TVB Celebrity News

TVB actress Joey Meng has expressed her intentions to become a mother for a long time ever since marrying her scriptwriter husband, Chan Sap Sam since 2000, but luck has never been on her side.

As reported on Jayne Stars website recently, amidst rumours of her husband's supposed impotence and her busy schedule, a new rumour surfaced that the primary cause behind Joey's failure to conceive is due to her poor health.

A tabloid revealed that while filming an action sequence for "My Date with Vampire 3" in 2004, Joey injured her lower spine and had never truly recovered. Her health had further deteriorated due to her long filming hours at ATV, causing the actress to suffer from acute hepatitis several times.

The actress was also cited from a previous interview, saying that she gets sick easily and that "I see the doctor more than I eat".

The actress was also quoted saying, "Conceiving is not impossible, but the doctor advised that I should be extra cautious if I become pregnant."

However, despite reports of her poor health, the actress never withdraws herself from filming action-packed dramas, including her latest project, "Food for the Slaves". Joey will also be busy shooting for the upcoming "Inbound Troubles" sequel and film adaptation, making it less probable for the actress to get pregnant anytime soon with her busy schedule.

Yesterday Joey Meng and Ben Wong were shooting outdoor scenes for TVB new series Food for Slaves. Joey was dressed in her ancient costumes and doing the fighting scenes like a pro. She frankly expressed this is her first fighting scene in a costume series. The style is different from before, and definitely needs some physical work. She smiled and said she practically has to fight in every scene: "It's kinda of fun actually, I have to go back and see if I got any injuries. But, I've been doing stretches recently, I want to practice doing the splits. (You have long arms and legs, did you ask the director to add some Kung Fu footwork?) Nope! Sometimes, the director tells me not to stretch my legs too far out, otherwise my arms and legs might not fit in the camera's frame."

Joey and Ben have a romantic storyline in the series. When asked if Ben gave her any advice? He joked: "Nope, she's my senior!" Joey immediately squealed: "Huh? Are you kidding! I'm the junior!"

As reported on Popular Asians website, a source close to the actress, who signed a three-year per-serial contract with TVB in 2012, revealed, "Joey is very loyal. Although it has an attractive remuneration package and would also guarantee her a lot of freedom, Joey thinks it would not be fair for everyone."

"If she signs the contract, she would always have to turn down offers, and that would not be very fair for the company. She also feels very safe and satisfied with her current manager. TVB has been treating her well, which is why she immediately agreed to film "Food for the Slaves" and has already saved room in her schedule to film the future "Inbound Troubles" sequels," the source clarified.

It was earlier reported that TVB executive, Virginia Lok has offered to sign Joey and her manager for a hefty sum of HKD50,000 per episode, the right to choose her film and television offers, and would be promoted as TVB's "next Charmaine Sheh".

However, the actress has decided to decline the offer in order to keep her current work relationship with her manager, who has been with Joey since she first started her career in ATV, and her freedom to choose her job with other television stations.

It was also rumoured that Joey had to push back her baby plans with husband, Chan Sap Sam due to her per-serial contract with TVB. If Joey agreed to join TVB's management, her baby plans would be further postponed a few more years.

TVB popular series Inbound Troubles has entered its final week and still going strong. Yesterday at the outdoor promotional event on the busy street of Tsim Sha Tsui, producer Wong Wai Sing announced they are preparing for a sequel and film edition. Cho Lam revealed there are already companies inviting "Oh Baby" out to perform, but because of the copyright issues, it is unknown whether they can actually launch their own album. The cast including Roger Kwok, Wong Cho Lam, Joey Meng, Ivana Wong, Louis Cheung, Siu Bo, Corinna Chamberlain and Wong Kong Leung took part in the promotion yesterday and created chaos on the street.

When the cast appeared, a young woman screamed hysterically and caught attention for a brief moment. Then the cast stood in a line, hand in hand, and bowed to the audience thanking them for their support. Later, they gave out New Year's tangerines and attracted more than a hundred people fighting to get the gift. At one point, someone in the crowd threw the tangerine back and unfortunately, Joey got the 'head prize' (direct hit) and eventually there was a huge chaos on the street.

The pitiful Joey expressed after getting hit on the head, "I was a little dizzy, it was a hard hit. His throw was so hard, even the juice came out. Luckily, I've learned Kung Fu before, so I'm fine. Just think of it as getting the top 'head' prize." She also pointed out that Louis Cheung, standing next to her, didn't have the strength to protect her: "He didn't have fast enough reaction to catch the tangerine. When we collaborate again in the sequel, I must torment him." Joey expressed if the TV rating reaches 40 points, Roger Kwok will give out red envelopes to the citizens; If it reaches 42 points, she will show off her 42-inch long legs to the citizens, but if its 43 points, Sharon Chan will need to lend a helping 'leg'.

After the cast walked around the street and had their meal at the restaurant, producer Wong Wai Sing suddenly got a phone call from a TVB executive and then immediately announced that has been confirmed, Inbound Troubles will be shooting both a sequel and a film edition of the series. It was a pleasant surprise for everyone and they were all very excited to shoot a sequel.

Wong Cho Lam expressed: "I'm happy because this proves TVB supports us, but then again I'm worried about having to come up with another 20 episode story. I'll have to talk to the scriptwriter. I don't feel as pressured for the film because it's only a few hours. (You're writing the script again, are you afraid the scriptwriter might get upset?) No, we had a pleasant collaboration."

