HK actor Chan Wing Chun used to do extra work as a plumber due to low pay in TVB

Hong Kong actor Chan Wing Chun said he used to take on extra work as a plumber, taxi driver and more due to low pay in TVB. Photo: Handout

TVB actor Chan Wing Chun has opened up about the hardship he faced as a newbie in the Hong Kong film industry.

In a recent talk show, Chan said that he used to struggle with low pay when he was younger and had to work several jobs to make ends meet.

“I would drive a taxi, minibus and van. When I’m not driving, I would be working as an air-cond technician and plumber. If I had consecutive days off, I would lead a tour group overseas,” the 67-year-old said.

The Come Home Love: Lo And Behold star added that this was the reason why he preferred taking on more supporting roles.

Since there were less scenes to shoot, it gave him more time to work on his side jobs.

When asked to comment more on his days with TVB then, Chan said: “Being an actor in Hong Kong isn’t easy. I worked in China for 10 days, and the pay was equivalent to my one year’s pay at the company.”

Fortunately for him, those days of hardship are now in the past. The actor said he still keeps some mementos with him.

“I still keep my technician licence and tour guide certificate. Do I still work as a tour guide? No,” he said.

According to Singaporean news portal 8days, Chan considered leaving TVB after receiving an offer by a talent agency to develop his career in China.

However, he rejected the offer and stayed in Hong Kong to take care of his wife, actress Helen Ng, who suffers from dermatomyositis – a rare disease that causes muscle weakness and skin rash.

Chan’s first wife passed away from a stroke in 2010.

In 2014, he dated Ng after meeting her on the set of TVB drama, Gilded Chopsticks. The couple got married in 2018.