(Hong Kong, Jan 28) Hong Kong actress Hera Chan Hiu-wah has been drawing praise for her performance as Qin Xiangyan in TVB’s drama No Room for Crime (Chinese title: 非常检控观). Her emotionally charged crying scenes have been noted for their control and depth. In a recent interview, Chan revealed that her apparent breakthrough came from a single, seemingly casual remark made by senior actress Elaine Yiu (Lai Wai-ling), which completely changed how she approached emotional scenes—helping her discover what she described as “brave tears.”
Chan explained that while portraying Qin Xiangyan, she consciously avoided acting from a “poor me” mindset. After being inspired by Lai’s guidance, she began to view the character’s tears as something far more complex than sadness or self-pity. In her interpretation, every tear carries both pain and courage: Qin wants to break free from everything, and even though it hurts, she chooses to cut ties with her own hands. This layered understanding, Chan said, made her crying scenes more convincing and emotionally impactful.
Reflecting on her improvement, Chan credited Lai as “a great teacher, analyst, and partner,” noting that one simple sentence influenced how she thought about emotional acting throughout the shoot. Although she did not disclose the exact line, she emphasized that to convey a feeling that is “both brave and painful,” an actor must be deeply relaxed internally—and Lai’s advice helped her reach that state.
Chan also highlighted the importance of trust between scene partners. She said that years of working with actor Edwin Siu (He Kwong-pui) have built strong mutual trust, allowing her to be open and fully immersed in the role. With that chemistry, she was able to explore the character’s inner world more freely during their scenes together, turning what she learned into a stronger on-screen performance.
