Zhang Zhehan Leaves Huanyu Film, Ends Working Relationship With Yu Zheng

Zhang Zhehan has been with Yu Zheng's agency Huanyu Film for a while now and it has been a somewhat average arrangement.  In the past years, he has played minor roles for series such as The Romance of the Condor Heroes and as young Lin Shu in Nirvana In Fire.  He also landed lead roles in Legend Of Ban Shu and Demon Girl which would've boosted his career but both received lukewarm responses.  

After seeing Huanyu Film's 2019 artist roster, I found that Zhang Zhehan was nowhere on it.  As it turns out, he has decided to part ways with his agency.  Zhang has posted on social media thanking Yu Zheng for the opportunity.  

He mentions he was lucky enough to be brought into the fold by Yu Zheng six years ago wherein he had the opportunity to work with amazing people.  He worked with passion on the series he was part of and was trained from a newbie to an actor with a sense of faith.  

Zhang Zhehan recalls what Yu Zheng taught him.  "Acting is the same as other professions.  You need  enthusiasm and impeccable sense, as well as focus and a strong sense of belief"  he said.  "More importantly though, you should have an actor's work ethic. Respect the profession. Respect the time and hard work of every staff member.  Only by doing this will your efforts be rewarded."  

Zhang Zhehan further says how Yu Zheng always supported him and that working with him has been the most important six years of his life.  Zhang also thanked his agent Hui Quanjie and everyone else who has given him encouragement and support.

Zhang ended the post by saying he will always be grateful and remember what Yu Zheng has taught him as he starts his new journey to be a good actor.  

Apparently, all Zhang Zhehan needed was a little luck.  He played the leading man in Legend Of Yunxi which has positively impacted Zhang's popularity.  Wishing Zhang Zhehan more success in the future.

Source:  1  2

Michelle Chen To Play Zixia Fairy in Stage Version of A Chinese Odyssey

We rarely see Michelle Chen in the spotlight after she married Chen Xiao and had a kid. However, the actress has kept busy last year and finished filming a drama based on the life story of Teresa Teng. Lately, she is ready to tackle another icon as Zixia Fairy in the stage production of A Chinese Odyssey 大话西游 which is slated to have its first showing on Jan. 23, 2019. 

Athena Chu played Zixia in the two-part 1995 Hong Kong fantasy-comedy film starring Stephen Chow. Although there have been attempts by other actresses to portray the same role either in dramas or movies,  Athena's portrayal is a classic.   

Unfortunately, Michelle Chen is no stranger to criticism when it comes to playing iconic characters.  She played Xiaolongnu in Romance of the Condor Heroes in 2014 which didn't sit well with viewers. Michelle received a lot of flak, mainly due to her appearance being too different from Xiaolongu in the novel.  To be honest, she strikes me more as cute and bubbly rather than a pure and stunning angel. 

Photos of the rehearsal have been posted online and some netizens seem to be casting doubt on whether she can live up to the role. I have to give Michelle Chen credit though.  She isn't afraid to challenge herself.  Hopefully, all her hard work pays off with both fans and critics alike.

Source:  1

Han Geng gets wax figure at Madame Tussauds Shanghai

Han Geng is the first person to get a wax figure at Madame Tussauds Shanghai for 2019. Having debuted for 13 years, he has proven to be multi-talented being a singer, actor, racer and even producing his own drama Hard Memory: Prison Under Fire. He is also the first person to have his movements captured in wax and shared that he had to practice dancing for 2 hours to get the best pose.

It may seem like Han Geng has been away from the limelight for most of last year aside from the big reveal that he was dating American-Hong Kong actress Celina Jade. The actor admits that he has has been filming non-stop and should have more appearances to promote his works this year and to finally get some rest.

