HONG KONG: Malaysia-born Hong Kong actress and singer Mimi Chu has spoken candidly about the emotional toll her career took on her family, revealing that her two sons struggled with her frequent absences while they were growing up.
Now 72, she explained that work commitments in Hong Kong often kept her away from her husband and children, who lived in Singapore.
At times, she would go six months without seeing them. Chu recalled how difficult this long-distance arrangement was for her sons.
“I knew both my sons were unhappy with me back then. But I had no choice because I had signed contracts and couldn’t simply walk away from my commitments,” she said in an interview with Hong Kong media.
The veteran star—well known for her extensive screen career, including her role in the hit comedy film King of Mahjong (2015)—said she has since realised the importance of putting her family and well-being ahead of work. “I can’t continue working from morning until the middle of the night like I used to. That’s no way to live,” she explained when discussing why she has cut back on her busy schedule.
Chu now spends most of her time in Singapore with her eldest son and his family.
She added that her younger son has also come to appreciate the sacrifices she made to build a better life for them.
Despite stepping back into a quieter routine, Chu stays active, preferring to handle the housework herself rather than hiring a domestic helper.
“I’m the domestic helper! I mop and sweep the floors. You can consider it exercise,” she joked.