Joey Wong Says Acting Was Her Mum’s Dream, Not Hers

For decades, former Taiwanese actress Joey Wong has been regarded as one of Asia’s most iconic screen beauties.

Best known for her iconic role as Nie Xiaoqian in 1987 classic, A Chinese Ghost Story, she walked away from fame in 2004 at the height of her career.

Showbiz was never something she truly enjoyed, especially its gruelling, round-the-clock schedule, and she has since been living a quiet life in Vancouver, where she devotes herself to Buddhist practice. 

In 2025, she also opened a TCM moxibustion clinic in the city.

Recently, the 59-year-old revealed that becoming an actress was never her ambition, but her mother’s.

Despite having two older brothers, she said her parents placed most of their expectations on her, which left her feeling immense pressure from a young age.

“I never liked being in the spotlight, and I never saw becoming a star as my dream,” she admitted, adding that her mum was the one determined for her to succeed in showbiz.

From primary school, her mum would often take her to auditions, even when money was tight.

“She would spend the entire week’s grocery budget just to send me for auditions,” Joey recalled.

At the time, she didn’t even understand what acting was.

“I would just stand there like a piece of wood,” she said, adding that she would often get scolded when she failed to perform.

She also remembered being reprimanded after a failed audition in Primary 2, which left her thinking: “Why is my life so hard? I’m so young and already have to act.”

Still, she eventually followed the path laid out for her and entered showbiz at 16.

Looking back, Joey said she felt like she entered the industry to “buy [her] mum’s dream.”

Joey also shared that her life often felt as though it had already been planned out for her. But rather than resist it, she chose to accept what came her way.

“I’m someone who cherishes fate. As long as opportunities come, I will treasure them,” she said.

That mindset eventually led her to become one of the most recognisable actresses of her time, with films like A Chinese Ghost Story, Green Snake and The East Is Red becoming classics.

Though her childhood experiences created tension between her and her mum, Joey now seems to have come to terms with it.

She shared that over time, she has learned not to cling too tightly to things, and to instead take life as it comes.