Christy Chung, 55, Opens Up About Life With Her Younger Husband, & Why Her Daughters Think "He’s Better Than [Their] Dad"

It's been nine years since Christy Chung, 55, married her husband, Chinese actor Shawn Zhang, 43. But their marriage - and the age gap - continues to fascinate many. 

The couple, who first met on the Chinese reality dating show Perhaps Love, and have since proven that their bond is stronger than ever, despite their 12-year age gap and the constant scrutiny on their marriage. 

This is Christy’s third marriage. She was previously married to British businessman Glen Ross in 1998, with whom she has daughter, Yasmine Ross, 27. She later married music producer Jon Yen in 2003, and they share Jaden Chloe, 17, and Cayla Jane, 15.

In iQIYI Super Show series Our Love Song, Christy spoke candidly about Shawn's relationship with her parents and daughters. 

The 90s’ bombshell recalled how Shawn stepped up when Jade tore her ligament during volleyball training earlier this year and needed surgery.

“Isn’t it a given?” Shawn interjected matter-of-factly, before Christy added that he was also there for many of their milestones, such as riding a bike, to even helping to braid their hair when they went skiing.

Christy shared that her daughters were so touched that they once said: “Wow, even my biological father is not like that. He is even better than my own dad”.

But it hasn’t always been smooth sailing.

Christy looked back to 2019, when both of them took part in a variety show which she says led to a decline in their popularity.

“Some of the comments weren’t positive, which made me a little depressed,” she admitted.

Shawn agreed that the aftermath hit them hard.

“We used to work a lot together, then suddenly it all stopped. Then some people will offer me movie roles, but always as a scumbag,” he recalled.

The couple also had to deal with malicious rumours throughout the years.

There was talk that he only had 50K yuan (S$9.1K) to marry Christy, and even more absurd speculation that if their nanny ever got pregnant “it must be Shawn’s”.

Christy wasn’t spared either. She was labelled as lustful and mocked as an “old cow that only eats young grass”, a crude way to describe an older woman dating a younger man.

“The grass is very tasty,” Christy cheekily retorted.

Despite the gossip, Shawn says he’s thankful for the lessons learnt during those hard times.

“It made me mentally strong. In the past, I went through a painful process that taught me the world isn’t how I thought it was,” he said.

"Now, I've learnt we shouldn’t take on other people’s karma. If I can’t get growth from what I want, I will just let it go.

“That includes my family, my children, and all my friends. They give me positive energy. What matters most is the people around you.”

Photos: StarETToday