Carl Ng
Encyclopedia
Carl Ng is a Hong Kong
actor
and model
. He is the son of Richard Ng
.
, while his mother, a British
woman, worked as a hair stylist for Bruce Lee
in the 1970s. At the age of 12, he moved with his family to live in England
, where he would remain for the next thirteen years. As a child he had no desire to become an actor like his father, but while studying global corporate strategy at the University of Westminster
he began attending evening drama
classes at the Tony Grecos Acting Studio.
, Ng took up acting full time, working as a waiter
or cook
in various restaurant
s until he started gaining roles in West End
and Off West End plays
. However, he became dissatisfied with the work he was getting, saying: "I was seen as neither Asian
nor Caucasian
. Either that or I'm cast in stereotyped
roles." In 2002, Ng took a six-month break from acting, working as a scuba diving
instructor in Thailand
. He then moved back to Hong Kong, where he again waited on tables before landing a number of prominent modelling jobs, featuring in advertisements for Motorola
and Sony MiniDisc. Since 2000 he has appeared in a number of films, including Heat Team, Yesterday Once More
, Colour Blossoms
, and Half Twin. Regarding his choice in film roles, Ng has said: "I do gravitate towards darker roles, roles that other people hesitate to touch. I find them intriguing and an opportunity to try something different." He has appeared alongside his father in several productions, including the 2008 TV film Pulau Hantu.
In 2010, Ng was cast in the lead role of a biographical film
based on the life of Cheng Guorong, aka "Brother Sharp", a Chinese man who became a minor celebrity while living homeless on the streets of Ningbo
after pictures of him were posted online. The film was due to start production in September 2010.
benefits. While working in London he took part in a production of Elegies for Angels, Punks and Raging Queens
, the proceeds from which were given to a local AIDS centre. As of 2006, Ng was working with the Society for AIDS Care in Hong Kong, as well as a teen support group that deals with topics such as safe sex
.
Hong Kong
Hong Kong is one of two Special Administrative Regions of the People's Republic of China , the other being Macau. A city-state situated on China's south coast and enclosed by the Pearl River Delta and South China Sea, it is renowned for its expansive skyline and deep natural harbour...
actor
Actor
An actor is a person who acts in a dramatic production and who works in film, television, theatre, or radio in that capacity...
and model
Model (person)
A model , sometimes called a mannequin, is a person who is employed to display, advertise and promote commercial products or to serve as a subject of works of art....
. He is the son of Richard Ng
Richard Ng
Richard Ng Yiu-Hon is a Hong Kong actor. He is known for playing comedic roles, particularly in Hong Kong films of the 1980s and 90s.-Film and television career:...
.
Early life
The third of four children, Ng was born in Hong Kong and is of mixed ethnicity. His father is comedy actor Richard NgRichard Ng
Richard Ng Yiu-Hon is a Hong Kong actor. He is known for playing comedic roles, particularly in Hong Kong films of the 1980s and 90s.-Film and television career:...
, while his mother, a British
Great Britain
Great Britain or Britain is an island situated to the northwest of Continental Europe. It is the ninth largest island in the world, and the largest European island, as well as the largest of the British Isles...
woman, worked as a hair stylist for Bruce Lee
Bruce Lee
Bruce Lee was a Chinese American, Hong Kong actor, martial arts instructor, philosopher, film director, film producer, screenwriter, and founder of the Jeet Kune Do martial arts movement...
in the 1970s. At the age of 12, he moved with his family to live in England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
, where he would remain for the next thirteen years. As a child he had no desire to become an actor like his father, but while studying global corporate strategy at the University of Westminster
University of Westminster
The University of Westminster is a public research university located in London, United Kingdom. Its origins go back to the foundation of the Royal Polytechnic Institution in 1838, and it was awarded university status in 1992.The university's headquarters and original campus are based on Regent...
he began attending evening drama
Drama
Drama is the specific mode of fiction represented in performance. The term comes from a Greek word meaning "action" , which is derived from "to do","to act" . The enactment of drama in theatre, performed by actors on a stage before an audience, presupposes collaborative modes of production and a...
classes at the Tony Grecos Acting Studio.
Career
After graduatingGraduation
Graduation is the action of receiving or conferring an academic degree or the ceremony that is sometimes associated, where students become Graduates. Before the graduation, candidates are referred to as Graduands. The date of graduation is often called degree day. The graduation itself is also...
