琪), Kristal Tin (田蕊妮), and Louis Cheung (張繼聰).
At the mention of her hilarious mistake at the TVB Anniversary Gala last year, Grace said, “There is no human who doesn’t make mistakes. I’ve said something wrong, and I can’t take it back. But I’m glad that people are having so much fun with it. In that case, it was pretty successful!”
Source: Mingpao
This article is written by Addy for JayneStars.com.
I guess my eyes are deceiving me but Grace looks a lot rounder inm thos two pixs. Maybe it is the camera angle. She would not be preggers. Oh no, as she only holds Kevin’s hand being a devouted christain and all. Lol
“I rarely read comments by netizens” keep hiding and don’t face reality… the end it’s the viewers who watches you not the actors or producers, she terrible after many series she starred in she must have been listening to crappy actors and producers all this time. Still no improvement, such a pity even Kevin can’t save her.
Has she ever own up to her shortcomings? It seems like she always dodge the blame. Once, just once say “Yes, I used the wrong four-words phrase because I was nervous or green.” I respect her more for that then saying, “well, shoot, humans make mistakes.” Woman, no one said you’re not human xD
It’s good not to dwell on criticism but it’s a whole other thing to be arrogant. Netizens can be out there, but they’re not always wrong. For her to dismiss them is a bad choice and can potentially be a career killer.
@jjwong this woman has hardly improved…having an uncle as a boyfriend plus her turbo mouth will only make things worse. seriously, what does she see in kevin cheng? he is ageing rapidly and for someone his age, he has played the field and now wants kids and a wife to wait for him at home.
@janet72 Okay, Of course we all have different perspectives in life. You don’t have to love someone the same age as you. I’m not saying they look like a good couple, but in love, age doesn’t matter. Maybe you had some drawbacks in your past relationships, but once again age doesn’t matter that much in a relationship.
Won’t be surprised if Kevin Cheng is telling Grace to ignore netizens comments and she obediently obliges.
If grace was still in the ‘states, i wonder if she would really date a 47 years old man.
20+ yrs is a huge disparity. honestly kevin is really starting to look his age. she’s in her prime now and still have many more yrs to go, but he’s frankly declining.
you can tell she still has some immature and childish inclinations, which is totally normal for her age, but for a guy in his late 40s, just how much of it can he accept?
no matter how i dice it, they don’t look compatible.
the only couple i think could work out long term in spite of the age difference is Raymond & Karena. Karena is very mature and she comes off that way too. not true of Grace & Kevin though.
@coralie
I don’t know where you are getting Karena is mature from. More likely that Raymond is immature so are are currently compatible.
@jimmyszeto i’ve seen her interviews and saw how she responds to interviews and her general demeanor. i think she has pretty high EQ and she doesn’t let things get to her (on the outside at least.) i used to not like her, but have changed my mind since. if you’re curious about her, you can google or YT her and see what i mean.
@coralie
Raymond & Karen got alot of hate comments in there early dating stage. Even after 2 years of dating they still get lots of criticism. So no difference to these 2.
There will always be haters.
@1nit yeah i was one of the haters. i thought Raymond was some perverted uncle and karena some gold-digger. i mean, that could still be true lol, but at the very least, she comes off as a very genuine, down-to-earth woman who can handle the press and the stress.
@coralie Yes I agree. I have seen some of Karena’s interviews and she does sound very mature (for her age) in them and she does seem to have quite high EQ in the way how she responds to the media when she’s asked about rumours and whatnot. Also, she does come off as a pretty genuine and down-to-earth person. However, I still don’t like her because in a way she’s just like Grace. She gained fame and popularity because she started dating Raymond. If it wasn’t for Raymond, I bet no one would even know who she is. Karena also isn’t a great actress either. I’ve seen her in a few movies and her acting is even worse than Grace. She’s pretty much got no talent at all. She can’t sing or act and all her movies have been major flops. She’s just good for being known as Raymond’s gf. I don’t even know why she’s still in the entertainment industry. And to be honest, I don’t find Karena to be that pretty either. She’s looks like most average Hong Kong girls, nothing special.
But one thing I give Karena credit for is at least she knows how to talk and handle the press and media better than Grace.
@janice Agree with everything you said here. Karena seems to have a better/decent personality, but there’s honestly nothing special about her beside being known as Raymond’s gf.
@janice I haven’t seen a lot of Karena’s works so I can’t judge her acting skills. But given that she started as a model, I’m not surprised if the consensus is her acting sucks.
As for her looks – she’s def not photogenic like Grace is. BUT her irl and in films look much better. There are just some ppl who don’t look good in stills. When I first saw her pics, I was baffled why Raymond picked her when she wasn’t that attractive. I mean he had a thousand and one options, why pick her? But later on, I realize she’s pretty, just not on camera. Plus I think her personality is tactful, so if we’re talking compatibility, I think her & Raymond have a chance.
@janice karena could have learnt from raymond to handle the pesky reporters and isn’t turbo mouth like this one. both gained recognition by being the other halves of someone popular. karena can’t sing or act, just like grace chan…who can’t act or host.
@coralie she seems to be looking for another daddy.
I love grace.. smart and beautiful.. she’s the best actress of this generation:)
@jingxi2943 you kidding right? But I shouldn’t judge, we all have different opinions and idols.
Hopefully she’ll start to improve her acting now we know shes not ready to quit anytime soon.