The Fall and Rise of Edwin Siu
As one of TVB’s most highly promoted artists, many tend forget that Edwin Siu (蕭正楠) actually began his career as an idol singer in 2002. At 25 years old, Edwin debuted under Music Nation, which was supported by the release of his debut EP, Born to Fly. With his good looks, charming manners, and catchy karaoke tunes, the “Unique Perspective” <眼光獨到> singer shot to fame immediately after his debut.
In less than two years, Edwin released ten music singles (three of which became number-one singles), three albums, and won seven music awards. Edwin’s success in music also bridged his career in television – less than six months after his official music debut, Edwin was cast as the lead role in TVB idol drama, Aqua Heroes <戀愛自由式>, starring opposite Bobo Chan (陳文媛), Leila Tong (唐寧), and Bosco Wong (黃宗澤). Although the drama was the second lowest-rated TVB drama of 2003, Edwin’s performance in the drama was well-received by viewers and critics.
Downfall as a Singer
A simple and unassuming “the good will always prevail” comment turned Edwin’s booming career to spiral down.
The phrase, which was overheard by a paparazzi reporter while Edwin was talking to his colleagues at the JSG Music Awards afterparty in January 2003, was meteorically overblown by the tabloids. Edwin was accused of using the phrase to mock his strongest rookie opponent, Juno Mak (麥浚龍), whose success was said to be due to his rich background and influential father. Plagued by negative rumors and press, Music Nation decided to bench Edwin’s career in Hong Kong and forced him to start anew in mainland China.
“Everything happened so fast. I actually didn’t even know what was going on. I really didn’t want to start over in mainland China, but now as I think back, I believe my company’s decision had been a correct one. Given the situation at the time, more explanations would just create more misunderstandings.”
Comeback as an Actor
Edwin left for mainland China in 2004 and achieved mild popularity through his performances in television dramas. Although his mainland career was not a big success, Edwin’s income was stable and his eminence in China was acknowledged. But the unyielding Edwin did not want to hide away in mainland China forever; in 2008, Edwin made the bold decision to return to Hong Kong.
“My family had a rough time during the years I was in mainland China. Many people kept asking them about my situation and why I had to leave. It caused great stress for my mother and sister. That’s why I came back, to be with them.
“I thought of giving up, but I realized that I still had many other opportunities ahead of me. That’s why I decided to come back to Hong Kong and start over again. I signed with TVB so I could get another chance.”
Rising Again
Edwin’s career as a TVB artist was the complete contrast of his singing career. His rise was slow but deliberate and steady. It took Edwin almost three years before he earned a star billing role in Forensic Heroes 3 <法證先鋒III>. It took yet another year before Edwin was offered even heavier roles in TVB dramas – last year’s The Confidant <大太監> and the currently airing A Great Way to Care 2 <仁心解碼II>, are dramas that feature Edwin in prominent supporting roles.
On speaking about his well-received role as the bucktooth Dr. Jackson in A Great Way to Care 2, Edwin laughed. “I once wore the set of fake teeth and waited to get my makeup done. No one could recognize me. I waited for a long time before someone came to do my makeup. No one knew I was Edwin Siu until I said so.”
Edwin’s slow rise to leading actor may finally be achieved this year. He is currently shooting for TVB’s latest grand production, No Reserve <巾幗梟雄之諜血長天>, the third installment of the acclaimed Rosy Business <巾幗梟雄> franchise. Starring in lead roles alongside Wayne Lai (黎耀祥) and Myolie Wu (胡杏兒), Edwin portrays the tragic anti-hero of an innocent country boy turned heartless Republican Chinese spy. Edwin spilled that his role will be one with “heavy taste and controversy; my character will eventually go psychotic. He will rape everyone in sight, including both men and women. This role will be the biggest challenge of my acting career.”
Brother’s Keeper <巨輪>, another grand TVB production, also features Edwin in a leading role. The cross-millennia epic, which will air in late 2013, also stars Ruco Chan (陳展鵬), Louise Lee (李司棋), Linda Chung(鍾嘉欣), and Kristal Tin (田蕊妮). At the annual TVB Anniversary Awards this year, maybe we will finally see the chance of Edwin competing for Best Actor.
“As an actor, our job is to do our duty and act well. Anything else other than that depends on luck. For example, Koo Ming Wah (古明華) and Wayne Lai had always been excellent actors, but with luck, every cloud will have its silver lining. They eventually made it.”
Source: Fashion and Beauty #483 via ihktv.com
This article is written by Addy for JayneStars.com.
He is a good actor. I really like him.
I second that.
Count me in
Edwin acting is much better than the TVB kelefe short guy Wong Choi Nam ,he look like a very young version of Ekin Cheng ,he shall start as Chan Ho Nam in young and dangerous reload not Him Law ,Him look more like Szeto Ho Nam.
Wow, you’ve got a point there.
Well, I think this guy is much more cuter looking than Wong Cho Nam and Ekin Cheng? hahah…. The other 2 are so overrated. I never knew he gave a comment about that Juno and that was why he was undermoted from TVB? Hum…wow thats TVB i guess.
His buck tooth character reminded me of the buck tooth character Michael Tse played in Legal Entanglement. Can’t help but to think that Edwin might have gotten inspiration from there. But nevertheless, great and strong performance from Edwin over the years of his comeback with TVB. Support!
