Hong Kong screen legend Simon Yam is celebrated not only for his stellar acting skills but also for his warmth and down-to-earth charm.
The 70-year-old is currently earning praise for his gracious response to a former flight attendant who failed to recognise him.
According to Hong Kong news portal HK01, a novelist recently shared an amusing story from her days working in aviation, admitting that she often struggled to recognise people by appearance.
One day, a stylish and energetic passenger boarded first class. However, she failed to recognise him and even accidentally mispronounced his name as “Yang”.
“He seemed a little surprised at first, but then playfully replied, ‘Yes! My surname is Yang. Today, I’m Yang!’ He hummed cheerfully before taking his seat in the first-class cabin,” she recounted.
The story quickly went viral, with netizens praising Yam for his humility and many sharing their own memorable encounters with the star.
One film crew member commented: “He’s probably the friendliest and most down-to-earth actor I’ve ever met. He’s polite to every staff member. When filming wrapped, he'd say goodbye to each department. He even remembered a small fry like me.”
A former flight attendant, who appeared in behind-the-scenes footage from the 2024 TVB drama The Airport Diary, also recalled Yam being extremely respectful, taking the time to listen carefully to the safety procedures before takeoff.
“He removed his headphones to listen. I felt that was a sign of real respect. Honestly, many ordinary passengers don’t even bother to pay attention.”
