Vivian Chow


Vivian Chow Wai-man is a Hong Kong-based Cantopop singer-songwriter and actress.

Life and career

Vivian Chow is the only child in her family. Her father passed away before her birth due to heart disease. She was brought up by her mother and grandmother. Chow graduated from St. Stephen's Church College and gained 6th grade in piano.
Born and raised in Hong Kong, Chow entered the New Talent Singing Awards which held by TVB & Capital Artists in 1985. She began her singing & acting career by winning the first runner-up at a freelance DJ competition which held by RTHK in 1986.

Sancity Record (1988-1991)

In 1988, Chow was invited by TVB to hosted the TV music program "Jade Solid Gold. Chow starred in her first movie "Heart to Heart" and was nominated for "Best New Performer" of Hong Kong Film Awards for her role in this movie. Chow also joined Sancity Record in the same year and released her debut platinum single, "Vivian", which got platinum award.
Chow won "Best New Prospect Exceptional Award" of Top 10 Gold Songs Award in 1989. Later, she hosted the young-oriented current-affairs program "Modern Era" of RTHK Television with Joe Nieh.
In 1990, Chow acted in her first TV drama "The Hunter’s Prey" and released her first and second solo album "Vivian" and "情迷".

[Polygram] (1991-1992)

Chow resigned from RTHK and started to focus on her career as a singer and actress in 1991. Chow joined Polygram and released her third debut album "A Long and Lasting Love" in November.
In 1992, Chow was named as one of "Ten Artists with Healthy Image" by Commercial Radio Hong Kong. Her forth & fifth debut album "Endless Dream" and "Winter Romance" were released in the same year.

[Polygram] + [Linfair] (1992-1996)

Chow joined Linfair Record Taiwan and broke into the Taiwan market with releasing her song "Rumor" successfully in 1992. Her first Mandarin debut album "Rumor" was released in November and sold a total of more than 300,000 copies.
In 1993, Chow won 3rd place in the "Next Magazine TV Awards for Most Popular Artists" for her role on the TV drama "The Greed of Man". Her second Mandarin debut album was released in May and got 6 platinum award. Chow was chosen as the "Most Popular Female Artist" by Taiwan media. Later, Chow released her sixth Cantonese debut album "Most Love" which got double platinum award. The Cantonese featured album and the third Mandarin debut album "Vivian & Her Mind" were released in the end of year. Chow won Metro Hit Radio's "Best Female Singer-Bronze Award" and Japan NHK's "Most Popular Foreign Female Singer Award".
Chow released her first Japanese debut album "Love Legend" to broke into the Japanese market in April 1994. At the same month, Chow released her seventh Cantonese debut album "Growing up". The forth Mandarin debut album "Leaving the habit of depression", eighth Cantonese debut album "The time of red leaves drifting" and Mandarin duet debut album "Know yourself and your enemies" were also released in this year. Chow got a breakthrough in her singer career for the total selling of these Cantonese and Mandarin albums got 8 platinum award. She was also chosen as "Most Popular Hong Kong Female Singer Award" by Japanese media.
Chow's Taiwan concert tour started at ChangHua Stadium on 11 June 1994, and continued at KaoHsiung Stadium on June 18, 1994 and Taipei Stadium on 25 June 1994. Chow returned to Hong Kong in the second half of the year, she holds 4 shows in Hong Kong Coliseum at Oct 7-8 and 14–15.
In 1995, Chow won the award of "TVB JSG Top Ten 94 New Generation Performance ". She released her ninth Cantonese debut album "A little more love" in May. Her first Japanese EP was released in June. The Japanese duet "今を抱きしめて" sang with Japanese singer Asaku Yoshida was also included in the Japanese EP and the Fifth Mandarin debut album "處處留情" which was released in July. Chow was named as one of "Asian Pop Divas" by Japanese music critics along with Faye Wong, Sandy Lam and Sally Yip and one of the "Top 10 Most Popular Performers" in China.
In 1996, Chow released her last Cantonese debut album "熱敏" in May, last Mandarin debut album "Time" in October and the first Mandarin featured album "周慧敏的敏感地帶" in December before her semi-retirement. She has also been elected as one of the "Top 10 worldwide celebrities on the Internet" by internet users.

