HONG Kong actress Sonija Kwok was once so affected by the constant rumours dogging her that she almost quit showbiz.

In an interview with The New Paper last month, she revealed: “I was so tired of it all. Vixen, TV rating-poison – all the name-calling nearly drove me up the wall.”

Sonija was in Singapore for a three-day visit to promote the latest TVB drama serials that were available on rent from all Scorpio East outlets.

Then, the former beauty queen was just a week short of her 35th birthday.

Wistful

“I wish for good health and most importantly, peace and happiness,” she said with a wistful smile that betrayed the sadness in her eyes.

While Sonija did not make any direct reference to the incident involving actor Michael Tao,

she said: “Let’s just say, I’ve moved on with my life.”

In 2007, the Hong Kong media had speculated that she was the third party who caused the breakdown in Michael’s six-year marriage.

Following that, the ratings of TV drama On The First Beat – where they played a couple – suffered.

It was reported that the ending was rewritten to kill off Sonija’s police inspector role to appease the audience.

She shrugged, then said: “Maybe. Maybe not. But it’s all in the past now.”

And instead of allowing herself to wallow in depression or self-pity, she has learnt to completely ignore the reports.

“I don’t read them at all. It’s the best way to live with it,” she said.

Sonija, who went into acting after she was crowned Miss Hong Kong 1999, added: “When I first entered showbiz, I was so concerned and conscious of what people said about me.

“But later, I just feel so disappointed and wonder why they’d misunderstand me.”

The turning point came two years ago.

She said: “I’ve concluded that they will write about everyone – this round, it may not be about me, but the next time, it could be.”

And past experiences, she added, have taught her “the more you try to explain, the worse it gets”.

She said that there was no point in getting mad, preferring to remind herself to be happy with her personal life and work.

“I focus on my career and I don’t bother about anything else.”

And things seem to have picked up for her in that area.

Starting next week in Hong Kong, Sonija will be seen in D.I.E. Again, the sequel to last year’s highly popular D.I.E.

The TV drama – which co-stars Roger Kwok – is about a policeman with supernatural powers.

An excited Sonija gushed: “I can guarantee you this one’s better than the first one. Because of its preceding success, everyone’s put in more effort.”

It is easy to understand her enthusiasm – given that D.I.E. was a sleeper hit.

“No one expected the fantastic response when the drama was first shown last year,” she said.

And given Sonija’s earlier controversy, the stakes were higher.

“I’d ask the producer to keep me posted on the ratings each day,” she said.

“In some ways, you can even say the drama revived my career.”

And in return, that success has boosted her confidence.

Sonija explained: “I realised I shouldn’t allow myself to be too disheartened.

“And while my career remains my top priority, I’m not dismissing the possibility of dating someone.”

Close friends have offered to play matchmaker, but Sonija prefers to “let nature take its course”.

The real Sonija

“I think they’re just worried I’m spending too much time at home. The real Sonija is really mellow,” she said.

Sonija, who lives with her mother, added: “When I return home after work, I don’t talk much because I’d have done so much talking at work.

“Sometimes, my mum will ask me questions and I’m like, I’m really tired.”

Instead, Sonija prefers to get as much sleep as she can.

She said: “You know what it’s like, sometimes the production schedule can get so crazy that we have to do away with proper rest for two or three days in a row.

“So whenever I have the chance, I make sure I have sufficient rest.”

Sonija also makes it a point to return to Vancouver, Canada where she grew up at least once a year.

She said: “I’d usually spend a month there. It’s a lovely neighbourhood – I don’t really have to worry about the paparazzi and I can take time out to rejuvenate too.
“And that’s what life should be really about – work hard and rest equally hard.”

This article was first published in The New Paper