Source: 1

Wong Cho-lam and Leanne Li reveal baby's photo for the first time

Wong Cho-lam recently celebrated his 39th birthday with wife Leanne Li and their baby Gabrielle whom they named after an angel. Being married for almost four years, Leanne gave birth to her daughter last month and proudly shared the baby's photo when greeting her husband a happy birthday on social media. Leanne joked about having two babies now and asked if Wong Cho-lam liked his present this year. He responds that his wife and child are his greatest gifts. 

Wong Cho-lam has repeatedly teased about his baby's appearance in the past and said that he didn't share photos on purpose because the baby looked too much like him. It's no secret that he wanted their daughter to take after his long-legged wife. We can't say for sure who Gabrielle actually takes after but she's clearly adored by her parents and utterly adorable. 

Source: 1

Angelababy Talks About Love And Family With Huang Xiaoming

Angelababy and Huang Xiaoming have been married for three years.  In 2017, they were blessed with a son whom they nicknamed their "Little Sponge."  It seemed everything was going well for the celebrity couple. However, Huang Xiaoming got caught in a stock manipulation scandal last year. 

Rumors about Angelababy and Huang Xiaoming's alleged divorce over the scandal circulated on the internet.  Despite the hubbub, it appears those rumors were just that. Rumors. 

Angelababy was interviewed by ELLE magazine recently where she talked about her attitude towards family.  She tells us "Love is a process of compromise and concession."  Angelababy added that as long as she and her husband can understand and respect each other, she wouldn't mind her partner's quirks and habits.  Although she is open to accepting change, there is one thing that she absolutely won't tolerate. Cheating. Or to put in Angelababy's words, "When another party appears in the relationship."  

Angelababy's motherly instinct to protect her son kicked in when she was asked about the rumors about her split with Huang Xiaoming. Angelababy says the rumors doesn't bother her much but drew the line by calmly saying, " Don't involve my son." 

Beneath the successful exterior, Angelababy is just an ordinary mother who wants the best for her son.  Angelababy has been working hard while trying to balance her career and family.  She says, "I have been working hard all the time so that I can be there for him when he grows up." 

Source:  1  2

Cecilia Cheung Dispels Rumors That Stephen Chow Is Her Son's Father

Singer-actress Cecilia Cheung who gave birth to her third son in November, seems to be fed up with all the rumors and speculations about her newborn's father.  Cecilia had two sons from her previous marriage to Nicholas Tse before giving birth to her third son recently.  Netizens and tabloids went into overdrive as they guessed the father's identity.

Some theorized that the father of Cecilia Cheung's baby was her rumored boyfriend who was a wealthy tycoon in Singapore.  Others have said that the father of the baby was actually her former husband Nicholas Tse.  He has made a statement to deny this. While others say that it's a wealthy Chinese businessman.  The latest man rumored to be the biological father of Cecilia Cheng's baby is none other than Stephen Chow.  Wow.  Looks like no one is safe from the rumor mill.  

As expected, Cecilia Cheung is getting tired of all the speculation and fake news.  Her studio recently posted a photo of some of the articles with a big "FAKE" on it asking netizens not to spread any more fake news regarding her son.  I can't really blame her for that,.  The rumors are getting outrageous.  

Source:  1

Checking In With Hummer Zhang aka A Li from Three Lives Three Worlds

I feel that a lot of us may have had the same idea after seeing the new A Li in Three Lives Three Worlds: The Pillow Book. With a few reprisals and replacements in this new adaptation, it slipped my mind that Hummer Zhang Yihan, the child actor who played A Li when he was just 5 years old, would likely be replaced. 

He was too adorable as Tuan Zi and had great chemistry with onscreen parents Mark Chao and Yang Mi. It probably didn't make sense to bring him back now that he's a few inches taller though he'll always be a fan favorite.

He's still a kid only turning 9 this year and quite generous about sharing updates on social media. Having more acting experience than most. I look forward to his future works.

Source: 1

Shaolin Kids Ashton Chen and Steven Hao Have Grown Up

Anyone old enough to have watched Shaolin Popey back in 1994 would remember the cute and clever kids who beat up the bad guys there. In their youth, Ashton Chen and Steven Hao were arguably the most popular Shaolin duo in the 90's.  As funny as it was seeing the two beat up the bad guys, time has since moved forward and they're not so little anymore.

