Chow Yun Fat skips English help from Singaporean wife due to her ‘Singlish’

Hong Kong actor Chow Yun Fat. Photo from Chow Yun Fat super topic Weibo

AsiaOne reported that in his news film "Detective Chinatown 1900," Chow plays an American immigrant who delivers an English monologue. While promoting the film in Hong Kong, Chow was asked if his wife had helped him with his English skills.

"No she can’t, she taught me Singlish instead, ‘Okay lah,’ ‘No problem lah,’... we can’t have that," he responded.

Chow described the monologue as both a "challenge" and a "very thrilling encouragement." Despite his experience in Hollywood, this was the first time he had been tasked with such extensive dialogue, he said.

"It was written very well," he noted. "After receiving the script, I fine-tuned the lines and practiced speaking it until it became natural."

His commitment to the role was highlighted when a behind-the-scenes video showed 300 actors on set giving him a spontaneous round of applause after his monologue. Gratefully acknowledging their support, Chow said: "Everybody made me a star, thank you for coming."

At 70, Chow’s journey to fame began with humble roots. Before joining Hong Kong broadcasting company TVB in 1974, he held various jobs, including shoeshine boy, office assistant, parcel delivery worker, hotel employee, and taxi driver.

He then rose to fame through TVB dramas like "The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly" and "The Bund." Throughout his distinguished career, he has won multiple awards, including three Hong Kong Film Awards and two Golden Horse Awards for Best Actor.

In 2023, he was honored as the Asian Filmmaker of the Year at the 28th Busan International Film Awards, becoming the second Hong Kong actor, after Tony Leung, to receive this accolade.

According to the South China Morning Post, Chow and Tan were married in 1987. The couple has remained childless after an incident in 1991 where their daughter died in vitro from a nuchal cord, which occurs when the cord wraps around the baby’s neck in the womb, and Chow decided against further attempts to avoid any additional complications for his wife.