Steven Ma @ Mak Ling Ling Interview

M = Mak Ling Ling
S = Steven Ma

Miss Catherine Tsang the Most

M: In the past, you were not under TVB management and not a son of TVB, but you still filmed a lot of series. According to what has been heard, Catherine Tsang supports you. Is she very nice to you? (Does she favour you?)
S: I've signed TVB management for 4 years now! Everyone supports me. Mr. Chan (Stephen Chan) also supports me! Well, Catherine told me to film my first series. At that time, I had released three albums, and the third one was not selling. I've thought about retiring; however, if it wasn't for Catherine telling me to film series, there is a possibility that I would not even be in this business anymore.

M: Out of all the TVB executives, are you in the best terms with Catherine?
S: Definitely! If some day I don't work for TVB anymore, the one I would miss the most would be Catherine. She is the one who has taught me and has me made me what I am today. After so many years of filming series, she yelled at me for so many years. Every time, she would point out my flaws. She'll say, "What is with your expression? What are your lips doing?" Actually, to me, this is a good thing. I remember the only praise I got from her was in "A Journey Called Life". It was the scene where Fala Chen died. She phoned me and said, "Wow, real tears. You did well!" It is very difficult to receive her "You did well". It is almost every time that I see her that she would give me pointers. My biggest problem is my lips because I was a 'chipped-tooth' kid when I was young. I've gotten used to speaking with my lips sticking out. When I got that tooth replaced later, I still needed time to change that habit.

M = Do have supper with Catherine on a regular basis? Are you afraid that others might call you 'shoe shiner'?
S = Occasionally I do, but I'm not afraid of what others call me. She is my teacher! (What about Stephen Chan?) On the other hand, I don't have suppers with Stephen; rather, we eat at TVB suppers. (What about Virginia Lok?) I've had supper with Miss Lok. There are times when we'll meet and talk about contract terms. What's most important is that I film with heart, so I don't have to depend on these.

M: The feeling you give others is that you're very polite, very well-mannered, and a goodie guy. The feeling is also a bit outdated. You are always in the news for injuring yourself, and you don't have any rumours. The feeling you give others is very boring. What are you going to do?
S: You are correct. Many reporters tell me, "You are very boring!" But my close friends know how I am. My biggest interests are playing badminton, playing ping pong, taking pictures, surfing the web, reading books, writing, and drinking red wine.
M: Which is boring! Were you like this when you were young?
S: Before entering the business, I used to sell Chinese teaching books and industrial chemicals. To be exact, I've only had two other jobs.
M: Your lifestyle is rather boring. Do you have any interesting childhood stories?
S: I don't find it boring because, work-wise, I still need to meet many people. From Form 3, I started to sell ice cream at Tsim Sha Tsui. I remember that Sheila Chan and Michelle Reis once bought ice cream from me. Wow! Sheila's voice was very loud. She told me to add this and add that. I even said to them, "I recognize you guys. You two are Miss HKs!" At the time, I thought the two of them were very pretty. Michelle was very polite, and Sheila's voice was very loud.

Falling in Love with Ada Choi

M: How many friends do you have in the industry?
S: I have many! Tavia Yeung (the people I've interviewed before are very good friends with Tavia Yeung!) Is she that popular? Maybe I should remove her. Ha ha! There's also Joyce Koi. We are very good friends. There is also Linda Chung, Kwok Fung, and Lam King Kong!
M: When you're filming, are you very serious and don't play with others?
S: No, I can play very crazily! But when I say 'crazy, you may think that it is very boring. Ha ha! I joke around with people. I'm a rather slow-warming person. I would only interact with the ones whom I feel can be associated with. If we are not associated, I will not force it. If not happy, we won't see each other next time. If happy, will naturally see each other again!
M: Are you a person who differentiates love and hate?
S: Yes. I don't want to deliberately say something to please others. Life is too short for these things. If we can be friends, then I'll make friends with them. Many people make the mistake of thinking that I'm very polite and that I'm easily picked on by others. But they are actually very wrong. It is my principles that make me have a good temperament.
M: Have you ever had a heated argument with others?
S: I would not have a heated one, but I will argue. Luckily, I do not swear, but I'm scary when I get mad. Others would become silent. I speak loudly, so it is scary when I yell at others.
M: That is why there were reports saying you are troublesome and being at odds with Sonija Kwok.
S: That was a long time ago, so I don't remember law. She will be my new partner in my other series. We just went to Malaysia recently for promotional events. We were very happy.
M: Do you find yourself to be troublesome?
S: I don't find it. My principles will not be changed under any circumstances. My principles are being punctual, knowing your script, and not playing when filming. If even these principles can be vacillated, then not qualified to be an actor. I've yelled at people for doing these, and they would, of course, not like me. I don't need the entire world to like me, and for me to give up on my principles for the entire world is vain.
M: Have you ever fallen in love with your partner?
S: When filming, yes. During the time when filming "Where the Legend Begins", Ada Choi absolutely gave me the 'startled by a beauty' feeling. During the filming process, I believed that I fell in love with that person. And personally, I admire her very much.
M: Did you ever take action and pursue her?
S: No, and then I filmed a different series quickly after that. My personality is most compatible with someone who is not from this industry. Although it may be difficult to control sometimes, but standing from my perspective, I think different sector groups would be better. I don't want my work life brought into my personal life. That is why I don't talk about the entertainment business with my family.

Exposed About Not Dating Anymore

M: How many times have you dated?
S: (Dead air for 10 seconds as he counts) Four times the most. Three times. There is one that doesn't really count because the time was too short.
M: Any from the industry?
S: No, they are all from outside of the industry.
M: There were rumours about you being gay with your previous manager, Frankie Fan Chi Wing. Was that true?
S: Obviously not! I don't want to explain that much. I have dated my previous girlfriend for six years, and all of my friends know it. And reporters even took pictures of us going on a vacation together.
M: Is it because you cover up your dating so well that people have this misunderstanding?
S: To be honest, I've never minded about my love life being exposed to the public, but there are a lot of people who don't know.
M: Are you dating now?
S: Just broke up at the beginning of the year.
M: Is it the one mentioned by Eunice Lam Yin Nei in her column (red wine business woman girlfriend Vivian Hui Wei Ling for six years)?
S: Yes, 我俾佢激死. I told her this in our conversations, and she wrote it out.
M: Didn't you say she (Vivian) was 'okay', and you were thinking about getting married?
S: She's 'okay' at this moment. I still think that she is 'okay'.
M: If she's 'okay', then how come you guys broke up?
S: You can't really explain these things. (Will you reunite?) We are still friends and she is a good girl.
M: What do you do on dates?
S: We stay at home and talk, drink red wine, and we sometimes go out and have dinner.
M: Nothing surprising?
S: I don't like surprises. I can give her happiness and warmth, but it's not romantic. Like Tavia says all the time, "I would not pick you as a boyfriend, but I would pick you as a husband!"
M: What type of girls do you like?
S: Actually, I don't look at the outer appearance. Most important is compatibility, and able to communicate. I like silence. I can't stand those who are too loud. I like girls who are more mature. I think my future half will definitely be older than myself.

Personal Note: I've always known that Steven is a person with principles, and I really admire and respect him for that. It sort of reminds of Wong He and Sammul Chan in some aspects.

Steven mentioned Tavia a couple of times! He he.... Just like Mak Ling Ling said, she is friends with a lot of people. He he....

As for Steven working with Sonija, I believe it will be after "Transferred Connection of Temptation". I can't see Sonija joining Yoyo and Fala in that series. Also, there is no way Sonija is replacing Yoyo because she was confirmed a long time ago.

*Credits to stevenma.org