“Middle-aged Female Actress” Charmaine Sheh, No Crisis
In the entertainment industry, the “dilemma of middle-aged female actresses” is a perennial topic. Typically, if a female actress reaches middle age, her career will face many restrictions. The roles available to her are mostly limited to playing girlish characters or motherly figures, and she is likely to receive negative feedback.
But Charmaine Sheh (佘詩曼) had already made preparations before reaching middle age, trying different opportunities. In 2011, Charmaine ended her management contract with TVB and continued to collaborate under a per-head contract, only committing to a set number of TV dramas per year without restricting other personal activities. Afterwards, Charmaine focused mainly on the mainland Chinese market.
At that time, the mainland Chinese film and television market was booming, and Hong Kong stars were no longer as popular as before. Being new to the mainland, the resources Charmaine could access were limited. Her first TV drama, The Legend of Kublai Khan <忽必烈傳奇>, scored only 4.9 on Douban, with just 339 people rating it.
She also tried acting in films, but in the co-production environment where blockbusters generally feature Hong Kong male stars and mainland female stars, she could only take on small productions, which were lukewarm. Despite continuously trying various opportunities, Charmaine was still inevitably considered one of the most unsuccessful Hong Kong and Taiwan artists to move north. The situation changed with a palace drama—Story of Yanxi Palace <延禧攻略>.
Director Yu Zheng (於正), impressed by Charmaine’s performance in War and Beauty <金枝欲孽>, invited her to play the role of Consort Xian: “Er Chun is my favorite character, and I chose Charmaine Sheh because I believe the power hidden beneath her gentle appearance can be fully expressed. Great roles are hard to find, just as great actors are.”
At that time, it was not considered a good opportunity, Ruyi’s Royal Love in the Palace <如懿傳> was at the height of its popularity, and no one had high expectations for Story of Yanxi Palace; moreover, the role of Consort Xian was just a villainous supporting character, far from the leading roles Charmaine had at TVB. But Charmaine’s approach was simple: “If the acting is satisfying, that’s good enough for me, I enjoy the feeling of my gaze being lethal.”
Indeed, Charmaine’s confidence in her acting skills is not without reason. In Story of Yanxi Palace, Consort Xian starts off keeping to herself and avoiding conflict; but when her father is framed and jailed, her mother commits suicide, and her brother dies in prison, she decides no longer to bear the humiliation and embarks on a path of darkness.
One character, two extreme personalities, Charmaine switches effortlessly. The transformation from a gentle beauty to a deadly femme fatale is not achieved through makeup changes or menacing threats, but through nuanced acting. When Consort Xian first kills someone who has oppressed her, Charmaine portrays a kind person driven to a breaking point, unleashing her anger after repeated bullying. Every movement not only chills but also mixes glimpses of Consort Xian’s once gentle nature, presenting an extremely twisted facial expression. But once Consort Xian fully turns evil, Charmaine’s acting is no longer just about being “fierce,” but rather exudes a relaxed confidence of holding the winning cards.
Many viewers were impressed by Charmaine’s acting, considering her the standout performer of the series. Unexpectedly, the series became a hit after its release. With the role of Consort Xian, Charmaine’s career in mainland China took off, and many opportunities came her way. The popular drama Winter Begonia <鬢邊不是海棠紅> was among them.
Charmaine played a character who is temperamental yet coquettish—a challenge for a native Hong Kong actress portraying a fiery Northeastern woman. But Charmaine was not restricted; she dedicated time before shooting to practice her walking and speaking pace and consulted friends from Northeast China to perfect her performance.
Even with limited screen time, her stellar acting is still talked about. From being considered one of the least successful Hong Kong and Taiwan artists in the north, to establishing a firm footing in the mainland entertainment industry; Charmaine’s ability to shine when given the opportunity cannot be overlooked.
“A fierce fighter in the storm”
Whether it’s changing the focus of her career development or exploring new resources, many believe it was luck that made Charmaine. But looking at her career, her current status is not just due to occasional success. Seizing opportunities and making a strong comeback has been a recurring theme in her life.
Charmaine lost her father at the age of five, and her mother struggled to raise her. She had never thought about entering the entertainment industry; she only participated in the Hong Kong beauty pageant on her mother’s suggestion. That year, the winner and runner-up were both vying to marry into wealthy families, which led TVB to turn their attention to Charmaine, who placed third.
