Ben actually entered the industry at age 17 when he filmed a milk commercial, but his slow to get familiar personality got him floating in the entertainment circle for many years. In 2007, Ben was the Mr. Hong Kong winner and entered TVB.
TVB is Like an University, A Place to Learn
"I've been with TVB for 5 years and my achievements has been pretty good. Actually its really a learning experience in TVB, here one year is like 10 years in the outside world. I face many different tests and challenges each day. I'm very pleased to be able to train my mentality."
Probably most people didn't know Ben actually had the opportunity to enter TVB in 1999, but unfortunately Bosco Wong was chosen at the audition instead and joined TVB. Ben now has to face Bosco who has now become one of the first line TVB Siu Sangs. Whether an artist becomes popular, it really does depend on their fate. Some artists endure through 10 years of hard work before making a breakthrough. This time, Ben comes back in The Hippocratic Crush II (On Call 2) as Ben Lau Bing Chan.
"Last time in On Call 1, I was considered a newcomer, but this time I'm a See Hing, a big brother watching newcomers coming in. Its rare to have such a positive series in Hong Kong and I watched Lawrence Ng's Healing Hands while growing up, so I learned a lot from Lawrence. Today I have more confidence to speak up and strive, just as long as its for the best and its the right thing, I don't mind to speak up. Just like in On Call 2, the 'Post-80s' doctors jokes all came from real life. Earlier when I collaborated with mentor Ram Chiang, we chat as if we're two students exchanging a book. TVB is like an university, you can learn a lot."
Used to be Childish, Didn't Know to Cherish
Before entering TVB, Ben had actually been in a lot of films, but after 2004's Heat Gun, he didn't get another role on the big screen, so he was forced to switch to behind-the-scenes. He worked at Kenny Bee's band, but later his jobs gradually declined and then he got an office job before he realized he enjoyed working in showbiz the most. Ben ultimately decided to participate in Mr. Hong Kong and start again from zero.
"When I was younger, I didn't try my best nor did I know how to cherish what I had. Actually when I worked at the office, I took the subway to work every morning, each day at the same time, I used the same card and saw the same people. Although everything I did was because I needed to make a living, I had no goals in life. Also, I lost all my self-confidence. I worked there for 3 months, and finally realized what I liked best was acting because this industry brought me a sense of satisfaction. Recently I collaborated with Wayne Lai, I remember many years ago we already had the chance to collaborate, at the time Wayne asked me, 'what do you want to get out of from this job?' At the time I gave him a childish answer: 'I want to get a Ferrari'. Today, if he asked me that question again, I would say to him: 'I want to be in this industry to continue my life'. Here, everyone wants to constantly improve, but the most important is to package yourself, wait for the opportunity and really hold onto it. I now have more experience in life, I learned to be more calm and more importantly I know not to take opportunities for granted. I've learned to cherish and have a mentality to move forward. I don't think I could have done that before."
In the grand productions The Hippocratic Crush II and Tiger Cubs II, Ben isn't the main lead, but the room to demonstrate his acting and screen time have increased. Compared to other Mr. Hong Kong from his same year, Ben is considered the more successful ones. The only consequence is sacrificing his personal time.
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