After graduating high school in the United States back in 2008, Ashton Chen has since returned to China to continue his acting career.  Having just turned 30 years old today (Jan 6 Asia time), he has traded his cuteness for a sturdy built and lean muscles. He still kicks ass in action roles and will play a supporting character in the upcoming drama adaptation of Fearless.  

Steven Hao also stopped acting to pursue his studies back in 2003. He was admitted to the Department of Transportation Management at Tamkang University in Taiwan in 2008.  After graduation, Steven resumed his acting career as well. Being the funny man of the two, he has continued to take roles in comedy. Like Ashton, Steven, now 28, is often cast as a supporting character. He recently played a shaolin monk again in the 2018 movie Oolong Courtyard with Ng Man-Tat.   

It is not easy for child stars to have long lasting fame.  There are those that fade away from showbiz, some continue acting and some choose to live normal lives.  Regardless of how diverse their chosen paths are, they have been part of movies and shows that many of us have watched and as such, these child stars deserve our respect and applause.  

Source:  1  2 

Hannah Quinlivan On Marrying Jay Chou, Career and Protecting Her Kids

Hannah Quinlivan opened up about her life in a recent Vogue interview.  The Taiwanese Australian actress and model who married Jay Chou when she was 21 years old recently played a supporting role in Dwayne Johnson's Hollywood action film Skyscraper.  

Aside from movies, she also has her own fashion brand, JENDES.  Despite being married and having two kids, Hannah Quinlivan shows no signs of slowing down which makes us wonder, what is driving her forward?  It seems that her family is the foundation that keeps her going. Hannah comments, "I know that I'm very lucky.  Because of my husband, I quickly got a lot of good opportunities."  She continues by saying that she should be more cultivated, both in her domestic and professional life.  "I don't want to become an accessory. I have to work hard so I can deserve what I have."  

Hannah reveals her desire to be there for her husband by saying, "After getting married, he (Jay Chou) paid for the house by himself.  I hope I can also share the burden with him."  "And if one day he becomes tired, I want him to take a break and I can be there to support him." she says.  

On marrying a top star like Jay Chou, Hannah shared that the immense pressure once caused her to consider giving up when they were still dating. Her father raised her to be an honest person but there were many things she couldn't say because she didn't want to risk saying the wrong thing and causing trouble. During her struggles, she decided to leave Taiwan and study film in the US thinking that the time away will create some distance. However, three days after she left, he came. That time, she knew that he was the one.  

It has been nine years since Hannah met Jay Chou when she was 17 years old and he has been a big part of her life. She shares that she still limits herself into an enclosed circle because of the same worries from the past but the circle has been growing bigger. They have two kids, a girl and a boy whose faces were never shown to the public. The reason behind that is so that their kids can be themselves and not lose their name, being known only as someone's son or daughter. Hannah said that she lost her own name but it's okay because it was her choice. She wants to give her kids the choice to decide. 

She ended by saying, "I hope that everyone around me is good, energetic and happy to live life.  For me, this is happiness."  Kudos to Hannah Quinlivan for having such a positive outlook in life.

Source:  1, 2

Aaron Yan Opens Up About Depression and Being Bullied

Actor singer Aaron Yan recently attended an anti-bullying convention where he talked about his past experiences as a victim of bullying.  He opens up about his life during middle school.  Having studied in the United States, Aaron wasn't used to how things were in a Taiwanese middle school as the US and Taiwan had very different cultures.  For a 14 year old boy, that was very overwhelming especially if you stand out.  Aaron Yan reveals that he was bullied for 3 years back then.  He would find his pencil case covered in yogurt, his lunch dumped and his bag in the trash can.  It came to a point where he thought that he'd be better off dead.  

