Oriental Daily interview with Michael Tao and Kenix Kwok: ‘Old couple’ reminisces about their past relationship

Here’s an awesome interview with one of my favorite onscreen couples from the 90s: Michael Tao and Kenix Kwok!

I actually knew about this interview for a few months already, as Michael had written about it on his Weibo a few months back (he had said he was meeting up with long-time partner Kenix for an interview with Oriental Daily). At that time though, Michael didn’t say anything about when the interview would be published (probably because he didn’t even know himself), so I pretty much would ‘stalk’ Oriental Daily’s website everyday to see if it was there (LOL…well, actually reading HK entertainment news is part of my daily routine anyway, so it’s not like it took too much additional effort). It wasn’t until last month when Michael wrote on his Weibo that the interview would be published in mid-June that I was finally able to get confirmation of the date.

Anyway, I truly truly enjoyed reading this interview! It was so great to see these 2 back together again (I was actually one of those ‘fans’ mentioned in the interview who reposted their reunion pic from Timmy’s wedding when I saw it on Weibo…hehehe) – I definitely miss them a lot! Reading this interview really makes me want to go back and re-watch the DIF trilogy all over again (for like the millionth time…LOL!).

If you’re a huge fan of DIF like I am, then this interview is a definite ‘must read’ for you!! :o)

Lastly….this interview proves that my memory isn’t as bad as I think it is (when I did my ‘classic onscreen couples’ post a few months back, I remembered thinking that Michael and Kenix had collaborated in 6 series at TVB, but for the life of me, I could only recall 5 – DIF trilogy, Shine On You, Love Bond – I had totally forgotten about Glittering Moments…). Well, since Michael and Kenix brought up their collaboration in Glittering Moments in the interview, now I know that I was right initially…haha!

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Oriental Daily interview with Michael Tao and Kenix Kwok:  ‘Old couple’ reminisces about their past relationship

Source:  Oriental Daily

Translation:  llwy12

Michael Tao (陶大宇) and Kenix Kwok (郭可盈) are an onscreen ‘golden couple’ that has endured for 17 years , starting from their first collaboration in TVB’s popular trilogy Detective Investigation Files《刑事偵緝檔案》from 1995 to 1997. When ‘Ko Jit’ [Kenix’s character in DIF] bumped into ‘Dai Yung’ [Michael’s character] again a couple months ago at Timmy Hung’s (洪天明) wedding, the two of them excitedly took a picture together and uploaded it to Weibo, which triggered fans to fondly remember this ‘classic’ pairing. Recently, this ‘golden’ onscreen couple got together to talk about old times and even revealed that they back in the day, they were ‘one step away’ from developing a relationship in real life! Kenix also joked that Michael ‘lost out’ because he wasn’t proactive enough.

M = Michael Tao
K = Kenix Kwok

Reunited at wedding, their picture together is wildly circulated online

M: Seeing you again after so many years, you’re still very beautiful – I see a more mature beauty in you now! When we bumped into each other again at Timmy’s wedding, it was quite unexpected!

K: You haven’t changed a bit either – still able to laugh heartily without restraint! Actually, when I posted our photo on Weibo earlier, it was primarily because audiences requested it, then when fans started commenting and reposting, it spread like wildfire! Back when I filmed the Detective Investigation Files trilogy, I was still a newbie who didn’t know anything – that series was the turning point in my career!

M: Because you were a ‘blank page’, that’s why you were able to absorb so much! And that’s why you were able to play the character of ‘Ko Jit’ so naturally!

K: Actually, the first series of my career was Glittering Moments 《Catwalk俏佳人》, which was my first collaboration with you – I guess you could say I also gave you my ‘first time’ [filming series]! Right after that, we collaborated on the DIF trilogy – throughout most of the first installment, I was kind of dull and didn’t really know what I was doing. The second installment was actually filmed because the audiences requested it – after they watched the ending [to the first installment], a lot of audiences were upset and wrote letters to K-100 [TN: TVB’s former entertainment news program] complaining about it. For the second installment, the producer Poon Ka Tak (潘嘉德) specially designed the ending scene at the airport where, after I lose my memory, I decide to leave and then turn around and look at ‘Dai Yung’ one last time….after that last scene, a lot of audiences were very heartbroken!

M: The producer was very smart, as designing the ending that way meant that there would definitely be a third installment! But I remember that when we filmed the first few segments of the 3rd installment in Beijing, it was pretty miserable for you ….you had a bad case of diarrhea, plus the weather was also freezing – since you played 2 different characters, almost every scene required you to be in it. Unfortunately, as much as I wanted to, I couldn’t help you!

