Vivian Chow Wai-man (, born 10 November 1967) is a Hong Kong-based Cantopop singer-songwriter and actress.
Life and career
Vivian Chow is the only child in her family. Her father died before her birth due to heart disease. She was brought up by her mother and grandmother. Chow graduated from St. Stephen's Church College and gained 6th grade in piano.
Born and raised in Hong Kong, Chow entered the New Talent Singing Awards which held by TVB and Capital Artists in 1985. She began her singing and acting career by becoming the first runner-up at a freelance DJ competition held by RTHK in 1986.
Sancity Record (1988–1991) In 1988, Chow was invited by TVB to hosted the TV music program Jade Solid Gold. Chow starred in her first film Heart to Heart and was nominated for "Best New Performer" of Hong Kong Film Awards for her role in this film. Chow also joined Sancity Record in the same year and released her debut platinum single, "Vivian", which got a platinum award.
Chow won "Best New Prospect Exceptional Award" of Top 10 Gold Songs Award in 1989. Later, she hosted the young-oriented current-affairs program Modern Era of RTHK Television with Joe Nieh.
In 1990, Chow acted in her first TV drama The Hunter's Prey and released her first and second solo album Vivian and "情迷".
Polygram (1991–1992) Chow resigned from RTHK and started to focus on her career as a singer and actress in 1991. Chow joined Polygram and released her third Cantonese album "A Long and Lasting Love" in November.
In 1992, Chow was named as one of "Ten Artists with Healthy Image" by Commercial Radio Hong Kong. Her fourth and fifth Cantonese album Endless Dream and Winter Romance were released in the same year.
Polygram + Linfair (1992–1996) Chow joined Linfair Record Taiwan and broke into the Taiwan market with releasing her song "Rumor" successfully in 1992. Her first Mandarin debut album "Rumor" was released in November and sold a total of more than 300,000 copies.
In 1993, Chow won 3rd place in the "Next Magazine TV Awards for Most Popular Artists" (first place of female artists) for her role on the TV drama The Greed of Man. Her second Mandarin album was released in May and got 6 platinum awards. Chow was chosen as the "Most Popular Female Artist" by Taiwan media. Later, Chow released her sixth Cantonese album "Most Love" which got double platinum award. The Cantonese featured album and the third Mandarin album Vivian & Her Mind were released in the end of year. Chow won Metro Hit Radio's "Best Female Singer-Bronze Award" and Japan NHK's "Most Popular Foreign Female Singer Award". Chow released her Japanese debut album Love Legend to broke into the Japanese market in April 1994. At the same month, Chow released her seventh Cantonese album Growing up. The fourth Mandarin album Leaving the habit of depression, eighth Cantonese album The time of red leaves drifting and Mandarin compilation album Know yourself and your enemies were also released in this year. Chow got a breakthrough in her singer career for the total selling of these Cantonese and Mandarin albums got 8 platinum awards. She was also awarded the "Most Popular Hong Kong Female Singer Award" by Japanese media.
Chow's Taiwan concert tour started at ChangHua Stadium on 11 June 1994, and continued at KaoHsiung Stadium on 18 June 1994, and Taipei Stadium on 25 June 1994. Chow returned to Hong Kong in the second half of the year, she holds 4 shows in Hong Kong Coliseum from 7–8 October and from 14–15 October.
In 1995, Chow won the award of "TVB JSG Top Ten 94 New Generation Performance (Silver)". She released her ninth Cantonese debut album A little more love in May. Her first Japanese EP was released in June. The Japanese duet "今を抱きしめて", sung with Japanese singer Asaku Yoshida, was also included in the Japanese EP and the Fifth Mandarin debut album "處處留情" which was released in July. Chow was named as one of "Asian Pop Divas" by Japanese music critics along with Faye Wong, Sandy Lam and Sally Yip and one of the "Top 10 Most Popular Performers" in China.
In 1996, Chow released her last Cantonese debut album "熱敏" in May, last Mandarin debut album Time in October and the first Mandarin featured album "周慧敏的敏感地帶" in December before her semi-retirement. She has also been elected as one of the "Top 10 worldwide celebrities on the Internet" by internet users.
Polygram + Taurus Records (1997–1998) Chow joined Taurus Records in 1997 and released the second EP "逢いにゆきたいの" in February. She was voted as one of "Top 10 celebrities on the internet" (The #1 Chinese celebrity on the poll results). After Chow announced she would not take any entertainment jobs when she held the concert in Atlantic City in November, Polygram Hong Kong released the featured album "回憶從今天開始" which included the new song "男女之間", Japanese song "逢いにゆきたいの" and 15 Chow's Hit Songs to summarize Chow's music.
