Ruco Chan, Edwin Siu Similar in More Ways Than One

There are no two people better suited to play brothers than Ruco Chan (陳展鵬) and Edwin Siu (蕭正楠). The onscreen brothers have a lot in common – not only are Ruco and Edwin the same age, they also attended the same primary school. Both have had brief experiences as singers. Both have thought about leaving the entertainment industry. Both have trenched through the outside world before returning to TVB in 2008.

Ruco’s Journey

“I graduated from TVB’s acting class when I was only 18,” said Ruco. “I had a lot of fantasies then. I would dream about being a singer. I would dream about being in a movie.”

Ruco made his debut appearance in the 1994 TVB drama Instinct <笑看風雲>. For the next two years, Ruco was only cast in small supporting roles. His dream to become an acclaimed artist was more difficult than he had originally imagined.

In 1996, Ruco attracted the attention of PolyGram’s So Tak Wah (蘇德華), who immediately recommended him to sign with PolyGram after he heard Ruco’s singing voice at a karaoke bar. Ruco recorded an EP and released several singles, but due to Hong Kong’s 1997 financial crisis, PolyGram failed in the market and the company was bought by a larger record label. Ruco’s contract became defunct and his EP release was canceled.

Before signing with ATV in 2002, Ruco worked as a table tennis instructor and a renovation worker, earning as little as only $300 HKD a day. “Those were difficult times, but I didn’t mind them. I was more worried about my future. I didn’t know which road to walk on. After being jobless for two to three years, I was losing contact with the entertainment industry. I thought about leaving it, but my friends and family were really supportive and encouraged me to continue. That’s when I joined ATV, and stayed there for six years.”

Ruco snagged a few leading roles in dramas during his time in TVB, but with ATV’s low ratings, Ruco had no commercial success.  Ruco struggled during his time with ATV, expressing that he did not quite agree with how certain things operated in the station. When his contract with ATV ended in 2008, Ruco immediately signed with TVB. It turned out that TVB had already asked Ruco to return in 1997, after the sale of PolyGram.

Ruco’s return to TVB in 2008 was the baseline, as he allowed himself two years to make greater strides or he would quit the industry. Surely, two years later, Ruco achieved recognition for his performance as Chiu Man Hoi – a troubled former cop with dissociative identity disorder – in the crime drama, Every Move You Make <讀心神探>. In 2011, Ruco earned critical acclaim for his portrayal of the barrister Keith Lau from The Other Truth <真相>, cementing his position as TVB’s leading star.

Edwin’s Struggles

Edwin started off as an extremely popular idol singer in 2002. Earning sales certifications for his albums, Edwin was also cast in the 2003 idol drama Aqua Heroes <戀愛自由式>, leading over then-rookie actors Bosco Wong (黃宗澤) and Leila Tong (唐寧). Edwin’s future seemed bright, but his poor relationship with the Hong Kong press had always been his weakest point. “I didn’t know how to communicate with them. I didn’t know how to do anything, actually.”

Edwin’s negative rumors pushed him to leave Hong Kong for a new career in mainland China. His years in mainland China were some of the lowest times in his life. “I had to move away from my home, and I was often homesick. At the time, the entertainment industry in mainland China was not very reliable and my income dropped to an all-time low. I did many things that were not related to singing. My Mandarin was also terrible. I could not see a future.”

Edwin thought about quitting. He thought about starting a small business in Beijing, but when his mother begged him to return to Hong Kong in 2008, Edwin decided that he should give himself one more chance – sign with TVB and restart his career in Hong Kong.

“I worked with Ho Lai Chuen (何麗全) when I was still doing music, and she pulled the strings for me to meet with Ms. Lok [Virginia Lok 樂易玲]. I only liked singing and never thought about becoming an actor. I once thought Aqua Heroes would be my very first and very last drama.”

Through their perseverance and hard work, Ruco and Edwin have managed to climb to the top of the ladder. They have grown from rejected artists who lacked confidence to leading stars who made sure that others could call out their names. After years of struggle and finally overcoming them, Ruco and Edwin are prepared for their next journey.

Source: Oriental Daily

This article is written by Addy for JayneStars.com.