Julian Cheung Reflects on 30-Year Career, Reveals Fatigue-Induced Car Crash
SingTao · 1 SOURCESabout 4 hours ago6 MIN
Summary
Hong Kong actor Julian Cheung (張智霖), popularly known as Chilam, recently appeared on director Patrick Chiang's YouTube channel for an in-depth interview on his show titled "Chiang's Casting" to mark his 30-plus years in the entertainment industry. During the conversation, Cheung revealed a harrowing experience while filming the 1994 adaptation of The Legend of the Condor Heroes, where he fell asleep at the wheel after working consecutively for seven days, resulting in a car crash in Sai Kung that nearly sent the vehicle over a cliff . The star also reflected on his breakthrough role as the beloved "Brother Initial" in The Legend of the Condor Heroes 2, which he described as the peak of his career, and discussed his upcoming TVB drama Brilliant City, where he portrays his most dark and villainous character to date .
Key Points
- During the filming of The Legend of the Condor Heroes in 1994, Cheung worked seven consecutive days from 6am to 2am, sleeping in his car between shoots, before causing a fatigue-induced crash in Sai Kung that nearly went over a cliff .
- The actor described The Legend of the Condor Heroes 2 as his career peak, noting that producer Paco Wong (黃柏高) created the hit song "Wishing You Well" after hearing the plot, and Cheung remarked he could "hear money falling" .
- Cheung revealed he was dating his future wife, actress Yuan Yongyi (袁詠儀), during his peak years and decided to delay marriage until achieving professional success first .
- For his new TVB drama Brilliant City, Cheung teamed up with producer Joe Chan (陳維冠) and challenged himself by playing a completely dark character with "no good deeds" .
- The actor recalled being criticized by a film director who told him "not to react so TVB-style," a comment he says still affects his approach to acting today .
Why It Matters
Julian Cheung's candid reflections offer rare insight into the demanding reality of Hong Kong's entertainment industry, where actors historically faced grueling schedules with minimal rest. His upcoming role in Brilliant City marks a significant departure from his established "good guy" image, demonstrating how veteran actors continue to evolve and take risks even after decades in the business. The interview also highlights the collaborative relationship between Cheung and producer Joe Chan, a partnership that has produced some of TVB's most memorable characters, suggesting fans can expect compelling drama when Brilliant City premieres .
Julian Cheung's candid reflections offer rare insight into the demanding reality of Hong Kong's entertainment industry, where actors historically faced grueling schedules with minimal rest. His upcoming role in Brilliant City marks a significant departure from his established "good guy" image, demonstrating how veteran actors continue to evolve and take risks even after decades in the business. The interview also highlights the collaborative relationship between Cheung and producer Joe Chan, a partnership that has produced some of TVB's most memorable characters, suggesting fans can expect compelling drama when Brilliant City premieres .