, Ng took up acting full time, working as a waiter
Waiter
Waiting staff, wait staff, or waitstaff are those who work at a restaurant or a bar attending customers — supplying them with food and drink as requested. Traditionally, a male waiting tables is called a "waiter" and a female a "waitress" with the gender-neutral version being a "server"...
or cook
Cook (profession)
A cook is a person who prepares food for consumption. In Germany, Austria, Switzerland and Canada this profession requires government approval ....
in various restaurant
Restaurant
A restaurant is an establishment which prepares and serves food and drink to customers in return for money. Meals are generally served and eaten on premises, but many restaurants also offer take-out and food delivery services...
s until he started gaining roles in West End
West End theatre
West End theatre is a popular term for mainstream professional theatre staged in the large theatres of London's 'Theatreland', the West End. Along with New York's Broadway theatre, West End theatre is usually considered to represent the highest level of commercial theatre in the English speaking...
and Off West End plays
Play (theatre)
A play is a form of literature written by a playwright, usually consisting of scripted dialogue between characters, intended for theatrical performance rather than just reading. There are rare dramatists, notably George Bernard Shaw, who have had little preference whether their plays were performed...
. However, he became dissatisfied with the work he was getting, saying: "I was seen as neither Asian
Asian people
Asian people or Asiatic people is a term with multiple meanings that refers to people who descend from a portion of Asia's population.- Central Asia :...
nor Caucasian
Caucasian race
The term Caucasian race has been used to denote the general physical type of some or all of the populations of Europe, North Africa, the Horn of Africa, Western Asia , Central Asia and South Asia...
. Either that or I'm cast in stereotyped
Ethnic stereotype
An ethnic stereotype is a generalized representation of an ethnic group, composed of what are thought to be typical characteristics of members of the group.Ethnic stereotypes are commonly portrayed in ethnic jokes.-Ethnic stereotypes:*African Americans...
roles." In 2002, Ng took a six-month break from acting, working as a scuba diving
Scuba diving
Scuba diving is a form of underwater diving in which a diver uses a scuba set to breathe underwater....
instructor in Thailand
Thailand
Thailand , officially the Kingdom of Thailand , formerly known as Siam , is a country located at the centre of the Indochina peninsula and Southeast Asia. It is bordered to the north by Burma and Laos, to the east by Laos and Cambodia, to the south by the Gulf of Thailand and Malaysia, and to the...
. He then moved back to Hong Kong, where he again waited on tables before landing a number of prominent modelling jobs, featuring in advertisements for Motorola
Motorola
Motorola, Inc. was an American multinational telecommunications company based in Schaumburg, Illinois, which was eventually divided into two independent public companies, Motorola Mobility and Motorola Solutions on January 4, 2011, after losing $4.3 billion from 2007 to 2009...
and Sony MiniDisc. Since 2000 he has appeared in a number of films, including Heat Team, Yesterday Once More
Yesterday Once More (film)
Yesterday Once More is a 2004 Hong Kong film produced and directed by Johnnie To and starring Andy Lau and Sammi Cheng.- Summary :Andy Lau and Sammi Cheng star as Mr. and Mrs. Thief, a husband and wife team of super-thieves...
, Colour Blossoms
Colour Blossoms
Colour Blossoms is a 2004 Hong Kong art film written and directed by Yonfan, and the third in an informal trilogy of films inspired by Tang Xianzu's The Peony Pavilion...
, and Half Twin. Regarding his choice in film roles, Ng has said: "I do gravitate towards darker roles, roles that other people hesitate to touch. I find them intriguing and an opportunity to try something different." He has appeared alongside his father in several productions, including the 2008 TV film Pulau Hantu.
In 2010, Ng was cast in the lead role of a biographical film
Biographical film
A biographical film, or biopic , is a film that dramatizes the life of an actual person or people. They differ from films “based on a true story” or “historical films” in that they attempt to comprehensively tell a person’s life story or at least the most historically important years of their...
based on the life of Cheng Guorong, aka "Brother Sharp", a Chinese man who became a minor celebrity while living homeless on the streets of Ningbo
Ningbo
Ningbo is a seaport city of northeastern Zhejiang province, Eastern China. Holding sub-provincial administrative status, the municipality has a population of 7,605,700 inhabitants at the 2010 census whom 3,089,180 in the built up area made of 6 urban districts. It lies south of the Hangzhou Bay,...
after pictures of him were posted online. The film was due to start production in September 2010.
Charity work
Ng has been involved with a number of AIDSAIDS
Acquired immune deficiency syndrome or acquired immunodeficiency syndrome is a disease of the human immune system caused by the human immunodeficiency virus...
benefits. While working in London he took part in a production of Elegies for Angels, Punks and Raging Queens
Elegies for Angels, Punks and Raging Queens
Elegies For Angels, Punks and Raging Queens is a song cycle with music by Janet Hood and lyrics and additional text by Bill Russell. The work features songs and monologues inspired by the NAMES Project AIDS Memorial Quilt and Edgar Lee Masters' Spoon River Anthology...
