Nicholas Tse at 40 – things to know about the Hong Kong singer, actor, chef and entrepreneur romantically linked to Faye Wong
Known for his dramatic stunts on screen, actor Nicholas Tse, who has a net worth of US$139 million, loves to cook, likes straightforward people and might just be the world’s next kung fu star.
Born to veteran actors Patrick Tse and Deborah Li, Nicholas spent most of his childhood in Vancouver and Phoenix, Arizona, where he was in the limelight because of his parents. Holiday photos of him and his sister were often published in magazines, and as a result, Tse would grow comfortable being in the public eye.
Following his parents’ footsteps, Tse made his debut in the entertainment industry as a singer but found mainstream success in acting. He is the only actor to have won best new performer (1999), best supporting actor (2010), and best actor (2011) at the Hong Kong Film Awards.
As the veteran actor-singer turns 40 on August 29, here are some things you should know about him.
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He is a chef and an entrepreneur
Tse started cooking after he saw a TV show explaining how difficult it is to create a soufflé or profiterole. “It immediately inspired me to try making them,” he told CNN.
He then opened his own bakery, Chef Nic’s Cookies, in 2015. Unfortunately, due to the economic downturn caused by anti-government protests and the Covid-19 pandemic in Hong Kong, the store has since closed.
Aside from the bakery, he launched a TV show in 2014 called Chef Nic where he documents his culinary endeavours with famous personalities like Jackie Chan and Fan Bingbing.
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He likes it when people keep things simple
Netizens and viewers of the Netflix series J-Style Trip were surprised when Tse said he likes uncomplicated people and cites co-actor Jay Chou and rumoured love Faye Wong as examples. “Among people I know, only Jay and Faye are equally simple-hearted,” he said.
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He lowered his rates due to Covid-19
Tse owns two properties at Lyndhurst Terrace in Centra, l Hong Kong. According to Malay Mail, quoting a report from Apple Daily, he had to slash his rental rates. One of his lots is now offered for rent for HK$82,000 (US$10,500) a month; back in 2012 it was rented out for HK$225,000 (US$29,000). He might be the next kung fu star
Actor and director Donnie Yen thinks Tse has the potential to be a massive kung fu star. This seems apt given Tse’s credentials and background: he was trained by Philip Ng, Andy On and Sammo Hung and has two decades’ worth of experience acting in action films.
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He appeared and was a guest judge in an episode of America’s Next Top Model
In an episode of America’s Next Top Model Season 18, model mentor Miss Jay Alexander and Tse facilitated an action-packed acting challenge to teach a fight sequence to the models. He showed how to do a left and right hook, uppercut, and pin down an opponent, showcasing why he’s one of Hong Kong’s most respected action stars.
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Hong Kong’s favourite bad boy, the ex-husband of actress Cecilia Cheung, is rumoured to be back with past love Faye Wong, so while his love life might be going well his business interests have taken a hit due to the coronavirus pandemic