December 7th, 2009 
townhawk 
HONG Kong actor Joe Ma was singled out for crying easily when actress Charmaine Sheh was asked to dish on her co-stars in the TVB production of When Easterly Showers Fall on the Sunny West.
Speaking over the telephone in Mandarin, he says incredulously: “Why did she say that?”
Sheh had revealed that he bawled his eyes out when his 11-year-old son went on an overseas trip.
His pride pricked, Ma says, “It’s not that I like to cry, I do so only when I’m very sad. I definitely don’t cry very often. In fact, it’s hard for me to do crying scenes.”
The 41-year-old stars with Sheh in the period drama, in which he plays Poon Muk Hing, the illegitimate son of a woman from a prominent family. Sheh plays his love interest.
Despite the ribbing, there are no hard feelings between the regular onscreen collaborators. He says: “We’re pretty compatible. She understands how I think so it’s very comfortable working with her. We don’t quarrel as we think along the same lines.”
In contrast, there was reportedly bad blood between him and actress Anita Yuen on Ma’s latest series, Born Rich. Ironically, the two play a pair of lovers.
But he dismisses the tabloid talk and jokes: “Oh no, we’re already good friends. Actually, I’m unhappy with her for not being tall enough.”
Having joined television station TVB in 1993, he has learnt to roll with the punches and not be affected by the rumour mill.
He is also nonplussed that Born Rich co-star Gallen Lo is getting more buzz for his turn as a con artist. “That’s a given as the story centers on him. It’s okay, as he did act well. Every role has its own importance and if you play it well, I believe luck will come around.”
The one-time policeman is hence not particularly fazed that Easterly Showers, a major production to celebrate the station’s 41st anniversary, aired in Hong Kong only after the TVB awards last year and thus missed the chance to qualify for the accolades.
He says: “Awards are not very important to me. It’s been so many years. What’s more important is to play my part well.”
Married since 1993 to former model Cheung Sau Lan, Ma has learnt to balance both family and career. Lest anyone doubts his commitment to his craft, he says: “I still regard my career as being important, so I would continue to juggle both work and family.”
Given his background, he has often acted as a cop but is keen to try new things.
“Right now, I hope to take on more period, action and comedy roles. As long as it comes out well, it doesn’t matter if the role’s tough.”
TheStar
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