EXCLUSIVE: China-based actor Lawrence Wong once flew to Johor to have 1 CNY meal

Wong, who is currently filming in Hainan, China, will celebrate CNY virtually with his family this year. Photos: Handout

Since starring in the 2018 hit period drama, Story Of Yanxi Palace, Malaysia-born, China-based actor Lawrence Wong's career has taken off tremendously.

So much so, Wong was so tied up with filming commitments during one particular Chinese New Year, he only had a day off.

Still, the actor, who was born and raised in Johor, took advantage of what little time off he had.

"I was filming in China back in 2019. I applied for leave but it wasn't approved so I only had one day off in the end.

"I literally flew to Malaysia just to have one dinner with my father and then flew back," he tells StarLifestyle in an email interview exclusively.

This CNY, Wong won't be able to do that. Besides the fact that he is in the midst of filming Chinese drama, Seizing Dreams, in Hainan, China, the pandemic has made jetting in and out of the country in a jiffy impossible.

'In today's pandemic, the only way to celebrate CNY is to keep the spirit in your heart and make use of technology,' the actor says.

"In today's pandemic, the only way to celebrate CNY is to keep the spirit in your heart and make use of technology.

"For example, I will do a video call to bai nian with my dad. And our family will send pictures of how reunion dinner is like wherever they are."

Wong, who has missed a number of CNY celebrations with his family over the years, says he misses his family's tradition of eating steamboat the most.

"Although we have steamboats at other times of the year too, but during CNY, the ingredients are extra special. We would have fish maw, scallops, extra large prawns and other expensive seafood," he adds.

Wong describes how he will be spending CNY in China this year.

"When filming during CNY, we typically film right up to the first half of the reunion dinner day.

"At night, there will be a dinner for all the production team. Then on the first day of CNY, we will get the day off. And we start work again on the second day of CNY," he explains.

Wong, who played leading man for the first time in 2020 drama Girlfriend, shares his experience with filming in China so far.

"Scripts are given to you way in advance because there's a big team working. Everyone's job is very focused and clear. They have people in charge of doing just one specific task only."

The actor also talks about how competitive the showbiz industry is in China.

"If you think you are good looking, there are people who are better looking than you. If you think you are talented, there are people who are more talented than you.

"There are always people younger than you, hungrier than you and willing to go the extra mile.

"That's how it is because the country is so big, they have all sorts of talents. So it's very competitive here."

Wong says he has definitely faced rejection before and credits his talent management company for always looking out for fresh opportunities for him.

Besides being busy with acting, Wong recently released his first skincare line, Grail Skin.

The actor was inspired to start Grail Skin after years of battling acne.

"I actually had problematic skin since I was young. I went through a lot to get my skin to where it is now. I had very bad acne.

"I took all sorts of antibiotics for my acne. Even after my skin has healed, my skin is ultra-sensitive and reacts to almost everything.

"I thought why not come up with a product where I know exactly what ingredients are in it and with the knowledge and experience I've accumulated over the years, maybe I can help other people."