I’m not watching AGWTC 2, because Edwin annoyed me in the first episode with the way he was speaking.
His character is unrealistic, as braces are so commonplace these days, and we aren’t even talking about people whose speech is as affected as his. It’s like having terrible eyesight and not wearing glasses. His character is a doctor, he should know better.
Yeah, I dont know why TVB did that. Not acting natural with the huge teeths.
He’s so unnatural in this series. He’s good in others but not this, sorry. Such a rip off of US series genius wannabe. Like Doctor Reid in Criminal Minds. He’s natural, Edwin’s not.
yeah, i had buckteeth when i was younger, about 10 or 11 i think, but my speech was never as garbled and hard to understand as his. and it makes it even harder because i can’t read chinese so i can’t just look at subtitles whenever he speaks
I vividly remember Edwin Siu from Aqua Heroes, which was one of my favourite series at that time. I thought he did pretty well, but it seemed like Bosco Wong had achieved better success than him. I think Edwin is talented and if TVB appreciates him (although it is unlikely), they should just give him the Best Supporting Actor award instead. Edwin does not need Most Improved, he’s way past that already.
yes glad edwin’s career rise again! hope tvb promote him! stupid how edwin was leading over bosco in aqua heroes but now lagging behind and have to struggle to get first line while the likes of bosco and raymond now at first line! Shows how unfair tvb is!
Tvb was and is always unfair. Get over it.
I agree with you 100%, the scene where he went for the chicken bone in the ground was so convincing, I thought for sure he would of won best supporting actor.
100% support Edwin!
Quite like Edwin and Aimee interaction (Aimee actually not a bad actress). Tis week AGWTC2 stories and cases start to pick up much faster and much interesting compare to first week in which the cases drag to no where. All the actors and actresses do a solid n excellence performance(only excluded Christine in which I feel cringe with her scene with Power Chan n I not nitpicking viewer) .
I glad to know that Edwin’s career is rising again. I’m a fan of his.
Love Edwin! 😀 Hehe.
I like him, his acting keeps improving. I think he’ll become one of TVB’s top actors.
well if he didn’t open his big mouth in the first place he wouldn’t be in so much s***.
What are you talking about? I don’t see anything wrong with what he said at all, and if this story is true than it goes to show that Juno was really petty to have used his family’s connection to destroyed someone’s career. All the guy said was “let the best man win”. Btw, who is Juno Mak? Guess daddy’s fat wallet couldn’t make him famous.
He said “the evil cannot triumph over the righteous”, not “let the best man win”
Same thing, best man = righteous lol. The point is if Juno Mak is confident in himself then he wouldn’t be offended or think that statement was referring to him.
Congratulations!
It would be better if he doesn’t pair with Amiee again.
He made a mistake that ruined his singing career but he is not back and stronger than ever 🙂 good job Edwin, i really like your acting and singer!
I don’t see his remark as a big deal. He was speaking in private after all. Besides, we all know today that what he said was true. Juno’s dad did pay off people to act as his fans. Who knows what else he did.
Looks like this will be a very big year for Edwin with all those roles. If he can’t capitalize on the opportunities we might see him being demoted.
Edwin was just saying the truth. I listened to Juno Mak’s songs before. I don’t think his singing is as great as Edwin’s. In fact, I put all the blames and hatred on those paparazzi who have no morality.
You can’t blame it all on the paparazzi, their job is to sell dirt/gossips. If anything it’s the Mak’s pettiness that caused Edwin to be blacklisted.
Actually, Edwin said in an interview (years later) when he joined tvb, that he was talking about his inner turmoil. I don’t know how true it is, that’s his explanation for “evil”.
Don’t get the hype about Edwin. I don’t like him and it’s most likely due to the roles he has been getting. I can’t take him seriously so I just hope he doesn’t disappoint in Brother’s Keeper.
I just googled Juno Mak, I don’t mean to be rude but he looks like the unattrative version of Vaness Wu . And can someone please tell him he’s not Japanese lol.
Juno Mak is from Hong Kong and was famous for dating Gillian Chung. Its sad that Edwin got “banished” to mainland due to that one statement. Juno Mak was no good musician. His rich daddy paid his way in the entertainment industry.
Agree. I listened to Mak’s songs before and I don’t think he has talent to be a good musician. He’s lucky to have a rich father who is willing make a path for his son. Without the rich father, Juno Mak is nothing but a short, unattractive, and talentless dude. I watched Survivor’s Law where he was playing supporting role. Annoyed the hell out of me. Edwin was just telling the truth. If Edwin’s family was rich as the Mak’s, he wouldn’t have been through all these hardships. In contrast, his career would have reached the high peak.
Edwin is good! He sings well, looks good and acts well! I think he will do well in TVB. Let’s hope he can sing some themesongs!
Can’t stand him in AGWTC2, but will wait to form an opinion when I can see him looking and acting normal. Don’t think I have heard him sing either, but I do remember him being popular some years back.
It’s a shame that Juno’s powerful family ruined his career, even though Juno was a worse singer and was only famous because of his money.
He sings the theme song for AGWTC2
“Edwin spilled that his role will be one with “heavy taste and controversy; my character will eventually go psychotic. He will rape everyone in sight, including both men and women. “
Wow, that’s really heavy taste.