After living in the shadow of her movie actor husband Chapman To for years, Hong Kong actress Kristal Tin finally had her share of the limelight with her double win at the TVB 46th Anniversary Awards last month.
The 36-year-old Tin snagged the Best Actress and Most Popular Female TV Character awards for her role as the feisty and loyal friend Yiu Man Ying in the TVB drama Brother's Keeper (2013).
Speaking to Life!, she said humbly: "I never expected to win. I feel really lucky to get a good role. It's not my achievement alone.
"There are other factors that contributed to my win - good co-actors, a good production crew, a good time slot. There's also the question about whether the audience will take a liking to the show."
The Hong Kong drama, currently airing on VV Drama on StarHub cable TV, revolves around a pair of half-brothers who reunite after being separated when they were young. It is arguably the highest point in her 20-year show business career. Tin started off playing supporting roles when she first debuted with ATV, another Hong Kong free-to-air broadcaster and TVB's rival.
While the long-awaited awards are finally in her hands, she seems ambivalent about her win.
She says: "In the past, I wanted awards for my acting roles. I would think about how far I could go in my career.
"Now I've changed my attitude towards my work. It would be painful to act for the sake of getting an award. I now cherish the fact that I've a job that I love."
She got her break in show business when she came up tops in an ATV singing contest in 1993.
She signed on to TVB in 2006 and made headway in her acting career when leading lady opportunities came along in dramas such as Every Move You Make (2010) and King Maker (2012).
Still, the seasoned actress remained in the shadow of TVB's stable of A-listers such as actresses Charmaine Sheh and Linda Chung.
Finally striking gold with Brother's Keeper and the role of Yiu, an emotional Tin was teary-eyed when she thanked her husband To, 41, for his support during the acceptance speech at the Hong Kong awards ceremony.
Recounting that night, she says: "I didn't have my mobile phone with me. But I later received a text from him, saying that he was in disbelief about my win and that he was really happy for me."
Funnyman To has had his fair share of critical acclaim, having garnered the Best Actor award at the Hong Kong Film Critics Society for his role as an artiste manager in the drama Diva (2012). He was also a Golden Horse Best Actor nominee for the hit comedy Vulgaria (2012).
Tin's secret to sustaining a nine-year marriage with To seems to hinge on the same attitude she has towards her job.
The actress, who got married in 2005 and has no children, said: "There are times when we quarrel. We have our ups and down in the relationship. You will realise that it's difficult to find a partner. I'll cherish that fate has brought us together."
8 Questions With Kristal Tin
1 Your career recently hit its peak, but a large part of it was in the doldrums. Have you ever thought of quitting show business?
There was a period when I hated acting. I felt that being an actress was a meaningless job. I felt like an animal in the zoo on display for the entertainment of the audience. I wondered why I wasn't reaping the rewards of my hard work.
2 Since you were feeling so despondent, what did you do?
I took a break from acting for a few years and led a tai tai's (lady of leisure) life. My husband was the one who encouraged me to stop acting if I wasn't happy.
Initially, I was stoked at the idea of an early retirement. I would meet my friends for high tea and go shopping. Soon, I felt unhappy and realised that I wasn't suited for that lifestyle. So that's why I went back to acting.
3 How did you celebrate your double win at the TVB 46th Anniversary Awards?
The award is an encouragement and that alone is enough to make me happy. I didn't really see the need to celebrate to reward myself. The first thought that came to my mind after I had won the award was that I would treat the cast and crew of Brother's Keeper to a meal. The credit should go to them.
4 The audience loved how you breathed life into your character Yiu Man Ying in Brother's Keeper. Was it due to the fact that you could identify with the role?
I feel that every character that I play, I see a trace of myself in them. I take away a bit of each character that I play. When playing Ah Ying (Yiu), there was a certain spark that made the audience feel that I brought her character to life.
5 Now that your acting career has hit a new high, what are your plans for the year?
I'm going to release my first album in March. The plans for the album were made last year. That's why I say that 2013 was my lucky year.
My husband and I were feeling bored at home. He decided to use his mobile phone to film me singing while I was doing my make-up. He uploaded the clip onto YouTube, and there was a good response. A music producer saw the clip and contacted us about recording an album.
6 Your husband To is known for his roles in raunchy comedy flicks such as Vulgaria (2012) and Sex Duties Unit (2013). Are you bothered by the intimate scenes he has with other women in those movies?
No, I trust his professionalism. These roles aren't easy to play. As an actor, it's hard for him to overcome his own mental barrier to act in those scenes.
In fact, I admire him. If I were him, I might not have the guts to take on such roles.
7 Your husband has been working out recently and looks more attractive with his muscular body. Are you worried that girls will throw themselves at him?
No, the attraction between us isn't based on looks. I'm not someone who worries a lot. I feel that there is no use worrying. Trust is the most important thing between a couple. I trust him and he trusts me.
8 How would you like to be remembered?
I've never really thought about it. Is this important? What matters to me now is the present. How people want to remember me, it's up to them.
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Brother's Keeper is showing on VV Drama (StarHub TV Channel 855) on weekdays at 8pm. Also available on VV Drama On Demand (StarHub TV Channel 857).
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