At the beginning of 1998, Taurus Records released the Japanese version of the featured album "あの日から始まった", included 18 Chow's 18 best hits including "自動自覺" and "真愛在明天".
Semi-retirement (1998–2003) After leaving the entertainment scene, Chow moved to Vancouver with Joe Nieh and appeared in public places occasionally. She is obsessed with painting, writing and playing pool. Her painting "Old Man from San Geung" and "Looking Towards the Future" won many painting awards.
Chow and Nieh returned to Hong Kong with their cats in 2003 because the outbreak of SARS stopped them from returning to Canada. Chow revealed the reason she stopped her entertainment career in 1997 in TVB talk show "Queen's Feast". "My TV, movie, agency and record contracts all expired in 1997, so she tried to gain life experiences outside of the entertainment and music industries.
Back to stage (2004–) In 2004, Chow launched her first book My Cat Son Pal Chow which quickly sold more than 20,000 books and was also in the top 10 best-selling books for several months. Chow was also invited to be Shiseido spokesperson for the Asia region in the same year. After back to entertainment scene, Chow works as part-time and obsesses with community services. She worked with World Vision Hong Kong, Oxfam, Hong Kong AIDS Foundation, Cancer Fund, Society for Abandoned Animals Limited (SAA) and Non-Profit Making Veterinary Service Society (NPV) to promote taking care of the social vulnerable group through her social influence.
Chow returned to the Hong Kong Coliseum to perform in her "Back for Love" concert on 25–27 May 2006 after she stepped on this stage twelve years ago. She donated all of the rewards she got for the 3 concerts to NPV to raise money for establishing a veterinary clinic which grand opened on Chow's birthday in the same year.
25th anniversary of debut (2011–2013) Chow held the concert "Deep V.25" on 19–20 March 2011 at Hong Kong Coliseum and released the anniversary EP "Potted Plants" to celebrate her 25th anniversary of debut. The appearance of Sean Lau in the concert surprised Chow and the audiences because it was the first reunion of this pair of main characters in famous TV drama The Greed of Man. It was a few days after Fukushima Daiichi nuclear disaster and 2011 Tōhoku earthquake and tsunami, when Yoshie Kashiwabara came to Hong Kong as one of her special guests, Chow also decided to sell her CD's and the souvenirs designed by Leo Ku, with all proceeds given to charity for the Japanese Relief Funds. Chow's cat sons Pal Chow and Chu Jai were passed away a month before the concert.
After the concert in Hong Kong, Chow started the world tour "Vivian Chow Journey of Love".
In 2013, Chow started her own talent agency, V Vision Workshop Limited. Her agent is Lorraine Chan (Leo Ku's wife) a talent agent.
Film and gospel album (2014–) In 2014, Chow starred in Taiwanese movie Cafe. Waiting. Love which was released on 15 August 2014 in Hong Kong and Taiwan. The movie had a positive reception in both places. The box office reached 20 million in Hong Kong and 200 million in Taiwan. Chow was invited to sing the theme song "咖啡在等一個人" which was included in the movie soundtrack.
Chow's first gospel album HIM was released on 18 December 2014. The album was produced by Chow and issued by Emperor Group Music and Linfair Record Limited. The English song "A Love Like This" was composed by Chow is about how her faith changed her life. Chow started to participate in different forms of sermons to share Christian testimony after the album's release.
Personal life Chow's first love was her high school colleague. She started a relationship with the vocalist of Raidas, Chan Duk Cheung, when she worked in RTHK. This lasted for a few years. Later, Chow met Joe Nieh, the son of famous novelist Ni Kuang in a RTHK television programme in 1989 and they parted amicably in 1992. Chow met Ka Sen when she was in a Kao advertising shooting. After a two-year long-distance relationship, they broke up in 1995. Chow and Joe Nieh were back together in 1997 and married on 5 January 2009. They both become Christians in 2010 and joined an English-speaking local church in Hong Kong.
