TVB star Sheren Tang went into acting to escape from unhappy family

Tang's parents divorced when she was five and she was raised by her strict grandparents.

Sheren Tang, best known for her role as Kau Ku Leung in the hit 2010 TVB series No Regrets, opens up about her difficult childhood during a radio interview (translated by JayneStars.com) recently.

Tang, whose parents divorced when she was five and was raised by her strict grandparents, said she used to look forward to leaving the nest when she grew up due to a "lack of familial love".

“I wanted to quickly graduate to society and be independent. I was told that artistes in the entertainment industry were always busy and could never go home." the 54-year-old recalls.

"Because I didn’t want to go home, that’s why I decided to become an actor.”

Tang enrolled in TVB’s artiste training class as soon as she finished secondary school in 1985.

Asked if she considered taking part in the Miss Hong Kong pageant (a springboard for many acting hopefuls), Tang said she had a scar on her leg and she didn't feel pretty enough.

“I’ve always had a very boyish personality. I even remember wishing to have a smaller chest so I could play basketball conveniently.”

Tang went on to carve out an illustrious career in Hong Kong and more recently in Mainland China, with shows like New My Fair Princess and Cosmetology High.

In a 2019 social media post, Tang shared she had learned to forgive her parents and let go of the past, even going on vacations with them.