Bowie Tsang On Having A Famous Father: “If I Got Jobs ’Cos I’m Eric Tsang’s Daughter, I Would Have Been Unemployed In 2 Years”

Hong Kong-born Taiwanese star Bowie Tsang, 50, is a singer, actress, writer, and award-winning host.

She is also one of the most successful second-gen stars.

Bowie is the eldest daughter of Hong Kong comedian and TVB's general manager Eric Tsang and his first wife Taiwanese celebrity Wang Meihua.

On the latest episode of Mediacorp talk show Hear U Out, host Quan Yifeng flew to Taiwan to meet Bowie, who opened up about the pros and cons of having famous parents, and why she never lets negative reports about her controversial father get to her.

Bowie, who made her hosting debut in 1997, first names the benefits of being Eric’s daughter.

“A benefit would be people recognising me, because they know my dad. They would say “Oh, that’s so-and-so’s daughter”. In that sense, it’s easier for them to remember me. That’s definitely an upside ‘cos [that’s what you want] as a newbie,” she says.

However, she has received her fair share of criticism from those who say she only rides on her father’s coattails.

“There will be plenty of critics who say things such as 'she definitely depended on her dad to get all her jobs'. They wouldn’t necessarily say such things to my face, but back then, people did leave such comments online,” she continues.

“The thing is, are you going to let something like this become your inner demon? You can’t control what others say, but you can decide if it controls you. If I got jobs because I’m Eric Tsang’s daughter, I would be unemployed in two years. But I’ve been working for over 20 years, [so] I believe I’ve made some kind of contribution to this industry.”

With that being said, it's clear Bowie doesn’t see reason to doubt herself.

Bowie doesn’t let negative news about Eric get to her as well.

“I feel that the things one says is a reflection of themselves. The things you say about me… they’re actually not about me, you’re talking about yourself. When you blame me for a wrong I didn’t commit, it would make me think whether you once had to take on the burden of something that wasn’t yours to bear,” she says.

For Bowie, there is a clear distinction between parents and their children, and the former’s faults shouldn’t be directed at the latter.

Ultimately, she developed a strong sense of self, and the things others say about her don’t make up who she really is as a person.

“If I’m not a host, am I still Bowie Tsang? If my parents are no longer around, am I still me? If the things that label you no longer exist, and you’re able to find out who you are apart from all that, you’ll live gracefully,” says Bowie.

“Do you love your father?” probes Yifeng.

Without any hesitation, Bowie says: “Yes I love my dad.”

Yifeng brings up how Eric wasn’t around for much of Bowie’s childhood — she was raised by her grandparents in Taiwan, while her parents stayed on in Hong Kong for work.

“He came for my graduation ceremony, I invited him,” Bowie says with a smile.

“The whole world must’ve been like ‘Wow Eric Tsang!’ when he appeared,” assumed Yifeng.

Well, not exactly.

“I found it very funny. He initially thought he would be invited on stage to give a speech. He even prepared things to say, only to realise that everyone was too busy to care about him. I remember he had shoulder-length curly hair, and he wore a formal suit to [my] graduation. Taiwan’s graduation ceremonies take place in June — it was so hot! So in pictures, he's drenched in sweat, with his hair sticking to his face and all,” she recalls with a laugh.

Yifeng asks if she can take a look at the pics, but Bowie turns her down, saying: “I can’t. I don’t think my dad those pictures to be seen by other people.”