At the time, Aaron Yan also struggled with his sexuality and depression. His sexual orientation wasn't something his family could accept easily. He actively sought help from psychologists and took medication for 6 months.  In the end, he found the strength to carry on.  

Aaron Yan reveals that it took him more than seven years to let go of the hate that he carried in his heart.  He says, "There was a time I didn't want to go to school." but ultimately he has since learned to move on, saying "Time is a very good medicine."  and "It's okay."  

Aaron Yan also believes that most of the bullying done today is through social media, specifically hurtful and irresponsible comments.  I do have to agree with him on that one.  It is easy to be a target especially if you happen to be a celebrity with fans who dislike you.   

Despite all the things that happened to him, Aaron Yan overcame his demons and became a better person for it.  Bullying is wrong and shouldn't be tolerated.  I'm glad he spoke up so people can be made aware.  

Source:  1  2

Zhao Liying first among Vlinkage's top 100 celebs for 3 years straight

There's one more report to add to the year-ender lists from last year. Vlinkage has unveiled their top 100 celebrities for 2018 and it's a list dominated by the ladies. Zhao Liying takes the top spot once again, her third year in a row. Yang Mi and Dilraba Dilmurat who take second and third place were also among the top 3 bankable stars named by CBN Weekly. Did your favorite star make the list? 

Top 10

1. Zhao Liying

2. Yang Mi

3. Dilraba Dilmurat

4. Yang Yang

5. Hu Ge

6. Yang Zi

7. Zhu Yilong

8. Karry Wang Junkai

9. Tiffany Tang Yan

10. Luhan

Source: 1

That epic moment when Kris Wu and Huang Zitao hug on New Year 2019

January 1 started with a bang in c-ent and k-ent with Zhao Liying's baby news and the big reveal that EXO's Kai and BLACKPINK's Jennie are dating. Yet last night's star-studded new year countdowns also caused quite a buzz. 

Among them was one fleeting moment that took 4 years in the making. Kris Wu and Huang Zitao were former members of the K-pop group EXO. After a public debacle wherein Huang expressed feeling betrayed when his band mate left in 2014, it was understood that both may have had a falling out. Huang Zitao ended up leaving the band in 2015 yet the two were hardly seen together despite being active in the same industry.

Four years later, both gave separate performances as guests for Dragon TV's New Year's Eve Concert, and it paved the way for the rare moment when they stood side by side waiting for the new year countdown. 

Then this happened when the clock struck 12.  A fancam caught them sharing a friendly hug. The same morning, there were reports that Huang Zitao is following both Luhan and Kris Wu on weibo, they are the only two people that he follows. Kris Wu and Huang Zitao also began following each other on instagram. It looks like the rumors that they were not on good terms is a thing of the past. Happy New Year!

Zhao Liying and Feng Shaofeng announce pregnancy on New Year's Day

Newly-weds Zhao Liying and Feng Shaofeng confirm the yearlong rumors on Jan 1, 2019 to announce that they're having a baby. Feng Shaofeng wrote on weibo, "Did you know, did you know, it ought to be a family of three (a pun on the Chinese title of The Story of Minglan 知否知否应是绿肥红瘦)." Zhao Liying shared the post and said, "Waiting, waiting, welcoming 2019." 

This confirmation hardly comes as a surprise since the couple have been the subject of non-stop baby rumors throughout the year. The two kept mum even after the announcement in October that they had gotten hitched. 

Still from The Story of Minglan

Rather than take anyone by surprise this time with their whirlwind romance announcements, let's just say they chose a very festive day to share the news! Zhao Liying has been away from the public eye on an indefinite hiatus, but she has been active on social media and openly commented on Feng Shaofeng's performance for the New Year's Celebrations last night, saying that Second Uncle (his character in The Story of Minglan) was both nervous and cute.

She also posted a rare selfie for The Story of Minglan Christmas Day premiere last week. Looking at the picture, she did have that pregnancy glow already. Congrats to the happy couple! 

Source: 1