Filmography
Television (TVB) YearTitleRoleCo-StarNotes 1990The Hunter's Prey烏金血劍唐劍兒Canti Lau, Gallen Lo, Eddie Cheung, Gordon Liu, Stella Wang1991The Commandments武林幸運星曲楚楚Deric Wan, Cutie Mui, Lisa Lui, Tsui Ga Bo, Wong Yat Fei1992The Greed of Man阮 梅台：小猶太Adam Cheng, Sean Lau, David Siu, Yammie Lam, Amy KwokRage and Passion程若詩 (Guest appearance)Ekin Cheng, Gallen Lo, Eddie Kwan, Wayne Lai, Fiona Leung1995A Stage of Turbulence刀馬旦周玉茹/沈菊仙Sunny Chan, Patrick Tam, Roman Tam, Joyce Koi, Fiona Leung
Television (Taiwan) Year TitleRole Co-Star Notes 1994新包青天之滴血紅梅(Guest appearances)Jin Chao-chun, Kenny Ho, Leo Ku, Esther Kwan
Film Based on the title name in Cantonese: YearTitleRoleCo-StarNotes 1988Goodbye Hero玩命雙雄孟冬的妹妹David Wu, Derek Yee, Petrina FungTaiwan: 虎鷹特勤組Heart to Hearts三人世界毛慧敏VivianGeorge Lam, Carol Cheng, Michael Chow, Rosamund Kwan1989Happy TogetherCandyLawrence Cheng, Kenny Chung, Cherie Chung, Chingmy YauThe Yuppie FantasiaLawrence Cheng, Carol Cheng, Cherie Chung, Elizabeth LeeGuest appearancePath of Glory沖天小子Adam Cheng, Wilson Lam, Max Mok, Christopher ChenThe Romancing Star III阿 敏James Wong, Andy Lau, Sharla Cheung, Chingmy Yau1990Unmatchable Match風雨同路周文麗MandyStephen Chow, Charlie Chan, Shing Fui On, Karel WongHeart Into Hearts三人新世界毛慧敏VivianGeorge Lam, Carol Cheng, Maggie Cheung, Suki KwanGirls Without Tomorrow 1992方小玲Carina Lau, May Lo, Pauline Chan, Petrina FungTaiwan: 現代應召女郎1991Devil's Vendetta妖魔道彩 衣Stanley Fung, Joe Nieh, Sharla Cheung, Michelle SzeThe Perfect MatchPhilidonnaJacky Cheung, George Lam, Maggie Cheung, Lydia ShumFruit PunchYes!一族YokoLeon Lai, Hacken Lee, The GrasshopperTaiwan: 菜鳥大亨1992Fun and Fury痴情快婿馬青霞Leon Lai, Kent Cheng, Frankie Chan, Sharon KwokTaiwan: 賊探世家Heart Against Hearts三人做世界毛慧敏VivianGeorge Lam, Carol Cheng, Maggie Cheung, Rosamund KwanArrest the Restless藍江傳之反飛組風雲梁小敏Leslie Cheung, Charles Heung, Deanie Ip, Alex ToTaiwan: 整人探長：藍江傳Angel Hunter女校風雲之邪教入侵Vivian ChowSean Lau, Anthony Wong, Ng Man Tat, Carrie NgSummer Lover夏日情人阿 敏Max Mok, Alfred Cheung, Loletta Lee, Veronica YipStone Man石頭記紅 伶Wilson Lam, Ng Ma, Paul Chun, Lau ShunTaiwan: 紅伶名劍1993Tom, Dick and HairyFrancisTony Leung, Lawrence Cheng, Anita Yuen, Athena ChuGuest appearanceNo Regret, No Return走上不歸路方思維Max Mok, Kenneth Tsang, Karel Wong, Ridley Tsui1994The Kung Fu Scholar程 晴Dicky Cheung, Aaron Kwok, Ng Mang Tat, Bryan LeungTaiwan: 流氓狀元Family Affairs清官難審小 查Kenny Ho, Jin Chao-chun, Karen Mok, Rain LauTo Love Ferrari我愛法拉利周小敏David Siu, 朱永龍, Mark Kwok, 趙繼純1996Top Banana Club金裝香蕉俱樂部JennyAnthony Wong, Dayo Wong, Cheung Tat Ming, Esther KwanOut of the Blur廢話小說巴士乘客Jacky Cheung, Leon Lai, Shirley Kwan, William SoGuest appearance2010All About LoveAnitaSandra Ng, William Chan, Eddie CheungLeading Actress2011Wasao節子Voice Acting2014Café. Waiting. Love老闆娘Vivian Sung, Hung Chih Han, Megan LaiGuest appearance
Television film