When asked if TVB would limit him on incorporating HK-China contradicting issues into the sequel due to the large number of complaints? Cho Lam said: "TVB did make a suggestion, if the topic is too sensitive, don't do it. In addition, we already filtered once before and this time since it's approved, that means it can continue." Corinna Chamberlain gained recognition from this series and was very thankful of Wong Cho Lam. She said: "He didn't just cast me in the TV series, but also gave me a favorable role, so more people will know who I am." Because she likes singing, Cho Lam also wrote her a song, Dissimilar, which had just released and been quite a hit.

Ivana Wong said this series allows us to see a new light. She is very happy to hear that there will be a sequel and joked she wants a pay raise: "I didn't say I'm going to accept it. I have to take advantage of this opportunity and boost my pay, so I can have a prosperous and 'fat' year. (Will you be able to participate in the sequel and do music?) I hope I'll be able to accommodate them, after all I am just a singer."

Joey Meng and Roger Kwok were shooting the ending scene for TVB new series Cousin, You Are Good. The two were seen at the church shooting a wedding scene and had a kiss to end the series off happily. However, they had to shoot the kiss scene several times before the director was satisfied. Later, Joey joked: "The kiss was like a dish of vegetables. I don't need to tell my husband about it. (It wasn't just one kiss?) It was requested by the director. We're getting married, so it's normal to kiss, we are professional artists." Roger said this is the dessert after dinner, "heart too soft" and was more touching than his own actual marriage. "I'm not worried my wife Cindy Au will get jealous."

Regarding the Anti-Communists protesting the National's Education by wearing black clothing, Roger expressed his wife took their son to school yesterday, and is not sure if she wore a black outfit. Asked if he supports their actions? Roger said: "Of course. Things becoming a firm provision so quickly, if there are any problems, should do a consultation." He expressed if the government insists on implementing the National's Education, he will consider sending his son to study at an international school. Asked if he supports the student's strike? Roger said: "That is rather extreme, it's better to react slowly."

Roger Kwok, Joey Meng and Wong Cho Lam attended the blessing ceremony of TVB new series Cousin, You Are Good. Roger is having a pleasant collaboration with the cast, but joked that he has to really 'look after' Joey. He exposed her embarrassing moment: "She doesn't live up to her reputation, she's so forgetful. One time, she drove herself to the filming location, but after we finished filming, she actually forgot that she drove and went back to TVB on the bus instead, leaving her car behind." Later when, reporters teased Joey for being so foolish, she said: "That day I started work at 6am, it was in the bitter heat and we had to pay tennis and then we switched locations to the church! After we finished, all I thought was I wanted to go back on the bus to rest and then go back to TVB for the air conditioning. If the director didn't ask me (about driving), I totally forgot. I decided I'm not going to drive anymore."

Joey reveals on Monday after shooting until 1am, she already felt like she lost her soul and one time when playing tennis, she accidentally hit the ball on the director's chest: "I was also constantly eating the food, candy and biscuits that were used as props. To stop myself from tiredness, I eat!"

Yesterday new series Cousin, You Are Good costume fitting was held at TVB City. Joey Meng joins TVB as the lead actress of this series; This is the first TV series for Ivana Wong, Louis Cheung and Bob Lam; Wong Kwong Leung makes his comeback as Wong Cho Lam's father; Roger Kwok and Wong Cho Lam are the lead actors. Joey describes the atmosphere at TVB feeling like an elite school, so big and pretty. She often gets lost around the company, but she doesn't dare to trouble her partner Roger. She said: "Roger and I both have families, so to avoid any unnecessary gossips, I just ask Law Lan Jeh for help whenever I get lost." The two leads mutually impressed each other. Joey expressed she watched Queens of Diamonds and Hearts, while Roger said: "I also watched My Date with a Vampire!"

Joey was asked if she feels lucky to be able to jump from ATV to TVB and still be a lead actress? Roger, standing besides her, praised she has the ability, but Joey promptly said she must not be compared to Alice Chan. TVB produces many series and programs, they both have different directions. It was said TVB is currently lacking FaDans, so she's just here for the 'repair'? Joey laughed: "That's good!"

Ivana plays Roger's younger sister, and it is also her first TV series, Roger said: "Collaborating with newcomers, must try to fit in mutually. In this series, even the director is new." Ivana was frightened for several months when she first learned she's going to be in this new series, and had to ask Wong Cho Lam to be her psychologist. She'll be pairing up with Louis Cheung, but there aren't any kiss scenes. They both hope to portray their roles more realistically, and may request for a kiss scene.

The "father and son" Wong Kwong Leung and Wong Cho Lam "meets" and look very much like an actual father and son. Cho Lam praises that Leung is handsome, and the area that they look most alike is their noses. However, Leung thought Cho Lam was too short and asked if he had gone through puberty yet? It has been many years since Leung been in a TVB series, he joked: "I came back because I have no food to eat, there is food here at TVB, I don't have to worry about any of my three daily meals."

Lately the artist poaching trend in the TV industry has left TVB actively recruiting artists to join them, including Joey Meng. It was said for a successful attempt to convince Joey to sign with them, TVB especially asked Roger Kwok to partner up with her. Aside from taking the lead actress role, it will allow her to make a breakthrough in her acting. This will be her first time participating in a comedy series.

Back then, Joey Meng became popular after ATV series My Date with a Vampire. Her role 'Ma Siu Ling' revealed her 42-inch long legs became a classic. As she has audience fate, and the acting ability, it was said for many years TVB had been consistently trying to recruit her, but was unsuccessful. It was only until recently, it was understood that TVB executive Virgina Lok personally stepped up taking a confirmed series to Joey and offered her a lead role. A staff revealed that this series is a lighthearted comedy tentatively entitled Cousin, You Are Good, which is also a series that Wong Cho Lam participated in on the production. The series caught Joey's interest because she had never formally done a comedy before, and the story revolves around hot topics in Hong Kong, including pairs of non-pregnant women.