Former Chinese actress Maggie Yu Miao stepped away from Hong Kong’s entertainment scene in 2023 and has since found joy in working as a waitress in Dongguan, China.
She occasionally shares snippets of her new routine on Douyin, the Chinese version of TikTok, and previously said her current job feels much more manageable than the hectic lifestyle she once led as an actress at TVB.
In a recent vlog, Yu, 37, was seen cutting up 30 watermelons during a shift.
For that particular day’s work, the My Unfair Lady (2017) star earned 150 yuan (RM90). She was previously paid 180 yuan (RM108) for setting tables.
Yu also shared a screenshot of a text message she had received – an offer for a film role. The message read: “We have a role here, 500 yuan (RM300) a day. Do you want it?”
However, Yu responded: “I’m in Dongguan now and have some fame here. I’ll consider it first. 500 yuan … should I go to Hong Kong to film a movie or stay here and work?”
When asked by fans why she didn’t want to return to acting, the former TVB actress explained that it all came down to income stability.
“I’m in Dongguan every day, and it’s very fulfilling. I earn money daily.
“Filming is complicated. Sometimes, I have to wait up to a year for a role. I feel that my hard work here in Dongguan is rewarded, so I’m keeping it up,” she said.
Yu, a former Miss Chinese International Pageant finalist, was signed to TVB from 2013 to 2023 and is known for her roles in dramas like Ghost Of Relativity (2015), My Lover From The Planet Meow (2016) and Wonder Women (2019).
It's reported that she used to juggle multiple part-time jobs back then as her income at the broadcaster wasn't enough to sustain comfortable lifestyle.