Unfamiliar with the entertainment industry, Charmaine had no acting experience prior to this. Consequently, her early career was challenging, often making her a target for criticism. In the drama Time Off, her character faced a marital crisis and was deeply sorrowful, but Charmaine, still inexperienced, couldn’t bring herself to cry, earning harsh criticism from viewers. Later, in the historical drama The Flying Fox of Snowy Mountain <雪山飛狐>, her weak delivery of lines led to mockery.
Being in the limelight doesn’t always mean success; luck must be backed by capability. Amidst the laughter, Charmaine persevered with resilience. If she couldn’t deliver lines well, she practiced daily by reading newspapers aloud at home; if her acting was immature, she believed in transforming through volume, learning while acting, shooting up to 100 episodes a year, sometimes going without sleep for four or five nights. It wasn’t until five years later that War and Beauty became a sensation across the country.
Charmaine’s portrayal of Dong Jia·er Chun, clever but ruthless, deeply resonated with audiences. The scene where Er Chun holds a mirror to her rival is chilling to this day. Advertisers even cancelled contracts with her because her portrayal of the villain was too convincing.
After War and Beauty became her signature work, Charmaine did not rest on her laurels but continued to hone her acting skills. Two years later, she won both the “Best Actress Award” and “My Favorite TV Female Character Award” at TVB with Maidens’ Vow <鳳凰四重奏>, becoming the only actress to do so simultaneously. At the award ceremony, the usually composed Charmaine broke down in tears. “From being criticized for my ‘chick voice’ and inability to act, to receiving this award today, I am very happy.”
There are many successful actors, but few maintain their initial intentions after achieving success; Charmaine is one of them. While shooting The Dance of Passion <火舞黃沙>, she fell face-first during a running scene, breaking two teeth. On the set of the crime thriller Line Walker <使徒行者>, a car stunt resulted in a cervical spine injury, causing ongoing numbness in her hand.
These experiences have honed Charmaine’s remarkable adaptability. During the filming of Story of Yanxi Palace, despite the sweltering heat of midsummer, her character had to wear long robes typical of historical dramas.
At this time, Charmaine not only endured harsh filming conditions but also refused to let the environment affect her performance. “After long training, my face doesn’t sweat, regardless of what happens to the rest of my body, it won’t affect my facial performance.”
From being a Miss Hong Kong to being criticized for poor acting, from winning her first Best Actress award to creating multiple classic characters, Charmaine has continually broken new ground. In 2014, Charmaine won her second double Best Actress award, setting a new record at TVB.
The external world has been generous in calling her “the last leading lady of TVB’s golden era.” Hong Kong media personality Eileen Cha (查小欣) aptly described her as a resilient plant in the wind.
No Love, But Plenty of Money
Unlike successful unmarried male celebrities, though Charmaine has continuously broken through professionally, her status as unmarried at 47 has not escaped public scrutiny. Charmaine has had several romantic relationships. While studying in Switzerland, she dated a wealthy second-generation boyfriend who wanted her to stay home and raise children, but Charmaine firmly refused. At just 22, she couldn’t accept a life dependent on someone else, foreseeing a dead-end.
As Miss Hong Kong during her era, it was not uncommon for actresses to quickly end their careers to marry into wealthy families. She was once asked in an interview why she didn’t marry into a wealthy family, and she answered clearly, “I was so young at that time… it seemed strange to get married right after finishing school.”
More controversy surrounds her tumultuous relationship with Benny Chan (陳浩民). In 2003 and 2004, Benny proposed to her twice, and there were rumors that they planned to marry in 2005. This relationship ultimately ended without a clear reason, with various speculations circulating. Many believe her career development hindered her romantic relationships. But looking closely at her attitude towards several relationships, she had already clearly understood what she truly wanted.
Today, Charmaine, with money, leisure, and hobbies, lives the envied life of a “single rich sister.” Owning five properties worth over a hundred million each, she has a steady passive income even without working. When she has filming work, she focuses on acting; when not filming, she enriches herself at home.
She has a wide range of hobbies, all pursued seriously over time, not merely on a whim. Cable TV entertainment news anchor and friend Michael Wai (衛志豪) once praised her, “If Charmaine Sheh hadn’t pursued a career in the entertainment industry, she definitely would have become a race car driver.” Later, Charmaine took a year off to study painting. From the artworks she shares annually, one can see her improving skills.
In a relaxed state, Charmaine clearly understands herself. “The most important thing in life is to be content. As long as you feel content, you will be happy.” Even though people still wonder, at 47, without love, is Charmaine Sheh really happy?
Charmaine always answers with a laugh: “I’m very happy now. I have health, great family, many good friends, and a job I love. I eat well, sleep well, and play well. As for the extra stuff, just because others have it, does that mean I need it too?”
