Ex-TVB Actress Flora Chan Makes Acting Comeback In Nicole Kidman Drama

Former TVB star Flora Chan, 53, has made her showbiz comeback in Amazon Prime Video series Expats, which stars Nicole Kidman. The Australian actress is also the producer of the Hongkong-set drama.

This marks Flora's return to acting after five years. She was last seen in 2018 TVB comedy Good Morning Boss.

Best known for TVB dramas like Triumph in the Skies and At the Threshold of an Era, Flora took a step back from acting after marrying her manager Mike Chung in 2006. She gave birth to their daughter Mira the following year.

She went on to pursue other interests and also worked as an English lecturer at an education centre in Shenzhen.

Flora previously denied rumours of retirement, saying that she is still an actress and would take up acting offers if there are meaningful shows.

Looks like she found the one in Expats.

Based on author Janice Y K Lee's 2016 novel The Expatriates, the six-part series follows the complicated lives of a group of American expats living in Hong Kong in 2014 when the "Umbrella Movement" pro-democracy protests swept the city.

In the drama, which was partially filmed in Hong Kong, Flora plays a gossipy tai tai.

Expats premiered on Amazon Prime Video on Jan 26 and currently, only the first two episodes are available.

Besides Flora, the drama also features a cadre of Hong Kong stars like Grace Wong, Lesley Chiang, Will Or, and Bonde Sham.

Flora and Grace have the meatier roles compared to the other Hong Kong actors and appear in three episodes.

Aimee Chan also makes a blink-and-you'll-miss-it cameo in the second ep.

She plays a staff member of a children’s home and is seen giving Flora and American actress Sarayu Blue a tour of the place.

Aimee's appearance lasts all of 15 seconds and is seen in a long shot, so you'll have to keep your eyes peeled if you want to spot her.

Also making an appearance are familiar Hong Kong landmarks like Rainbow Village, Mongkok, and Victoria Harbour. 

The series caused quite a buzz when it was in production in Hong Kong during the pandemic in 2021. 

Nicole and the crew were exempted from quarantining at the height of Hong Kong’s travel restrictions and were spotted filming throughout the city. 

Despite being set there, the series is currently not available in Hong Kong due to concerns that scenes of the 2014 protests could have "violated the 2020 national security law".

Photos: Singtao