She used to be so shy, she avoided people

BY SERENE FOO
Jun 5, 2001

BELIEVE it, the drama in Ada Choi's real life is the stuff of television soaps.

The 27-year-old TVB actress (left) suffered from such low self esteem when young that she couldn't approach others.

Recalled the star of At The Threshold Of An Era II: "I had problems relating to people. I changed schools all the time, which made it hard for me to make friends."

Plus, her grades weren't impressive and she lacked confidence.

Ada told The New Paper over the phone from Hongkong:

"I would not look people in the eye when I talked to them. And people thought it was because I disliked them."

Pix, Apple Daily

As a result, Ada was too timid to try anything new. It didn't help that her professional life, after she joined TVB nine years ago, wasn't smooth-sailing either.

"For the first five years, it was very tough. Filming one drama serial after another, back-to-back."

On top of that, Ada's personal life was also nothing short of dramatic.

Last year, she went public about her mother's gambling addiction and announced that she was severing all ties with her mother.

Vicious rumours had it that Ada was "forced" to be with wealthy businessman Mr Lam Mun Hoong to support Mrs Choi's gambling habit.

The latest is that Mrs Choi has gone into hiding because the mafia triads in Macau are hot on her heels.

And when true love came in the form of Taiwanese actor Nicky Wu, the media hounded their every move.

FINDING FAITH AND LOVE

In the face of all this, Ada found faith.

"I knew about Christianity when I was in secondary one. But I embraced the religion only in 1995, the time when I was struggling with the hectic filming."

Said the now cheerful  actress: "Instead of asking 'Why me?' Now I know that it's God's way to test  me, to make me learn."

CO-STARS: Ada Choi and Louis Koo,
in the drama At The Threshold of an Era I

She also saw herself  in a different light and "realised that I'm not that lousy and am still useful  to society.

"I'm now working on my weak points, whether it's in work or my personal life."

Her church friends have taught her to open up to others.

"I've found it's easy to make friends. Just treat people well. I believe in treating others the way you want others to treat you."

While she is chatty about church, she clams up about family affairs.

On the love of her life Nicky, she was a little forthcoming: "I like everything about him. He's very kind-hearted and is true to everyone."

Besides, Nicky also doubles up as her Mandarin teacher. "I try to speak to his family and friends in Mandarin. But my Mandarin is still very 'lan' (Mandarin for lousy)," she added with a laugh.

On marriage: "If I ever get married, I will definitely announce it to the press."

·  At The Threshold Of An Era II is shown on SCV VV Drama (Ch 55) at 9pm from Mondays to Fridays.