[Polygram] + [Taurus Records] (1997-1998)

Chow joined Taurus Records in 1997 and released the second EP "逢いにゆきたいの" in February. She was voted as one of "Top 10 celebrities on the internet’. After Chow announced she would not take any entertainment jobs when she held the concert in Atlantic City in November, Polygram Hong Kong released the featured album ""回憶從今天開始" which included the new song "男女之間", Japanese song "逢いにゆきたいの" and 15 Chow's Hit Songs to summarize Chow's music.
At the beginning of 1998, Taurus Records released the Japanese version of the featured album "あの日から始まった", included 18 Chow's 18 best hits including "自動自覺" and "真愛在明天".

Semi-retirement (1998-2003)

After left the entertainment scene, Chow moved to Vancouver with Joe Nieh and appeared in public places occasionally. She obsessed with painting, writing and playing pool. Her painting "Old Man from San Geung" and "Looking Towards the Future" won many painting awards.
Chow and Nieh returned to Hong Kong with their cats in 2003 because the outbreak of SARS stopped them from returning to Canada. Chow revealed the reason she stopped her entertainment career in 1997 in TVB talk show "Queen’s Feast". "My TV, movie, agency and record contracts all expired in 1997, so she tried to gain life experiences outside of the entertainment and music industries.

Back to Stage (2004-)

In 2004, Chow launched her first book "My Cat Son Pal Chow" which quickly sold more than 20,000 books and was also in the top 10 best-selling books for several months. Chow was also invited to be Shiseido spokesperson for the Asia region in the same year. After back to entertainment scene, Chow works as part-time and obsesses with community services. She worked with World Vision Hong Kong, Oxfam, Hong Kong Aid Foundation, Cancer Fund, Society for Abandoned Animals Limited and Non-Profit Making Veterinary Service Society to promote taking care of the social vulnerable group through her social influence.
Chow returned to the Hong Kong Coliseum to perform in her "Back for Love" concert on 25–27 May 2006 after she stepped on this stage twelve years ago. She
donated all of the rewards she got for the 3 concerts to NPV to raise money for establishing a veterinary clinic which grand opened on Chow's birthday in the same year.

25th Anniversary of Debut (2011-2013)

Chow held the concert "Deep V.25" on 19–20 March 2011 at Hong Kong Coliseum and released the anniversary EP "Potted Plants" to celebrate her 25th anniversary of debut. The appearance of Sean Lau in the concert surprised Chow and the audiences because it was the first reunion of this pair of main characters in famous TV drama "The Greed of Man".
It was a few days after Fukushima Daiichi nuclear disaster and 2011 Tōhoku earthquake and tsunami, when Yoshie Kashiwabara came to Hong Kong as one of her special guests, Chow also decided to sell her CD's and the souvenirs designed by Leo Ku, with all proceeds given to charity for the Japanese Relief Funds. Chow's cat sons Pal Chow and Chu Jai were passed away a month before the concert.
After the concert in Hong Kong, Chow started the world tour "Vivian Chow Journey of Love".
In 2013, Chow started her own talent agency, V Vision Workshop Limited. Her agent is Lorraine Chan a talent agent.

First time starred in Taiwanese movie and produced a gospel album (2014-)

In 2014, Chow starred in Taiwanese movie "Cafe. Waiting. Love" which was released on 15 August 2014 in Hong Kong and Taiwan. The movie got very good results in both places. The box office reached 20 million in Hong Kong and 200 million in Taiwan. Chow was invited to sing the theme song "咖啡在等一個人" which was included in the movie soundtrack.
Chow's first gospel album "HIM" was released on 18 December 2014. The album was produced by Chow and issued by Emperor Group Music and Linfair Record Limited. The English song "A Love Like This" was composited by Chow is about how her faiths changed her life. Chow started to participate in different forms of sermons to share Christian testimony after the launching of album.

Personal life

Chow's first love was her high school colleague. She started a relationship with the vocalist of Raidas, Chan Duk Cheung, when she worked in RTHK. This lasted for a few years. Later, Chow met Joe Nieh, the son of famous novelist Ni Kuang in a RTHK television programme in 1989 and then they parted amicably in 1992. Chow met Mr. Ka Sen when she was in a Kao advertising shooting. After a two years long distance relationship, they broke up in 1995. Chow and Joe Nieh were back together in 1997 and married on 5 January 2009. They both become Christians in 2010 and joined an English-speaking local church in Hong Kong.

