Actress Carol Cheng leaves TVB after 44 years: ‘I simply want to have more freedom'

The actress wants to travel and devote her time to her hobbies but is open to freelance for the broadcaster. Photo: Carol Cheng/Instagram

After 44 years with TVB, actress Carol Cheng has called it a day with the Hong Kong broadcaster.

Cheng, also fondly known as Do Do among fans, told Hong Kong media she isn’t retiring although she’s leaving TVB.

She added that she’s just not renewing her contract full time with the company but will instead be freelancing. This, Cheng said, will enable her to travel and devote her time to her hobbies.

“I’ve been with TVB for a long time, and although they’ve been good to me, I still have an obligation to fulfil when I have a contract. I simply want to have more freedom, and it’s not about being unhappy or not getting along with someone,” the 65-year-old told media according to an entertainment portal in Hong Kong.

“When (TVB) and I discussed this, they were very respectful of my decision. There are no hard feelings at all. If there is an opportunity in the future, I’ll work with the company again,” she added.

“I struggled with my decision a bit. A part of me is unwilling to let go. I will miss a lot of my colleagues, but this is not a permanent goodbye,” she said.

Cheng started her career with TVB in 1975. She became a household name in the 1980s starring in hit series such as The Good, The Bad And The Ugly, The Brothers and The Feud Of Two Brothers. She has also acted alongside A-list actors such as Chow Yun Fat, Alex Man and Adam Cheng.

Fluent in English, Cheng starred in two seasons of the Singaporean sitcom, Oh Carol! in the early 2000s.

In the past decade or so, Cheng was the go-to host for TVB’s big shows such as Miss Hong Kong beauty pageant and TVB Anniversary Awards.