Hong Kong actor Stephen Au and his wife Phyllis Man have been living in Vancouver, Canada, for the past four years.
In a recent interview on a web show, the couple – who tied the knot in 1997 – said they have no regrets about moving there and have embraced the slower pace of life.
"We have adapted extremely well," said Au, 63.
The Off Pedder star praised Vancouver for its pleasant climate and welcoming community, adding that he has never experienced discrimination during his time there.
"As long as you speak to them nicely and respectfully, you won't get into trouble," he said.
Au added that living Canada has allowed him to enjoy a more relaxed lifestyle, free from the pressures and constant socialising that came with living in Hong Kong.
He said he no longer feels the need to meet people all the time, giving him more opportunities to slow down, reflect and appreciate the simple things in life.
In fact, Au has found his creative inspiration flowing more freely ever since, completing five books over the past four years, according to Oriental Daily.
Man also revealed that her husband had amassed a large collection of model kits while living in Hong Kong. However, they remained unopened for nearly 20 years due to Au's busy schedule.
It was only after moving to Canada that he finally had the time to unpack and enjoy his long-neglected collection.
"I build everything from scratch (using foam boards and clay). It's really fun," Au said.
Despite embracing a slower pace of life, Au has no plans to retire from showbiz. Instead, he has shifted his focus towards theatre and remains actively involved in stage productions.
He is set to star in the stage play Frankenstein 1.0 in September.
On the differences between working in Hong Kong and Vancouver, Au said a production that might take just two months to prepare in Hong Kong could take four months of gradual refinement in Vancouver.
Despite the longer process, the actor said he appreciates the simplicity and passion of the team he works with.
He added that being able to bring Hong Kong culture to audiences overseas gives him a strong sense of happiness and fulfilment.
