Wan Yeung Ming, 66, recently made a triumphant return to TVB after 24 years, in the drama Darkside Of The Moon.
The former TVB actor has appeared in many TV series in his heyday such as Crimes Of Passion, Happy Harmony and Justice Bao, as well as hit films like Young And Dangerous movies and The Storm Riders.
In a recent interview with hk01.com, Wan recalled a dark period in his 30s when he was busiest as an actor.
Wan started by saying that he's someone who couldn’t manage working on two projects at the same time.
“I was the lead in both shows. After filming with a wig for the drama, I’d take it off and rush to the movie set.
"I once went six days without sleeping," he said, adding that he was so tired that he fell asleep while driving one time and had even dozed on set.
That relentless pace continued when he signed on to TVB drama Happy Harmony (1994), where he worked for seven months straight with no rest.
Under pressure, Wan sought solace in gambling, viewing it as a casual diversion from his hectic schedule.
But, it quickly spiralled out of control.
“I thought I’d only gamble one month’s salary, but in just two rounds, I lost HK$200,000,” he said.
Determined to recover his losses, he kept betting, eventually amassing debts far beyond what he could manage.
“It wasn’t just HK$200,000. I lost my entire seven months of salary.”
At one point, his gambling debt exceeded HK$2mil that he contemplated suicide.
“There were moments I stood at the edge, thinking of ending it all."
Fortunately, he felt there was still hope for him as his show was still airing every night at that time.
He eventually stopped gambling, but faced years of gruelling work to repay his debts.
He quit his steady job on the TVB drama in order to earn more money quickly. For five years, he accepted any role available.
"If I stayed on (Happy Harmony), I could’ve continued for months, but I needed fast money. I took any job, even low-budget TV movies filmed in just a few days. I told myself this money was saving me."
Reflecting on this period, Wan said: "I made a mistake, but I don’t regret it. Regret is useless; you face the consequences and move on. These experiences shape your life."
Wan has talked about this part of in his life before. Perhaps, he feels compelled to share it again as he wants to use his story as a reminder that even in the darkest moments, recovery is possible.
Today, Wan continues to explore creative projects, including a potential autobiographical film.
