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Babyjohn Choi

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Babyjohn Choi
蔡瀚億
Choi in February 2023
Born
Choi Ming Yin

(1986-12-08) 8 December 1986 (age 37)
Hong Kong
Education
Occupation
  • Actor
Years active2013–present
Spouse
Donut Cheung
​
(m. 2013)​

Babyjohn Choi Hon Yick (Chinese: 蔡瀚億; born Choi Ming Yin; 8 December 1986) is a Hong Kong actor. Debuting as Leung in the sports drama film The Way We Dance (2013), the role earned Choi Best New Performer in the 33rd Hong Kong Film Awards, and he later reprised it in the sequel The Way We Keep Dancing (2021). Choi went on to star in various productions after his first film role, including the horror film Twilight Online (2014), martial arts film Ip Man 3, crime film Imprisoned (both 2015), and comedy film The Yuppie Fantasia 3 (2017). He landed his first sole leading role as Tim Cheung in the horror film Vampire Cleanup Department (2017), followed by a breakout performance as a sacrificing policeman in the action film Shock Wave (2017). He also starred as Cel in the Storm Film Series, beginning with L Storm (2018) and concluded with the series finale G Storm (2021), and Lo Man Nai in the ViuTV drama series No One Lies (2023).

Early life and education

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Babyjohn Choi was born Choi Ming Yin[1] on 8 December 1986 in Hong Kong.[2][3] He grew up in Mei Foo and was raised by his grandparents.[4] He began learning piano when he was three and later passed ABRSM Grade 8 when he was in Form 4.[5][6] His parents changed his name to Choi Hon Yick while he was studying in primary school due to feng shui.[1] He later attended Wah Yan College, Kowloon,[7] and spent most of his time in secondary school joining bands and playing music.[6] When he was in Form 2, he participated in a school drama performance of West Side Story, portraying the character Baby John.[8] The experience sparked his interest in performing,[9][10] and he changed his English name to Babyjohn after his first acting role to remind himself of his passion.[11] He took business subjects for the Hong Kong Certificate of Education Examination, but did not perform well, scoring only a pass in five subjects.[9] Determined to pursue a career in acting, he intended to apply for the Hong Kong Academy of Performing Arts, but missed the deadline after receiving his HKCEE results.[12] He then took a gap year to learn jazz music, guitar, and drums, and reapplied to HKAPA the following year.[12] While in university, Choi formed a band and took part in the school's musical performances.[5] He graduated with a Bachelor of Fine Arts in performing arts in 2009.[5][13] In the same year, Choi auditioned and won the role as Leung in the film The Way We Dance, but production did not begin until 2013.[9][11] During the interval, he worked several jobs to make a living, including teaching music, performing in a theatre company, and filming advertisements.[11][12] He left the theatre company after filming commenced.[12]

Career

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Choi auditioned and won his debut role as Leung[a] in the 2013 drama film The Way We Dance,[9] where he portrayed the chairman of a university Tai Chi club who collaborated with a street dancer, portrayed by Cherry Ngan, to invent original dance choreographies incorporating Tai Chi moves.[14] His performance was well received,[11][15] for which he won Best New Performer in the 33rd Hong Kong Film Awards and was nominated for Best Newcomer in the 8th Asian Film Awards with the role.[16][17] Choi began receiving film role offers after his breakout performance,[18] starring in the lead role in the horror film Twilight Online,[19] and voicing private investigator Bobby Mak in the animated comedy film McDull: Me & My Mum the following year.[20] In 2015, Choi took on lead roles in the comedy film 12 Golden Ducks and crime film Imprisoned: Survival Guide for Rich and Prodigal,[21][22] as well as minor roles in action films SPL II: A Time for Consequences and Ip Man 3.[13][23] Choi was also cast in lead roles in the 2016 crime films House of Wolves and Fooling Around Jiang Hu [zh].[24][25]

In 2017, Choi was cast as the sole male lead in Chiu Sin Hang's horror romance film Vampire Cleanup Department, portraying Tim Cheung, a vampire hunter who posed as a street janitor and developed romantic entanglements with a female vampire played by Lin Min Chen.[26] He also starred in lead roles in the comedy film The Yuppie Fantasia 3 and the drama film 29+1.[27][28] Choi gained further recognition in the 2017 action film Shock Wave as an off-duty cop who sacrificed himself in a bomb attack by terrorists.[29] The film's director Herman Yau handpicked Choi for the role after watching The Way We Dance and was impressed by his acting.[30] Although the role was minor, Choi's performance received universal praise and was described as "tear-jerking".[31][32] He also took on lead roles as Fung the gangster in the black comedy film The Sinking City Capsule Odyssey [zh], starring alongside Pakho Chau and Louis Cheung,[33] and as a wealthy playboy Si Tak Wah in the TVB drama series Oh My Grad [zh],[34] at the invitation of his APA classmate Wong Cho-lam.[35]

