English actors Jessie Mei Li and Toby Stephens both share personal ties to Hong Kong – Li through her father and Stephens through his wife, who were both raised in the city.
Yet despite those connections, neither had ever filmed there before.
So when the offer came to star in the six-episode thriller The Season, produced by PCCW and SK Global Entertainment, both actors quickly jumped at the chance to be part of the project.
“I’ve only visited Hong Kong once with my family for five days, and we stayed in Mong Kok,” Li, 30, told StarLifestyle in an exclusive Zoom interview.
“I had very limited time then because I was on my way to Bangkok to visit relatives.
“I don’t think I even managed to explore the island. So, to fully experience the amazing locations and high-society lifestyle here was amazing,” said the actress, who filmed the series between April and June last year.
“But I always felt a bit weird when I was here as a tourist because everyone’s hustling, and I just felt like I was in the way.
“So to work here properly and get to experience Hong Kong from different angles was wonderful,” he said.
A tale of secrets
In The Season, Li plays Cola, a newcomer to Hong Kong who quickly finds herself entangled with the city’s upper class.
But beneath her fresh start lies a carefully concealed agenda: to bring down the wealthy and influential Hext family.
“Cola is a very ambitious, hardworking and tenacious person,” Li said of her character.
“Since I’m a little bit more laid back in real life, it was quite difficult for me to (showcase that tougher side).
“But it felt important to me that Cola had a warmth and friendliness to her, so I tried to bring a little bit of my silly side to the character when it was appropriate,” she added.
“He’s ambitious, but he’s also terrified that he’s going to be the one who fails the company.
“There are many problems brewing within his company, and he’s worried about whether he can save it,” the 57-year-old said.
The actor added that portraying Christopher was an intriguing experience, as the character is the complete opposite of who he is in real life.
“To be that successful in business, you have to be so driven and really want it, but I just don’t have the energy for that,” he said, laughing.
The chemistry between the cast was evident as Li shared an anecdote about working with Stephens on set.
“It was challenging for me to get into certain scenes sometimes because Toby would make me crack up in between takes.
“And when he switches into Christopher again, he becomes so intimidating.
“It was so amazing watching him work,” she said.
“Fiona is like a falcon, nesting high in the skyscrapers, just watching, observing and finding the perfect moment.
“She’s very protective of her family, so if there’s a threat, she would fiercely protect it.
“But I’m the complete opposite of Fiona. I’m like a cat that’s always sleeping, so it was interesting portraying her,” the 47-year-old said.
Stephens chimed in: “That’s what I love about acting – you get to play these people, observe them and interpret them in your own way.”
Fresh perspective
The Season boasts an ensemble cast, including Canadian actress Yvonne Chapman, Japanese model Koki, Crazy Rich Asians star Chris Pang and a special appearance from Anson Lo of popular Hong Kong boy band Mirror.
Pang plays Andrew Fung, a flamboyant hotelier whose penchant for luxury and excessive displays of wealth make him one of the most colourful personalities in the series.
The role was an immediate draw for the Australian actor, who said Andrew became his favourite character the moment he read the script.
“He’s a bit of a loose cannon and rascal from a rich family who does despicable things, but we love him for it,” the 41-year-old added.
Beyond the compelling script and richly layered character, another factor that sealed the deal for Pang was the chance to fulfil a long-time dream of filming in Hong Kong.
Much like France helped define Emily In Paris, Hong Kong emerges as a character in its own right in The Season.
Growing up watching Hong Kong cinema, Pang said he loved how the series captures the city’s contrasts.
“One thing I love about this show is how Hong Kong seems like a character itself.
“There’s that duality throughout the series where we show both the modest side through characters that aren’t rich, and the wealthier side at racecourses and on boats. I think we really got to really show that off, which is beautiful,” Pang said.
“We had the privilege of filming at Sha Tin Racecourse, and it was the first time they ever allowed any production to do any filming there,” she said.
“It was also race day at the time, and a lot of the crew put bets on the horses too.”
The price of prestige
As The Season weaves together glamour, power and deception against the backdrop of Hong Kong’s contrasting worlds, its cast hopes audiences will walk away with something more than just a thrilling spectacle.
Pang reflected on the risks of living a life built on hidden secrets, warning that nothing remains buried forever.
“If you’re going to live a life in the shadows and do things in secret, be ready for that to come to light,” he said.
For Li, the hope is that viewers will understand that the pursuit of ambition often comes at a cost – sometimes a far greater one than expected.
“Don’t underestimate the costs of getting what you want. Sometimes, you may have an ambition or a plan, but you lose so much along the way.
“You have to know the kind of sacrifices you need to make in order to succeed in this world and in the society we live in,” she said.
Meanwhile, Stephens said the series’ strength lies in its blend of different tones.
“It’s funny, sexy and glamorous, but there’s also a human and thriller aspect to it.
“You’ve got all these different ingredients in it, so it’s a very rich meal. There’s something for everyone.”
All episodes of The Season are available on Viu.