K: The only thing that would have helped at that time was anti-diarrhea medication! I remember one morning right before we were scheduled to film an exterior scene, I had a sudden bout of diarrhea and was in the bathroom for a long time. You even knocked on the door and asked if I was ill…but, I survived it.

M: The hardship was worth it -- even now, more than a decade later, whenever I go to Mainland China to perform or film series, a lot of audiences still remember the classic pairing of ‘Dai Yung’ and ‘Ko Jit’!


Rare for a classic couple to be so compatible

K: The two of us can definitely be considered a ‘classic couple’ – you are my ‘classic’ partner! Our ‘compatibility’ wasn’t just in terms of physical appearance – to be honest, there are many physically attractive people in the industry, but to find someone who matches so well on all levels, it’s definitely rare! Our pairing was very well-received. In the beginning, I had 2 different feelings toward you – one feeling was that you were a big brother who very patiently taught me a lot of things and the other was that you were truly a big star!

M: A big star? For real? I actually felt that I was a bit dull back then!

K: Dull? How so? At that time, you were already in the industry for awhile and had lots of experience. Out of all the male actors I’ve collaborated with, you’re the one that left the deepest impression on me. I pretty much ‘grew up’ with you!

M: I had gone through the ‘blank page’ phase as well, but I have to say, Kenix, that you’re very smart and also a quick learner – you also have strong perseverance and a personality that doesn’t accept failure easily. I remember you cried in front of me before – knowing that you don’t cry easily, for you to do that, it proves that you trust me!

K: Yes! I’m actually quite stubborn too! I remember I had cried that time because I was wrongfully accused of being late – I’m the type of person who will admit if I’m wrong. After that time, our relationship took a huge step forward.

M: A lot of people ask whether we had ‘sparks’ in real life, since we spent so much time together back then.

K: Logically, we should have! Hahaha! I still remember that both of us had rumors, which wasn’t surprising since we were playing a couple onscreen, plus neither of us were married yet back then. But in the end, no ‘sparks’. For me, it was primarily because I was too focused on work at the time and most of my time was spent studying the script – I barely even had time to redo my makeup, so of course I didn’t notice the handsome guy standing next to me! Lost opportunity! I’d venture to guess that you did have fanciful thoughts about me though, right?


Went out to watch a movie, no further advancement

M: You were so young and beautiful back then, I don’t dare say I didn’t have thoughts! Perhaps because both of us were so busy, neither of us took that one step forward – it could very well have just taken that one step!

K: Yes, it just lacked that little bit….but, I recollect that the two of us did go out and watch a movie together! Back when we were filming Glittering Moments, I remember we had gone out to watch Jurassic Park together. That time, I was the one who invited you….I’m curious why you agreed to go?

M: Well, it wasn’t anything out of the ordinary to me, so I went! Watching a movie together doesn’t mean anything – after the movie, we said ‘bye’ and that was it, nothing further happened! But I do remember that back when we were filming a kitchen scene for the series Shine on You《青出於藍》, I had asked you what would’ve happened if I actually did ‘pursue’ you back during the DIF days.

K: I remember too….actually, back when we were filming DIF, you had asked me the same question, but at the time, I was already dating Frankie [Lam] and our relationship wasn’t publicly known yet. I also remember you asking me if Frankie hadn’t already appeared in my life, whether you would’ve had a chance?

M: And what was your response at the time?

K: I said: ‘I don’t know?’ But in the end, you didn’t make an attempt to pursue me, so it proves that you didn’t fight for it! You understand my personality though – we have the same strong temperament, so being together would be like Mars crashing into Earth! If we truly had been together, I believe it would not have been a happy ending!

M: For us to have such a harmonious relationship now, it proves that my decision back then [not to pursue you] was right – otherwise, we probably wouldn’t be talking to each other anymore! Now when we see each other again, we are able to think back fondly of the past and have beautiful memories of those times when we endured long filming days together and also when we accepted an award (best onscreen couple) together!