The following year, Choi landed a recurring role as Cel, an ICAC officer, in the Storm Film Series [zh],[36] starting with the 2018 film L Storm and reprised his role in the 2019 sequel P Storm.[37][38] Choi also took on a lead role in the mystery thriller film Guilt by Design [zh], which featured an ensemble cast including Nick Cheung, Kent Cheng, Elaine Jin, Cecilia So [zh], Jo Kuk, and Jiro Lee.[39] He then starred in a main role in another TVB drama series, I Bet Your Pardon [zh], produced by Wong Jing.[40] In 2019, Choi ended his contract with his artist agency HMV Digital China [zh] and founded his own talent company, Made in Kami.[41] He also became one of the regular hosts of the food-themed talk show Foodie Talkies [zh-yue] on ViuTV since December 2019.[42] He reprised a separate role in Shock Wave 2, a standalone sequel to the 2017 film, in 2020.[43]

In 2021, Choi made a cameo appearance as a janitor, which resembles his character in Vampire Cleanup Department, in another Chiu Sin Hang's film One Second Champion.[44] He also reprised his role as Leung in The Way We Dance's sequel The Way We Keep Dancing [zh],[45] and as Cel in G Storm, the final installment of the Storm Film Series.[36] He did not receive any acting roles for a year during the COVID-19 pandemic and instead focused his time on writing screenplays.[41] In 2023, Choi made his debut on ViuTV as the sole male lead in the drama series No One Lies [zh], portraying Lo Man Nai, a morally dubious businessman who was drugged with truth serum.[46] He also starred in supporting lead roles in the psychological thriller film Shadows [zh] and the action thriller film Death Notice.[47][48]

Personal life

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Choi is a Christian.[11] He is also an enthusiast of the Japanese tea ceremony and has been practicing it for nine years.[4][41]

Choi married stage actress Donut Cheung in 2013, his classmate at Hong Kong Academy of Performing Arts, after being in a relationship for seven years.[49][50]

Filmography

[edit]

Film

[edit]
Year Title Role Notes
2013 The Way We Dance Leung (柒良)[a] [18][14]
2014 Delete My Love Wan Duk-fuk (溫特福) [51]
Twilight Online Chan Ka-lok (陳家樂) [19]
McDull: Me & My Mum Bobby Mak Voice role[20]
2015 12 Golden Ducks Lau Wan (流雲) [21]
This is 50 / Wonder Mama [zh] Ng's son [52]
SPL II: A Time for Consequences Kwok Chun-yat (郭俊一) [13]
Imprisoned: Survival Guide for Rich and Prodigal Ng Jai (伍仔) [22]
Ip Man 3 Newspaper reporter [23]
2016 House of Wolves Chi Wai (志偉) [24]
Heartfall Arises Jai Jai (仔仔) [53]
Fooling Around Jiang Hu [zh] Tung (小東) [25]
2017 The Yuppie Fantasia 3 Wong Ho (王皓) [27]
Vampire Cleanup Department Tim Cheung (張春天) [26]
29+1 Cheung Hon-ming (張漢明) [28]
Shock Wave Wong Tin-nok (黃天諾) [29]
Our Time Will Come Guerilla member [54]
The Sinking City Capsule Odyssey [zh] Fung (鋒) [33]
2018 L Storm Cel [37]
Monster Hunt 2 Ben Ben (笨笨) Voice role[55]
2019 P Storm Cel [38]
Guilt by Design [zh] Chan Wing Hei (陳永晞) [39]
2020 Shock Wave 2 Cheung Chi-man (張志文) [43]
2021 One Second Champion Janitor Cameo[44]
The Way We Keep Dancing [zh] Leung[a] [45]
G Storm Cel [36]
2023 Shadows [zh] Mr. Cheung (張老師) [47]
Death Notice Wan Kim (尹劍) [48]

