TVB Awards crowns TV King and Queen
The frontrunners leading up to Sunday's 2015 TVB Anniversary Awards, the annual ceremony honouring the best of the Hong Kong broadcaster's TV shows, made it to the finish line as expected.
We break down the five highlights of the night.
1. BEST ACTOR WINNER ANTHONY WONG WANTS AN OSCAR NEXT
The three-and-a-half-hour award show held at the broadcaster's headquarters, TVB City, might as well have been named the Anthony Wong Awards.
The veteran actor, who dominated the pre-event buzz as the clear favourite to win in his category, delighted the audience with his onstage antics and snagged the coveted TV King title for his role as mobster Kiu Ngo Tin in the historical drama, Lord of Shanghai.
"Does everyone who come up have to cry?" asked the 54-year-old in jest as he pretended to burst into tears during his acceptance speech.
"I thought I was going to win the Oscar," he added in mock disappointment.
However, it does seem like an Academy Award isn't far from his mind.
He already has numerous big screen accolades and is best known for his work in films such as Initial D, Beast Cops and Infernal Affairs. When asked later by reporters what's next for him, he replied: "An Oscar?"
Lord of Shanghai was Wong's first TVB drama in 21 years and he thanked TVB "for letting someone like me back".
"There's a rumour that I throw away the trophies after I win them - that's not true, they're at home," he said. "I'm very happy to have won, I will treasure it, I hear it's real gold."
2. BEST DRAMA 'LORD OF SHANGHAI' THE BIGGEST WINNER
With Wong among its cast, Lord of Shanghai was a shoo-in for Best Drama.
The show, which centres on two sworn brothers (Wong and Wayne Lai) fighting their way to the top of 1930s Shanghai, was the most decorated, picking up a total of three awards, including Best Supporting Actor for Willie Wai.
Producer Amy Wong thanked her leading man Wong "for returning to TVB for me", adding that "he brought the sparks, which strengthened the show".
Lord of Shanghai premieres on VV Drama (StarHub TV Ch 855) on Feb 4 at 9pm.
3. 'GHOST OF RELATIVITY' PACKS 1-2 PUNCH WITH FEMALE WINS
The supernatural rom-com's two leading ladies won the night's biggest prizes for actresses.
Kristal Tin, 38, and Nancy Wu, 35, were among the top five finalists for both Most Popular Female TV Character and Best Actress categories, with Wu favoured to win the latter.
When Tin, who scored the Best Actress title two years ago,was announced the winner of Most Popular Female TV Character, she thanked Wu for their good work together on the show, later telling the media: "I'm as happy as I would have been if I had won Best Actress."
Wu returned the praises to Tin in her teary acceptance speech after receiving her award for Best Actress - her first since joining TVB in 2001.
"I joined the entertainment industry for singing. I never thought I would do well in acting, so I have far, far exceeded my own expectations," she told reporters.
4. GRACE CHAN PROVES SHE'S MORE THAN JUST A PRETTY FACE
The 24-year-old starlet, the 2013 Miss Hong Kong, looked nervous in her cleavage-revealing dusty rose ball gown as she awaited the announcement for Most Improved Female Artist.
It did not seem to help that Anthony Wong was presenting the award, as he had earlier this year criticised Chan for having "exaggerated expressions" that were "ugly" on screen.
He continued to tease her on stage before finally revealing her as the winner. Wong later told reporters that his previous words were merely "friendly, constructive comments".
An elated Chan told reporters the award would motivate her to improve her acting, and that she was in awe of Wong.
"It's amazing that I got the award from Anthony Wong. He's a legend. It is not awkward at all (between us). He means well...I'll keep working hard to make him proud," she said, adding that her boyfriend, fellow TVB actor Kevin Cheng, 46, was absent because of work.
5. GOING 'NUDE' ON THE RED CARPET
Sheer layers were all the rage as actresses strutted in with daring necklines and mesh or lace panels placed strategically over their assets.
Most bordered on the conservative with nude lining, but then came Linda Chung.
The 31-year-old actress - who was nominated for Best Actress and Most Popular Female TV Character - turned heads and sparked gasps when she arrived in just a black high-waisted bikini below a full-length black netted dress embellished with floral appliques.
When asked if she thought her outfit was too revealing, Chung said she was worried about her "tummy showing" but defended her choice, saying it "isn't bad-girl at all".
"I don't think the dress defines your character. I don't think showing off a bit of skin is necessarily bad," she told reporters. "I'm not selling sexuality...I'm very conservative. A little bit of skin doesn't mean 'slutty-sexiness'. The dress makes me feel very confident, makes me feel safe."
*The telecast of the 2015 TVB Anniversary Awards is available for 'Catch Up' on TVBJ (StarHub TV Ch 838) until Dec 20
Main award winners
Best Drama:
Lord of Shanghai
Best Actor in a Leading Role:
Anthony Wong (Lord of Shanghai)
Best Actress in a Leading Role:
Nancy Wu (Ghost of Relativity)
Best Supporting Actor:
Willie Wai (Lord of Shanghai)
Best Supporting Actress:
Elaine Yiu (Captain of Destiny)
Most Popular Male TV Character:
Ruco Chan (Captain of Destiny)
Most Popular Female TV Character:
Kristal Tin (Ghost of Relativity)
Most Improved Male Artist:
Tony Hung
Most Improved Female Artist:
Grace Chan
Best Entertainment Host:
Liza Wang, Adam Cheng,
Jerry Lamb (Sunday Songbird)
Most Popular Classic Drama:
The Greed of Man
Honorary Achievement Award:
Natalis Chan
Get The New Paper on your phone with the free TNP app. Download from the Apple App Store or Google Play Store now
