BEIJING, Jan. 25 -- Singer-turned-actor Aaron Kwok, a Golden Horse award winner last year, has reached another career milestone. Kwok earned even more money in 2006 than super-entertainer Andy Lau, over 100 million Hong Kong dollars. He shed his flamboyant image for "After This Our Exile", and delivered a nuanced, emotional performance. Aaron Kwok tops today's "The List".
Kwok has long wanted to rid himself of the teen idol banner. He has broadened his horizons to become an all-round entertainer.
Kwok's upcoming Asian concert tour tops on his schedule. He is also preparing for his first stage musical, and a movie musical, taking advantage of both his singing and acting talents.
It's been a year and a half since his last concert in Hong Kong. Kwok says his recent focus has been on musicals. And he feels no pressure to put out pop music, after so many years immersed in that field.
On May 31st, the "Aaron Kwok Physical Concert 2005" was held at Hong Kong Colosseum. It turned out to be a blockbuster show, where dance was the name of the game. Fans say Kwok need not feel ashamed of his "Dancing King of Pop Music" title.
When the lights turned on at 8:15 pm on the memorable concert night, Aaron electrified the audience and drew rounds of surprised screams with his super-cool appearance. Hatless and hairless, the singer sported a clever bird design on his left temple. That was only one of the many stunning designs by William Chang, the famed art director who has contributed to Wang Kar-wai movies like "In the Mood for Love" and 2046.
Aaron Kwok said "We invited William Chang to take charge the make-up for my show. That's because I trust him. I believe in his make-up and costume skills. I'm sure he's going to show you a new face of mine."
With the wildly sexy make-up and costume combined with Aaron's skills at the vertical expression, the six straight days of performing proved a dazzling feast for the eyes. The media believe the show will be another landmark in Aaron's career as entertainer.
Turning 41 this year, Aaron Kwok trained as a dancer two decades ago. In 1990, the then obscure Aaron appeared in a motorbike TV commercial in Taiwan, which turned out to be the beginning of his stardom. With teenage girls throughout Taiwan mesmerized by his magical smile, Aaron released two albums in the following year. And soon he became a fixture on Hong Kong's entertainment scene as one of the four most popular male singers in the city. The strong beats of his dancing and his hairstyle won him immortality.
With the assets of his good looks and dancing skills, Aaron Kwok became a super idol early in his career. And in the latter half of the 1990s, he made better use of his dancing skills and branched out into the big and small screen. In movies like "AD 2000" and "China Strike Force", he showed his fans that he's got more than a pretty face.
And as the star-studded movie "Divergence" opened across China in April 2005, Aaron greeted his faithful fans with a whole new image. Sporting a beard, he played a police officer down on his luck both in love and in his career. In interpreting an ordinary man under extraordinary stress, Aaron portrayed his character with austere simplicity. And he added his own understanding of love, responsibility, faith, and manliness. And on the other side of the screen, viewers were delightfully surprised to see him complete his transformation from boy to man.
Success in last year's hit movie "After This Our Exile", certifies Kwok has become a truly mature performer on both stage and screen.
(Source: CCTV)