Television

[edit]
Year Title Role Notes
2014 A Dream Comes True 2014 [zh] Leung Wing Kai (梁永佳) Main role[56]
2017 Oh My Grad [zh] Si Tak Wah (史德華) Main role[34]
2019 I Bet Your Pardon [zh] Su Kei (舒奇) Main role[40]
2020 Sexy Central [zh] Henry Main role[57]
2023 No One Lies [zh] Lo Man Nai (盧文乃) Main role[46]

Awards and nominations

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Year Award Category Work Result Ref.
2014 2013 Hong Kong Film Directors' Guild Awards Best Newcomer The Way We Dance Won [58]
33rd Hong Kong Film Awards Best New Performer Won [16]
8th Asian Film Awards Best Newcomer Nominated [17]
14th Chinese Film Media Awards Best New Performer Nominated [59]

Notes

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  1. ^ a b c Choi's character in The Way We Dance and The Way We Keep Dancing was credited as Alan in overseas versions.[14]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ a b "被批用原名過不到25歲 蔡瀚億小學畢業後即改名" (in Chinese). Ming Pao. 19 May 2020. Archived from the original on 16 June 2020. Retrieved 9 May 2024.
  2. ^ "生日有感而發！蔡瀚億搵番童年回憶" (in Chinese). Oriental Daily News. 9 December 2019. Archived from the original on 9 May 2024. Retrieved 26 April 2024.
  3. ^ "蔡瀚億感情事不張揚". Yahoo! News (in Chinese). Sing Tao Daily. 10 December 2013. Retrieved 26 April 2024.
  4. ^ a b Chen, Kit (17 February 2024). "BabyJohn沏茶十年｜初心仍在路上" (in Chinese). And Then Hong Kong. Archived from the original on 17 February 2024. Retrieved 9 May 2024.
  5. ^ a b c "娛樂專題：蔡瀚億望歌影雙線發展" (in Chinese). Oriental Daily News. 22 May 2014. Archived from the original on 9 May 2024. Retrieved 9 May 2024.
  6. ^ a b 林艷虹 (6 March 2017). "周潤發點名讚 蔡瀚億拚命衝" (in Chinese). Hong Kong Economic Journal. Archived from the original on 9 May 2024. Retrieved 9 May 2024.
  7. ^ "盤點30位中學名人校友　Edan係林溢欣師弟、這高官與姜濤有關係！" (in Chinese). HK01. 14 January 2024. Archived from the original on 6 February 2023. Retrieved 9 May 2024.
  8. ^ "吳卓羲 蔡瀚億 萬變不離初衷" (in Chinese). am730. 13 April 2017. Archived from the original on 9 May 2024. Retrieved 9 May 2024.
  9. ^ a b c d "《狂舞派》男主角BabyJohn 追夢也可儲蓄" (in Chinese). TOPick. 6 November 2015. Archived from the original on 8 November 2015. Retrieved 9 May 2024.
  10. ^ 賴家杰 (21 November 2018). "BabyJohn兒時志願是「律師」　全因童年被書海嚇怕而放棄" (in Chinese). HK01. Archived from the original on 26 November 2022. Retrieved 9 May 2024.
  11. ^ a b c d e 夏蓮娜 (1 July 2014). "BabyJohn蔡瀚億：是神帶我走演員這條路" (in Chinese). Herald Monthly Canada. Archived from the original on 26 July 2014. Retrieved 9 May 2024.
  12. ^ a b c d 王擊凡 (22 August 2013). "《狂舞派》香港破400萬港幣 女主角：不做嫩模當演員" (in Chinese). Phoenix Television. Archived from the original on 9 May 2024. Retrieved 9 May 2024.
  13. ^ a b c 胡劍威 (22 December 2017). "BabyJohn獲封本土多產王　2017年拍6套電影4套收過千萬" (in Chinese). HK01. Archived from the original on 3 August 2021. Retrieved 9 May 2024.
  14. ^ a b c Adams, Mark (25 March 2013). "The Way We Dance". Screen Daily. Archived from the original on 19 September 2020. Retrieved 9 May 2024.
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  16. ^ a b Chu, Karen (13 April 2014). "Hong Kong Film Awards: 'The Grandmaster' Nabs 12 Wins". The Hollywood Reporter. Archived from the original on 30 July 2023. Retrieved 9 May 2024.
  17. ^ a b Hsia, Heidi (13 February 2014). ""The Grandmaster" leads the 8th Asian Film Awards nominations". Yahoo! News. Archived from the original on 9 May 2024. Retrieved 9 May 2024.
