Ada Choi is considered one of the most famous actresses of the TVB film empire in the 1990s and 2000s. However, different from her charming and stunning beauty on screen, the beauty born in 1973 was filled with unhappiness and humiliation throughout her youth.
Ada Choi was born in 1973 in Hong Kong. Her childhood was a series of sad memories. When Ada Choi was young, her parents divorced. She and her brother lived with their mother. Ada Choi’s mother was a gambling addict. She did not care about her children but spent her days and nights gambling and lost a lot of money.
To escape debt, Thai Thieu Phan and her children kept moving. When she wasn’t running away, her mother got drunk and scolded her two children. Thai Thieu Phan grew up to be more and more beautiful and was soon used by her biological mother as a tool to make money.
Since childhood, Ada Choi has been “suggested” by her mother to enter beauty contests. At only 15 years old, she participated in the Supermodel contest organized by TVB but did not win. Two years later, Ada Choi’s mother let her daughter enter the Miss Hong Kong contest. That year, her radiant youthful beauty won her the second runner-up prize. Many people believe that Ada Choi could have been a Miss, but her talent and experience were not enough.
After winning the award, she was immediately signed to an acting contract by TVB and became a new beauty admired by many. Because she was still so young, Ada Choi rushed into the scandalous entertainment industry without any precautions or guidance. Just like that, she followed the orders and guidance of her cruel mother and became the perfect tool to help her make money at all costs to satisfy her gambling addiction.
Ada Choi did not refuse any offer, willing to appear in revealing pictures, act in hot movies just to make quick money. She quickly helped her mother pay off her gambling debt of up to 10 million HKD (more than 32 billion VND) but at the same time lost her way in life.
At this time, Hong Kong press exposed the matter. Runner-up Ada Choi “selling herself”, accepting a relationship with tycoon Lau Luan Hung – who had been with many famous beauties such as Ly Gia Han, Rosamund Kwan or Lui Le Quan to pay off the debt owed to the mafia. Becoming the lover of a businessman 20 years older than her, Ada Choi suffered a lot of humiliation. In return, Lau Luan Hung spent money to pay off her biological mother’s debt.
This action caused Ada Thieu Phan to be involved in many scandals. When the press exposed her relationship with the notorious tycoon, full of love and money, many people scorned and gossiped, saying that she disregarded her honor and integrity for money. Even when reviewing the women who had been “in the hands” of Lau Luan Hung, the Chinese media did not hesitate to compare Ada Thieu Phan to the “call girl” of this notorious billionaire. Her mother not only did not help her overcome the scandal, but also continued to gamble and get into debt.
But, Ada Choi’s mother Still the same old habits make the female star stuck in a vortex: earning money and paying debts. After years of suffering and bowing down because of her mother’s endless debts, the star held a tearful press conference to announce her breakup with her biological mother.
Besides her tearful and humiliating personal story, Ada Choi is loved by the audience thanks to her efforts to escape the label of “a beautiful actress” to stand among the ranks of talented actors. And it was the stepping stone from the 1991 Miss Hong Kong runner-up title and her outstanding beauty that helped the beauty born in 1973 appear in many TVB productions.
After months of humiliation due to scandals and paying off her mother’s debt, Ada Choi decided to return to invest in her acting career. Ada Choi, along with beauties Kwok Ho-ying, Jessica Hsuan and Chan Wai-san, formed the Four Great Actresses of TVB in the 1990s. In 1998, Ada Choi was awarded the TVB Best Actress award for the film “Secret of the Heart”, marking the golden age of her career. Just like that, Ada Choi’s career developed brilliantly.
Empress Ada Choi’s appearance in the movie ‘Legend of Zhen Huan’.
At the height of her career, Ada Choi became acquainted with the unknown actor Truong Tan. The two met while participating in two TV series Thuy Nguyet Dong Thien and Linh Kinh Truyen Ky. At that time, Ada Choi was a famous actress and Truong Tan was just a supporting role that no one remembered.
Truong Tan fell in love with Thai Thieu Phan at first sight, and pursued and confessed his love to the runner-up many times. It took a long time for the beauty to agree and realize that this young man was truly talented but had not had the opportunity to become famous.
Since the two went public with their relationship, Hong Kong press often commented that Truong Tan did not get any big roles but only “dependent” on Ada Choi, relying on her to become famous.
Ignoring the criticism, Truong Tan still tried his best to prove himself worthy of Ada Choi’s love. It wasn’t until 2011 that Truong Tan’s chance to become a star came when he was chosen by director Wong Kar-wai to play the role of Ma Tam in “The Grandmaster”. This role became a breakthrough in his career.
The film was a huge success at the box office, and Zhang Jin won the Best Supporting Actor award at the 2014 Golden Statue Film Festival. When receiving the award, the actor did not forget to thank his wife who had been by his side through difficult times. Zhang Jin affirmed that his happiness in life was all thanks to Ada Choi, vowing that no matter the storms, he would always be by her side. In the audience, the beautiful runner-up shed tears of emotion.
Ada Choi once shared that she grew up in a broken family and was often jealous to the point of tears when looking at other people’s homes. However, since marrying Truong Tan, the beauty can feel the happiness of a true family and feel secure when having someone to rely on. Thanks to her younger husband’s dedication, thoughtfulness and tolerance, the couple’s home has always been filled with joy over the years.