Carman Lee (李若彤) was a very popular Hong Kong actresses in the 1990s, but after filming 2004 Mainland Chinese drama Legend of the Song Dynasty <大宋驚世傳奇>, she took an immediate hiatus from the industry. Currently starring in the TVB drama Never Dance Alone <女人俱樂部>, it has been ten years since Carman last filmed a television drama. Carman said it was Chow Yun Fat (周潤發) who had reminded her that she still has a place in the entertainment industry. Eric Tsang (曾志偉), producer of Never Dance Alone, offered her the role at the same time when Carman was prepared to make her comeback. Carman said all of this was meant to be. Carman portrays Mo Siu Sze, a housewife who is disillusioned with her bland, everyday life and reminisces her past. She misses her old teenage life with M Club – her group of girlfriends – as well as the Phoenix Dance Studios, an aerobics dance academy that M Club have helped set up. Many years later, Siu Sze comes across her old M Club friends again, rekindling their passion for life. Carman finds her role sympathetic. “A woman doesn’t have to lose everything once she hits middle age. They can have their own views and their own careers. They don’t need to sacrifice everything for their families. I’ve had similar experiences. I once sacrificed everything for my family. But it is wrong to do so.” Due to Carman’s similarities with the role, she said Siu Sze was exceptionally fun and easy to portray. Carman admitted that she has always been a rather wishy-washy person, but through Siu Sze, she has found a new spark of energy. “The role inspired me to go ahead and do it. If I’m going to do it, I’m going to do my best. I need to keep an open mind. I have to stop closing myself.” Never Dance Alone is based on the 2011 Korean film Sunny, which starred Yoo Ho Jeong. The series is told in two timelines – one in present day, and another during the 1980s when the series’ main stars were teenagers. “Although we didn’t take part in the 1980s scenes, we can still relate to the script. The script said we were obsessed with Alan Tam (譚詠麟) – in real life, I also really liked Alan. My first concert was an Alan concert!” Though Carman enjoys reminiscing the past, she said the past is something we should never dwell on. “I’ll rather look to the future.” Mo Siu Sze has a husband, Wong Kwok Leung (Lawrence Cheng), and a 16-year-old daughter Wong Ho (Heidi Lee 李靜儀 of Super Girls). “She has a very good husband,” explained Carman. “Her husband supported her when she said she wanted to run a dance studio. However, in the end, after his mom’s complaints and their daughter’s rebellion, he tells his wife to give it up. I feel that, as a husband, you should always give your partner full support.” Though Carman is not a mother herself, she said that the many years of taking care of her niece allowed her insight into motherhood. “I’ve managed to grasp the tone of a mother. This role really made me to understand how hard it is to be a mother. I will never see my mother as a hassle anymore!” Creds: TVB Weekly