  18. ^ a b "【十周年】蔡瀚億拍《狂舞派》出道歷盡高低起跌　BabyJohn盼與太太繼續看每個風景" (in Chinese). TOPick. 22 May 2023. Archived from the original on 26 May 2023. Retrieved 9 May 2024.
  19. ^ a b Teh, Yvonne (4 September 2014). "Film review: Twilight Online is an imaginative ghost story". South China Morning Post. Archived from the original on 5 August 2015. Retrieved 9 May 2024.
  20. ^ a b Lee, Edmund (25 September 2014). "McDull star Choi Hon-yick shot to stardom last year, but he's no overnight success". South China Morning Post. Archived from the original on 1 May 2024. Retrieved 9 May 2024.
  21. ^ a b Teh, Yvonne (18 February 2015). "Film review: 12 Golden Ducks - infectiously funny romp". South China Morning Post. Archived from the original on 27 December 2023. Retrieved 9 May 2024.
  22. ^ a b Lee, Edmund (27 May 2015). "Film review: Imprisoned - a warm, humorous take on material world". South China Morning Post. Archived from the original on 21 April 2024. Retrieved 9 May 2024.
  23. ^ a b Lee, Maggie (28 January 2016). "Film Review: 'Ip Man 3'". Variety. Archived from the original on 23 December 2022. Retrieved 9 May 2024.
  24. ^ a b Lee, Edmund (19 January 2016). "Film review: House of Wolves – Ronald Cheng, Francis Ng play put-upon villains in Vincent Kok's zany comedy". South China Morning Post. Archived from the original on 9 March 2024. Retrieved 9 May 2024.
  25. ^ a b Lee, Edmund (1 September 2016). "Film review: Fooling Around Jiang Hu – insipid gangster parody". South China Morning Post. Archived from the original on 1 December 2023. Retrieved 9 May 2024.
  26. ^ a b Lee, Edmund (15 March 2017). "Film review: Vampire Cleanup Department – Babyjohn Choi, Lin Min-chen in witty salute to Hong Kong horror tradition". South China Morning Post. Archived from the original on 23 November 2023. Retrieved 9 May 2024.
  27. ^ a b 溫菁莉 (15 February 2017). "《小男人週記3》大收過千萬　鄭丹瑞：當自己攞咗獎" (in Chinese). HK01. Archived from the original on 26 July 2021. Retrieved 9 May 2024.
  28. ^ a b 黃梓恒 (15 May 2017). "【任噏影評．29+1】欣宜Chok聲好難頂　娜姐收起性感好失望" (in Chinese). HK01. Archived from the original on 9 May 2024. Retrieved 9 May 2024.
  29. ^ a b Kerr, Elizabeth (24 April 2017). "'Shock Wave': Film Review". The Hollywood Reporter. Archived from the original on 6 June 2023. Retrieved 9 May 2024.
  30. ^ Hsia, Heidi (2 May 2017). "Herman Yau gives Babyjohn Choi 90 marks for effort". Yahoo! News. Archived from the original on 26 April 2024. Retrieved 9 May 2024.
  31. ^ 許育民 (24 April 2017). "【拆彈專家】劉德華都拆唔掂　BabyJohn自爆犧牲成洋蔥位" (in Chinese). HK01. Archived from the original on 6 August 2021. Retrieved 9 May 2024.
  32. ^ "《拆彈專家》票房破3億 劉德華宣布開續集" (in Chinese). Sky Post. 5 May 2017. Archived from the original on 9 May 2024. Retrieved 9 May 2024.
  33. ^ a b Lee, Edmund (6 September 2017). "Film review – The Sinking City: Capsule Odyssey is a rollicking parody of Hong Kong's absurd social issues". South China Morning Post. Archived from the original on 24 September 2023. Retrieved 9 May 2024.
  34. ^ a b "BabyJohn少壯不努力 老竇秦煌徒傷悲" (in Chinese). Oriental Daily News. 28 September 2017. Archived from the original on 21 September 2018. Retrieved 9 May 2024.
  35. ^ 鄺鈺瑩 (25 September 2017). "【老表，畢業喇】郭晉安爆金句：老師教你做人，名師保你平步青雲" (in Chinese). HK01. Archived from the original on 13 January 2022. Retrieved 9 May 2024.
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