The Growlersworld Interviews

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The GrowlersWorld Interviews are an ongoing quest, bringing you closer to successful and creative people in all walks of life.

Rawle Austin presents...

A conversation with Karen Mok - Singing, Acting and Campaigning for Animal Welfare

Karen Mok. [Known as Mok Man-Wai in Cantonese or Mo Wen Wei in Mandarin Chinese] International popstar and award winning actress. Animals Asia. One of the world’s premier organizations dedicated to animal welfare. Put these two together and you have a leading force united in stopping the cruelty suffered by bears and other animals in some parts of Asia.

I spoke to Karen Mok about her career and her work supporting Animals Asia.

Rawle Austin: What do you enjoy most about acting?

Karen Mok: The acting and entertainment business is my life and I enjoy them both very much.

It’s very difficult to say which is better, because I love them both. It doesn’t matter whether I’m singing or acting.

RA: What has been your favourite acting role to date?

KM: I enjoy every role that I play because they are all different. Once I pick up the role, I will try my best to act it well and enjoy it.

RA: How would you describe what it was like working on the London stage version of Miss Saigon so early in your career?

KM: At that time I was still green and didn’t have much experience. Of course, I would like to try anything and hold every chance facing me. I like the feeling, being on stage. RA: You won worldwide acclaim and many awards for Best Supporting Actress in the 1995 film Fallen Angels (Duo luo tian shi). What was it about the way you played the character that wowed the audience?

KM: I think [the reason] I won that award was not only because of my performance. It meant the whole team [film crew] worked together well.

A good movie, good acting and a good working environment comes from the performance of the team.

But of course I have to try my best and co-operate with the other team members.

RA: Which actors and directors would you most like to work with and why?

KM: I think there are lots of other actors and directors I would like to work with.

I would like to work with anyone if possible and would welcome any challenge, any new idea for a role or new team members [film crews] to work with.

RA: How would you describe working with Stephen Chow?

KM: As I said before, I would like to work with anyone if possible.

Once I pick up the role, I will try my best to act it well.

For a movie, the director is important, but the story and the other team members are also very important for the movie production. RA: Why do you think Chinese cinema has exploded in worldwide popularity? KM: I think different countries have their own style of movies and that’s good for everyone, because they will have more choice and opportunity to enjoy movies from Asian productions.

RA: When did you discover your passion for music?

KM: After I performed in Miss Saigon in London, I had come back to Hong Kong and first started as a singer for my entertainment business.

I love singing, because when I am singing, I can use my own style to perform, also I can feel the song by myself and sing it out with my own feeling.

RA: Who are your favourite singers/musical artists?

KM: I like new ideas, that’s why I always create new styles on my album design or in my entertainment business, because I would like to give a surprise to the public.

Like Madonna, she’s very talented and professional, whether she’s singing or acting.

RA: How much does personal, emotional experience influence your choice of composing song lyrics?

KM: Feeling is important, once I hear the song, I will know if I like it or not. RA: You play the piano and the oboe. What's your favourite and why? KM: I like them both and that’s why I play them. Their sounds are beautiful and special. RA: What are your upcoming projects on both the acting and musical fronts?

KM: After the Broadway musical – RENT / Asia Tour finished, I had launched my new album in June and now I am working on the rehearsal for my Asia Concert Tour in TaiPei on 2 September 2006.

RA: What advice would you give to someone eager to develop their talent and achieve your level of success?

KM: I think to keep learning and changing is very important and always try your best.

RA: How would you describe Hong Kong to someone who's never been there?

KM: Hong Kong is a very special city, with style, history and energy. Once you arrive, you will find lots of surprises in Hong Kong.

RA: How did you get involved with Animals Asia?

KM: I love animals. It doesn’t matter if it’s dogs, cats, bears or dolphins.

I think animals are part of my life. I got involved with Animals Asia, because I knew some people were selling and killing Moon Bears (Asiatic Black Bears).

I think I can do something and tell the public so that the killing can be stopped. That’s why I joined, to support their work. [Note: Moon bears are hunted and collected because their gall bladders are used in traditional medicines and their paws are used for food. Moon bears are also "farmed" for their bile. On these farms, moon bears are kept in small cages where their bile is "milked" for use in traditional medicines.]

RA: What has been its greatest success to date, in your opinion?

KM: [The greatest success is] I can see Animals Asia continually helping the Moon Bears in different ways, like educating the public or saving the Moon Bears from captivity in the factories.

Also, I have adopted a Moon Bear called “BooPei”. I can see my “BooPei” is getting healthier while living in the safety of the sanctuary.

RA: Why did you decide to sponsor a bear at the sanctuary?

KM: Because I understand the work of Animals Asia and they are really doing good work for the Moon Bears.

They are educating the public to help save the Moon Bears before they become an endangered species.

As some of the Moon Bears come from captivity in the business factories, if we let them go back in the wild, they would have difficulty surviving.

Animal Asia’s Moon Bear Rescue Centre in ChengDu, Sichuan Province, China has given an area for the Moon Bears to learn how to survive in the wild.

RA: And finally, how can readers find out more and help with this noble cause?

KM: I think the first thing anyone can to do to help is not to kill the animals, because they are part of the earth.

As a member of the public, you can join and support a related charity organization, because they will do the work on their goal [saving animals] with a professional viewpoint.

Find out more about the good work of Animals Asia at their website; www.animalsasia.org

All images used are copyright © Animals Asia

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