, the proceeds from which were given to a local AIDS centre. As of 2006, Ng was working with the Society for AIDS Care in Hong Kong, as well as a teen support group that deals with topics such as safe sex
Safe sex
Safe sex is sexual activity engaged in by people who have taken precautions to protect themselves against sexually transmitted diseases such as AIDS. It is also referred to as safer sex or protected sex, while unsafe or unprotected sex is sexual activity engaged in without precautions...
.
Filmography
- SausalitoSausalito (film)Sausalito aka. Love at First Sight is a 2000 Hong Kong film directed by Andrew Lau.-Cast and roles:* Maggie Cheung - Ellen* Leon Lai - Mike* Scott Leong - Scott* Saisie M...
(2000) - Jiang Hu: The Triad ZoneJiang hu: The Triad ZoneJiang hu: The Triad Zone is a 2000 Hong Kong film directed by Dante Lam.-Cast and roles:* Tony Leung Ka-fai - Jimmy Yam* Sandra Ng - Sophie Yam* Anthony Wong Chau-sang - Master Kwan Wan Cheung* Eason Chan - Chan Chin-Wah* Jo Kuk...
(2000) - Lemon Crush (2002)
- Naked WeaponNaked WeaponNaked Weapon is a 2002 Hong Kong action-thriller film directed by action choreographer Tony Ching and starring Maggie Quigley, Anya Wu and Daniel Wu. Written by prolific film producer Wong Jing, Naked Weapon is similar in theme though unrelated to his earlier work Naked Killer...
(2002, uncredited) - The MedallionThe MedallionThe Medallion is a 2003 action-comedy film co-written and directed by Hong Kong filmmaker Gordon Chan, and starring Jackie Chan, Lee Evans, and Claire Forlani...
(2003) - Colour of the Truth (2003)
- Fear of Intimacy (2004)
- Legend of the Dragon (2004)
- Love Battlefield (2004)
- Love on the Rocks (2004)
- Heat Team, aka Ambush (2004)
- ButterflyButterfly (2004 film)Butterfly is a 2004 Hong Kong film based on Taiwanese writer Xue Chen’s novel The Mark of Butterfly . The film was directed by female award-winning director Yan Yan Mak and produced by Jacqueline Liu and Yan Yan Mak with the sponsorship of Hong Kong Art Development Council.-Plot:The film follows...
(2004) - New Police StoryNew Police StoryNew Police Story is a 2004 Hong Kong action film starring Jackie Chan and directed by Benny Chan.The film is a reboot of the Police Story series. New Police Story relies much more on drama and heavy action than its predecessors.-Plot:...
(2004) - Yesterday Once MoreYesterday Once More (film)Yesterday Once More is a 2004 Hong Kong film produced and directed by Johnnie To and starring Andy Lau and Sammi Cheng.- Summary :Andy Lau and Sammi Cheng star as Mr. and Mrs. Thief, a husband and wife team of super-thieves...
(2004) - Colour BlossomsColour BlossomsColour Blossoms is a 2004 Hong Kong art film written and directed by Yonfan, and the third in an informal trilogy of films inspired by Tang Xianzu's The Peony Pavilion...
(2004) - Taped (2005)
- Set to Kill (2005)
- Midnight Running (2006)
- Half Twin (2006)
- Undying Heart (2006)
- Men Suddenly in Black 2 (2006)
- Heavenly Mission (2006)
- Magazine Gap Road (2007)
- Happy Birthday (2007)
- Shadow of Pleasure (2007)
- Boarding GateBoarding GateBoarding Gate is a 2007 French thriller about the sophisticated power plays between a debt-ridden underworld entrepreneur, his provocative and ambitious ex-associate and a manipulative young couple who employ her. Written and directed by Olivier Assayas, the film features an international cast...
(2007) - Single Blog (2007)
- Hooked on YouHooked on YouHooked on You is a 2007 Hong Kong comedy-drama film directed and edited by Law Wing-Cheong and produced by Johnnie To and his production company Milkyway Image. Featuring an ensemble cast, the film stars Miriam Yeung as a fishmonger who strives to fulfill her life-long dreams before she turns...
(2007) - The Counting House (2007)
- I Come with the RainI Come with the RainI Come with the Rain is a 2009 neo-noir atmospheric thriller written and directed by Vietnamese-born French director Tran Anh Hung, starring American actor Josh Hartnett....
(2008) - A Decade of Love (2008)
- Pulau Hantu (2008, TV)
- Bodyguard: A New Beginning (2008)
- Sayang Sayang (2009, TV)
- Here Comes Fortune (2010)
- La Comédie Humaine (2010)
- Diago (2010)
- Jessica Caught on Tape (2010)
- Forget Me Not (2010)
- Point of Entry (2010)
- Point of Entry 2 (2011)