Anne Heung Hoi-lam (born 2 October 1974) is a Hongkonger-Canadian actress, model and beauty pageant titleholder. She formerly under contract to the television station TVB. She left TVB in 2008 for new business ventures but returned to media work in 2015.

Anne Heung
Heung in 2019
Born (1974-10-02) 2 October 1974 (age 50)
Occupations
  • Actress
  • Singer
  • Model
  • Spokesperson
  • Event Planner
Years active1998–2008 (contract ended)
Chinese name
Traditional Chinese向海嵐
Simplified Chinese向海岚
Transcriptions
Standard Mandarin
Hanyu PinyinXiàng Hǎilán
Yue: Cantonese
JyutpingHoeng3 Hoi2-laam4

Life and career

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Early days & Miss HK 1998

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Heung family root traceback to Shanghai, she was born in Hong Kong, and later went to Canada, where she studied economics at the University of British Columbia.

Heung later returned to Hong Kong and competed in the Miss Hong Kong in 1998, where she was crowned and won three awards. She represented Hong Kong in the Miss Chinese International Pageant 1999 and was crowned the second runner up.[1] She also competed in the international pageant, Miss Universe 1999, but did not place in the top 10 semifinalists. Like many before her, the top ranking winners of the beauty pageant are given an opportunity to contract with HK TVB and promoted as one of their new featured actresses.

1998–2008 TVB career

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After completing her training in acting, Heung often starred in action, comedic, and political TVB drama series. She has starred in many drama series like Detective Investigation Files, Riches and Stitches, The Charm Beneath, Seed of Hope, and most notably The Legend of Lady Yang, in which she played Yang Guifei, the beloved consort of Emperor Xuanzong of Tang. While at first heavily promoted, Heung noticed a slow-down in potential roles and felt her value had diminished as she was placed in third-line roles by 2007. By 2008, she had had no jobs available for nearly four months, and when she finally had an available role, it was an executive position. Feeling under-valued and that her career had peaked with TVB, she began to look elsewhere for new career opportunities. After completing her TVB filming commitments, Heung quietly parted ways with TVB. After a decade with TVB, Anne decided look towards the private sector in business and public relations.[2]

Post-TVB and entrepreneurship

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After retiring from TVB, Heung decided to venture into business. She is friends with 1977's HK pageant winner, Loletta Chu. With the help of Chu's businessman husband, Vincent Lo, Heung worked under the couple's property development company in Shanghai and later used her own funds to start her own wedding planning company. Although she left the entertainment industry, she is still remembered. Several media companies and businesses approached Heung to work for them in promotions. She occasionally appeared on media (in non-acting roles) such as food tourism, commercials, and being a spokesperson for a beauty salon in between her public relations work. However, it wasn't until recently she seriously considered making a return to acting.[3]

Return to media in 2015

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In an interview in mid-2014, Heung expressed interest in returning to acting for TVB if the role was right for her.[3] By 2015, Anne made her return to acting, starting with mainland China. She has been featured in several mainland TV series, hosted a few talk shows, and worked in stage plays. TVB has reached out to Anne to star in a drama but she hasn't been able to commit due to schedule conflicts. In 2020, she along with three former Miss HK pageant winners (Shirley Yeung, Halina Tam, and Theresa Lee) returned to HK media in ViuTV World's "Miss GoodViu."[4]

Awards

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Year Category Result
1998 Miss Hong Kong Pageant – Miss Hospitality Won
1998 Miss Hong Kong Pageant – Universal Beauty Award Won
1998 Miss Hong Kong Pageant – Miss Photogenic Won

Filmography

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Title Year Role
Detective Investigation Files IV 1999 Leung Chin Chin
The Legend of Lady Yang 2000 Yeung Yuk-wan
Legendary Four Aces 2000
Love is Beautiful 2001 Ling Wan
Cho Cho
Seven Sisters
The Stamp of Love 2001
Golden Faith 2002 Sabrina
Life Begins at Forty 2003 Mok Hui Nam
Perish in the Name of Love 2003 Chan Yuen-yuen
Riches and Stitches 2003 Po Chui Lung
Seed of Hope 2003
The W Files 2003 Lau Lai-ling
Hidden Treasures 2004 Kwok Lai-Kam
Love Bond 2005 Cheung Bik-Fun
The Charm Beneath 2005 Sung Wan-Seung
Bar Bender 2006
Au Revoir Shanghai 2006 Ho Shui-Sau
Face to Fate 2006 Yeuk-Lan
Devil's Disciples 2007 Mo Yung Koo-Yuet
Best Bet 2007 Kong Ma-lei
Fathers and Sons 2007 Nicole
The Building Blocks of Life 2007 Cheung Lei (Lily)

References

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  1. ^ "New York Student Is Miss Chinese International". New Straits Times. 19 February 1999. Retrieved 9 April 2010.
  2. ^ https://www.jaynestars.com/news/grateful-for-being-remembered-anne-heung-considers-filming-again/
  3. ^ a b http://www.jaynestars.com/news/anne-heung-does-not-mind-filming-for-tvb-again/
  4. ^ https://www.jaynestars.com/news/anne-heung-talks-about-the-miss-hong-kong-baggage/
Achievements
Preceded by
Virginia Yung
Miss Hong Kong
1998
Succeeded by
  NODES
INTERN 3
Note 1