There is a saying that life is like a drama because you never know what is going to happen next. As for Louisa So Yuk-wa, it seems that she was destined to become an actress. From a very young age, So was selected by her teachers to perform in school dramas.

Having graduated from the Hong Kong Academy for Performing Arts, So is a popular star, but this has not prevented her from striving for perfection in her work. She is busy rehearsing for the upcoming play, Noises Off.

You are going to hear a lot more about her in the future.

Name: Louisa So Yuk-wa Birthday: January 16 Birthplace: Hong Kong Occupation: Actress

Why did you enter the Hong Kong Academy for Performing Arts (APA)? Was it your ambi tion to become a stage actress? No, I never thought of that. I never planned anything.

It's fate, I guess. I always follow my feelings in making a decision. I have performed on stage since kindergarten, so I have had plenty of practice

I worked as a stewardess after finishing Form Seven. I was offered university places for courses such as social work, but I don't like them much. Therefore, I worked, hoping to meet different people and learn something other than from textbooks.

However, the stewardess' job was too harsh for me and I decided to attend university. I was among 19 candidates who were admitted to the APA, which had received more than 1,000 applications.

Were the three years at APA the happiest time of your life? No. I never imagined it was going to be so tough. I lacked confidence and even thought about quitting, but somehow hung on until I graduated. During those three years, I realised that acting was a challenging task and we had to make the audience believe what was happening on stage.

It is not easy to be accepted as a stage actress, but you are very popular. Do you consider yourself lucky? Luck has played a part in my career. After I beat about 1,000 contenders for a place at APA, I became one of only two graduates to enter the Hong Kong Repertory Theatre.

Later, I joined TVB after stag ing the famous musical, I Have A Date With Spring .

Some people think that APA graduates are too complacent. But I'm not.

I want to keep improving myself. I regard acting as a life-long career and I always try to do my best in every role.

What are the characteristics of a good actor? A real actor should be a well- rounded person. He need not be an expert in every respect, but he should observe things and know how to express himself, so that he can act as a doctor or a beggar any time. Acting is not only about goods looks.

I admire Chow Yun-fat and Josephine Siao Fong-fong, as both of them can play a wide range of roles. This calls for talent as well as effort. They also have very good personalities.

What was your most unforgettable role? Fung Ping in the musical, I Have A Date With Spring. When I first auditioned, I got the role of Nancy, which Alice Lau Nga-lai also chose. I finally played Fung Ping, and I had no idea about the part. I hated it at first, but as the musical became a big hit and there were re-runs, I began to 'grow up' with the role.

I found Fung Ping actually possessed the virtues of traditional Chinese women.

What do you think about love affairs? I believe in long-lasting love and marriage. I will respect someone whom I love. However, if a couple love each other, marriage is not necessary. This is probably because I am a modern, independent woman and I don't need to rely on anybody else.

What are your plans for the future? I really don't have any plans, but there are some goals, such as becoming a good actress, which I want to achieve.

I don't like to chase after money. I would rather live a simple, but happy life.

What are you doing right now? I'm rehearsing for the upcoming stage show, Noises Off . Seven years ago, I acted in the play and have been given the same role this time, too. I don't think I did a good job then. Now I have more experience, so I hope to improve a lot on that performance.

What are your ambitions? I want to promote stage work among the local community. I was invited to a seminar at the University of Hong Kong recently and I noticed that a lot of young people were interested in dramas.

Do you have any advice for our young readers?

You can live your own life as long as you don't hurt others. Don't worry about what others think of you, but you have to be responsible for your actions.