Filmography

Television([TVB])

Television (Taiwan)

Film

Based on the Title name in Cantonese:
YearTitleRoleCo-StarNotes
1988玩命雙雄孟冬的妹妹David Wu, Derek Yee, Petrina FungTaiwan: 虎鷹特勤組
1988三人世界毛慧敏
Vivian
George Lam, Carol Cheng, Michael Chow, Rosamund Kwan
1989相見好CandyLawrence Cheng, Kenny Chung, Cherie Chung, Chingmy Yau
1989The Yuppie FantasiaLawrence Cheng, Carol Cheng, Cherie Chung, Elizabeth LeeGuest appearance
1989沖天小子Adam Cheng, Wilson Lam, Max Mok, Christopher Chen
1989精裝追女仔之3狼之一族阿 敏James Wong, Andy Lau, Sharla Cheung, Chingmy Yau
1990風雨同路周文麗
Mandy
Stephen Chow, Charlie Chan, Shing Fui On, Karel Wong
1990三人新世界毛慧敏
Vivian
George Lam, Carol Cheng, Maggie Cheung, Suki Kwan
1990應召女郎1988之二現代應召女郎方小玲Carina Lau, May Lo, Pauline Chan, Petrina FungTaiwan: 現代應召女郎
1991妖魔道彩 衣Stanley Fung, Joe Nieh, Sharla Cheung, Michelle Sze
1991富貴吉祥PhilidonnaJacky Cheung, George Lam, Maggie Cheung, Lydia Shum
1991Yes!一族YokoLeon Lai, Hacken Lee, The GrasshopperTaiwan: 菜鳥大亨
1992痴情快婿馬青霞Leon Lai, Kent Cheng, Frankie Chan, Sharon KwokTaiwan: 賊探世家
1992三人做世界毛慧敏
Vivian
George Lam, Carol Cheng, Maggie Cheung, Rosamund Kwan
1992藍江傳之反飛組風雲梁小敏Leslie Cheung, Charles Heung, Deanie Ip, Alex ToTaiwan: 整人探長:藍江傳
1992女校風雲之邪教入侵Vivian ChowSean Lau, Anthony Wong, Ng Man Tat, Carrie Ng
1992夏日情人阿 敏Max Mok, Alfred Cheung, Loletta Lee, Veronica Yip
1992石頭記紅 伶Wilson Lam, Ng Ma, Paul Chun, Lau ShunTaiwan: 紅伶名劍
1993Tom, Dick and HairyFrancisTony Leung, Lawrence Cheng, Anita Yuen, Athena ChuGuest appearance
1993走上不歸路方思維Max Mok, Kenneth Tsang, Karel Wong, 徐寶華
1994倫文敘老點柳先開程 晴Dicky Cheung, Aaron Kwok, Ng Mang Tat, Bryan LeungTaiwan: 流氓狀元
1994清官難審小 查Kenny Ho, 金超群, Karen Mok, Rain Lau
1994我愛法拉利周小敏David Siu, 朱永龍, Mark Kwok, 趙繼純
1996金裝香蕉俱樂部JennyAnthony Wong, Dayo Wong, Cheung Tat Ming, Esther Kwan
1996廢話小說巴士乘客Jacky Cheung, Leon Lai, Shirley Kwan, William SoGuest appearance
2010得閒炒飯AnitaSandra Ng, William Chan, Eddie CheungLeading Actress
2011鬆毛犬小威節子Voice Acting
2014等一個人咖啡老闆娘Vivian Sung, Hung Chih Han, Megan LaiGuest appearance

Television Film

Musical Television Film

Special Edition (TV)

Radio Drama

YearTitle
May 1992兩個他
July 1994蘭茜夫人劇場:讓我愛你一個夏天
August 1994終站

Radio DJ/TV Show Host

[RTHK]

[TVB]

TV Show

Discography

Album

Painting

Commercials

Photo albums

Awards and nominations