LOUISA So Yuk-wa was born to be an actress. She may not have realized it when she participated in a drama competition as a secondary student, but she must have admitted it when she won the Best Drama Actress 2003 in April early this year.
Louisa has 12 years experience in drama and TV performance. She graduated from The Hong Kong Academy for the Performing Arts(APA), in which she majored in Acting. After that, Hong Kong Repertory Theatre(HKRep) recruited her and three years later, she was hired by Television Broadcasting Company(TVB) as a full-time actress.
Dressed neatly in a brown scarf-like top and blue jeans, with a stylish silver necklace, the veteran Hong Kong actress said that she was selected by teachers to participated in speech, drama and dance performances and competitions at kindergarten.
"I studied in a Catholic school. For Christmas celebrations, there were drama performances about the birth of Jesus Christ. I played the role of Jesus Christ's mother, or a goat, or an ange." she said, smiling happily while gesturing a goat-like posture.
The three-year studies in APA were not enjoyable but too tough, said the actress. "I have thought of quitting my studies during my first year, since it was really hard. I was always criticized by teachers, saying there were a lot that I couldn't fulfill."
She only came to realize her talents in Drama after graduating from HKAPA. "Luckily I was one of the two APA graduates hired by HKRep at that time" Later on, she realized that it was a professional organization.
During the time at the HKRep, she had chances to work with a group of professionals, veteran stage performers and producers. This period was crucial for her to improve herself while developing her potential to the fullest. She also believed that she had to take this career seriously.
However, she never regards herself as a talented actress.
Louisa admitted that the drama industry in Hong Kong can hardly gain the support from the public, which is reflected by the inadequate drama schools in the city.
"Very few people are trained to be drama professionals, and there are not enough connections between drama and people's life. People are not willing to pay for a drama performance." she said sadly.
Even if Hong Kong people appreciate drama performances, only those of the mainstream catch their attention.
She remembered in an inter-class drama competition during her secondary school years, her class decided to perform a popular Chinese novel, Giant Eagle and Its Companion.
"We worked very hard to translate the scripts into English, and prepared the props, wardrobes, setting and sound effects. However, when we told our teacher about our ideas, she was shocked and angry because she expected us to perform a Shakespeare play.
"This reflects the failure of Hong Kong's education system. Students don't have many chances to make use of their creativity and talents. In the teacher's heart, what is good and what should be done is Shakespeare."
Louisa encourages students to develop their creativity and energy.
Yet she holds an optimistic view toward the future of drama in Hong Kong . "Tens years ago, people started to realized it's not difficult to understand drama. And there are people who love going to theatres." she said, adding that the local drama industry still has a long way to go when compared with its counterparts in European countries.
"There are many theatres in England . Drama is a part of people's lives. After work, they dress up and exchanges ideas about the performances." she said with admiration.
Louisa dedicates herself to promoting drama in Hong Kong . This is one of the reasons why she works in TVB. "If I perform on stage, only a few thousands of people will know who I am. That's it. But if I appear on TV, all Hong Kong people will know me.
"I wish people can be motivated by what I have done, and will go to the theatre because of me." she said with determination.
Louisa is puzzled about local media. She questions why TV, films and drama productions in Hong Kong are not related to one other.
'Why do drama performers seldom appear on television or in a movie? Why do television, drama and film split to different groups?" she asked.
She indicated that in Europe and the United States , where actors or actresses are formally trained and graduated in Theatre School , they can specialize in all these aspects of performing art. "Why can this happen in foreign countries but not in Hong Kong?" she said. She hopes she can change the situation one day.
As an actress of drama and television between industries, Louisa shares her views regarding the differences between the two.
"For drama, quality is the most import. We need something precise, functional and meaningful on the stage. All performances should be the best. But for television, it's quantity that counts." she said.
The actress also said acting in front of the camera is like providing lip services, actors may simply read out their scripts instead of entirely devoting their effort to playing their roles. For this reason, there are not many impressive television characters we can find in Hong Kong.
"But we can't put the blame on actors." she added. "Because TVB is a big organization, each production is constrained by lots of factors like technical support, money, schedule and resources. Things are just out of one's control."
In her previous contract with TVB, she had to take every role assigned by the company, including those she disliked.
"It is miserable when a person has no choice." she said." Life is short. I would rather do something I love.
"I would occasionally participate in drama performances. I wanted to strike a balance between drama and TV performances. Through drama performance, I can get a sense of satisfaction, while at the same time I can refresh and improve myself."
Once drama is mentioned, her spirit flies high. "Drama needs a real character in two hours. You can't waste every moment on the stage. Once you are there, you need to fill up a character." she said energetically.
Time is happier for her this year because of the new contract terms with TVB. She will take part in two television shows, but unlike before, she is able to choose the shows she likes.
When asked about her changes in attitude or personality over her 12-year actress life, Louisa smiled and stopped, took a sip of her jasmine tea, and smiles again. " Sometimes I think I can stay calm, but sometimes, I think I can't."
Louisa regards herself as an "absolutely demanding, short-tempered and impatient person." The high standard she set for herself and others make herself distressed and frustrated, especially when others cannot fulfill her expectation, or when things are out of control.
Recently Louisa performed a drama which she loves very much.
"I expect the show will be performed excellently." she said. "However, things are out of my expectations. Not all actors are present in all rehearsals, expect me, because I give up all my jobs to concentrate on the rehearsals."
She came to realize that not everyone has the same perspective as hers. She, therefore, has to assist those who did not come, to run their acts smoothly.
"But drama rehearsals should not be like this. It should be a process for everyone to practice and perform, so that the final outcome can be a perfectly refined story." she said.
She learns to let go when facing situations that are out of her control. "It's impossible to control everything in a drama. When I think of it, I'll just tell myself to do my best in the performance." she grinned.
Yet she believes that being obstinate has advantages. "At least you still have something you insist on, and have some demands in your life. It can serve you as a drive to do better."
"Maybe I really set a high standard for myself and for others. I always think that when you consider yourself a professional, you should treat your occupation professionally. If not, how can you regard yourself as a professional?" she said resolutely.
When asked what constitutes acting, she indicated that acting is based on two factors: inborn talent and training. She raised the veteran actress Fung Bo-bo and Slu Fong-fong as examples, as they are born with drama talents that they need not undergo training to perform professionally on stage.
She said how much training an actor needs depends on how much inborn talent he has.
Louisa said she is optimistic, enthusiastic and happy. She asserted that stress is a term that can deceive people.
"If you are not clear where your stress comes from, you will be misled and controlled by stress." she said.
She added that people trapped by stress force themselves to do something that they are incapable of, without identifying the problems they are encountering.
She also quoted a speaker as saying that stress comes when you force yourself to wear a shirt of small size but you know you are medium-sized. "You would feel uncomfortable while making yourself very depressed."
When asking how she handles and difficulties, she said: "I don't know what difficulties mean to me. For stress, simply find ways to relieve them, and they can be solved."
"Try to view things from an optimistic and positive perspective. No matter how unpleasant a situation is, there should be a positive side that makes you laugh."