[2013.09.04] ISABELLA LEONG RETURNS WITH SYLVIA CHANG'S NEW FILM

courtesy of singtao.com

Lawrence Ko, Isabella Leong, Sylvia Chang, Joseph Chang
courtesy of mingpao.com

Now 25 year old mother of former boyfriend Richard Li Tzar Kai's 3 sons, Isabella Leong Lok Si finally chose to return to show business. However it was not her mentor Tsui Hark's film as rumored. Instead she chose to make her comeback in Taiwan with the Sylvia Chang (Cheung Ngai Ga) directed new film LIM LIM. Yesterday Leong Lok Si attended the press conference and was dressed in red. Although she appeared to be nervous most of the time, actually she did not look like the mother of a 6 year old and a pair of 3 year old twins. Reporters asked her about her changes over the past 6 years. She was at a loss for words, finally she replied, "I am very happy!" Cheung Nga Ga immediately protected her and praised Leong Lok Si as a great mother. Today she bravely took an important step. Leong Lok Si teared up when she heard that.

Leong Lok Si started in the business at age 16 and was considered a bright new star in show business. Yet in 2007 when she met the second son of the richest man in Hong Kong Li Ka Shing, Li Tzar Kai, she immediately retired. After giving birth to 3 sons, they in 2011 announced that peaceful break up; after almost 7 years out of show business, Leong Lok Si chose to make a comeback in Taiwan and play a couple with Joseph Chang Hau Chuen in the Cheung Ngai Ga directed new film LIM LIM.

This time flying alone to Taiwan to make a movie, she said that her mother would take care of her children in Canada. She said that because she liked the LIM LIM script she decided to take it after thinking about it for two days. To her this was a huge decision. In the past she only rested and did not retire. She said that because after having children she ate more than before, for the new film she had to start losing weight.

When Leong Lok Si was asked about her changes over these few years, she was at a loss for words. Finally she replied, "I am very happy!" Cheung Ngai Ga immediately protected her and said, "She definitely has a lot of feelings inside, she is a great mother who loves her children very much. She also loves film very much. She knows that everyone would be very curious about her past. Today she bravely stands up to face everyone, which is an important step for her. However the past is unimportant, the future is what is important." Leong Lok Si listened and already teared up.

Cheung Ngai Ga revealed that the film began planning last year, with Leong Lok Si it was a chance union. "She loves to make movies, but she has never run into a good script. I first showed her a Mainland story then I showed her this script. She likes LIM LIM's story about the 'soul' very much." This film's production budget will be around HK$20 million. How much of it will be Leong Lok Si's salary? Cheung Ngai Ga said, "It's reasonable, when an actress runs into a character that she likes she wouldn't mind the salary. I also wouldn't let my actors suffer." Speaking she indirectly denied the rumor that Leong Lok Si received an astronomical salary to perform.

Cheung Ngai Ga said that Leong Lok Si who played an artist in the film last month already stayed in Taiwan for a month to learn to draw and experience being a Taiwan girl. In the film she and Chang Hau Chuen would play a couple, and siblings with Lawrence Ko Yu-Lun. Cheung Ngai Ga also said, "When I made TEMPTING HEART (SUM DUNG), Gum Sing Mo (Takeshi Kaneshiro)'s height made me worry about pairing him with (Gigi) Leung Wing Kei. I didn't expect them to look good as soon as they were together. Similarly Leong Lok Si is very feminine, Chang Hau Chuen has a very masculine 'beastly nature'. They also made an attractive couple that made me look forward to the sparks during the shoot."

LIM LIM will start production in Taipei, Taitung and Green Island this month and wrap by November. As for Leong Lok Si's future direction, will she make a full comeback in Hong Kong? Sh said, "Later I will rest for awhile, but I will continue to read scripts."