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Chinese version:

陶大宇郭可盈 舊相好爆當年情


一對經歷十七年的螢幕情侶陶大宇和郭可盈，憑95－97年間三輯多達100集的《刑事偵緝檔案》合作而結緣。「高婕」可盈早前在洪天明婚宴遇上「大勇」大宇，他們興奮合照上載微博，瞬間引爆粉絲對這Pair經典情侶之懷念，這對「舊相好」日前敍舊，竟然驚爆當年大家只差一步便能發展感情，可盈還笑指大宇不夠積極。


婚宴遇上合照瘋傳


陶：陶大宇　郭：郭可盈


陶：隔咁多年見你仍然好靚，眼前更多咗一份成熟美！我哋喺天明婚宴上再碰上，好意外!

郭：你都無變，一樣係開懷大笑！其實上次合照上載到微博都係徇眾要求，再加粉絲評論，簡直係瘋傳！當年我拍《刑》劇系列仍係一個新人，好似一舊雲，呢個劇亦係我事業轉捩點！　

陶：一張白紙先可吸收得最多！「高婕」個角色先可以如此自然演繹！

郭：其實我入行第一部劇《Catwalk俏佳人》都係同你合作，我處女作亦係畀咗你呢！緊接開咗三輯《刑》，第一輯我戇居居，第二輯就係徇眾要求開拍，因為當時好多觀眾睇完結局唔開心，要寫信去K-100投訴，當時監製潘嘉德特別設計結局，寫我失憶要離開，喺機場轉頭望住「大勇」…………之後完場，好多觀眾都好心痛！

陶：監製好聰明，如此設計就可以開第三輯！不過，第三輯我哋去北京外景，記得你好慘…………肚屙！天氣凍至零下十多廿度，你又要做兩個角色，場場都有你，我又愛莫能助！

郭：幫到我嘅只有「止屙藥」！我記得有一朝早要出外景，但我肚屙，你仲叩門問我係咪唔舒服……不過，都捱過咗。

陶：辛苦都值得，十幾年後，依家返內地工作演出，好多觀眾仲記得「大勇」、「高婕」這對經典組合！


經典情侶難得咁夾

郭：我倆絕對係經典情侶，你係我經典拍檔！我哋嗰種「夾」，唔係指人靚，其實靚人呢個圈好多，但要相襯就唔多，我同你嘅配對真係好「受」！最初我面對你嘅感覺，有兩種Feel，一種係大哥哥，好有耐性教我，另一種係大明星！

陶：大明星？你講真？我覺得自己當年仲戇居居！

郭：點戇居？你入行已一段時間，你係我拍過嘅男演員最深刻嘅一個，簡直陪我成長！

陶：我都經歷過「白紙」年代，不過可盈你好聰明，吸收快、戰鬥力強，又有一種不忿氣性格！你試過喺我面前喊，我知你非易喊嘅人，你有呢個表現，證明你對我信任！

郭：係呀！我好硬頸！我記得當年為咗被屈遲到嘅事，其實有錯我一定認，嗰次後我倆感情邁進一大步。

陶：有好多人問，我倆日對夜對點會唔「撻着」？

郭：照正來說，應該會！哈哈……我仲記得我倆都有緋聞，既然演得情侶，嗰時我倆未婚，但始終都冇「撻着」，我諗因為我當時太專注工作，忙讀劇本，連補妝都無時間，所以無留意身邊呢位俊男而錯過了！但我估你應該對我有遐想啩？


約完睇戲再冇下文

陶：當日你「卜卜脆」，點敢話無遐想！可能大家都忙，無行前多一步，可能就係欠呢一步！

郭：就係欠呢一點點啦……不過，我有記憶我倆曾經相約睇戲！我記得拍《Catwalk》時，睇《侏羅紀公園》！嗰次係我約你……點解你會應約？

陶：冇咩特別就應約啦！睇戲都唔代表咩，睇完戲就Bye　Bye，冇下文！不過記得拍《青出於藍》時，一場廚房戲我曾經問你，如果我當初（指拍《刑》）「溝」你估會點呢？

郭：我都記得……拍《刑》時你都問過我呢條問題，但我當時同文龍拍拖尚未公開，我記得你仲問我，如果唔係文龍已出現，唔知你會唔會有機會？

陶：你當時點答？

郭：我話：「唔知呢？」但最後你都冇追我，證明你冇爭取！不過，你知我性格係點，跟你一樣都係「凸」，一齊就如火星撞地球，如果真係一齊，我相信會唔開心收場！

陶：我倆能夠有今日嘅和諧關係，證明當初我決定係冇錯，唔係依家可能反面！依家大家再見面，可以緬懷當時一齊捱、一齊攞獎（情侶組合）嘅美好回憶！