Elanne Kwong almost left the entertainment industry to train as a vet but her singing career was saved by a cartoon cat
Several years following her acting debut in an independent film, Elanne Kwong finally got the chance to shine thanks to the robotic cat Doraemon. The Canto-pop singer almost gave up her dream of becoming an actress and singer to pursue a career as a vet.
'I once thought about quitting, studying overseas or pursuing another career. I told myself maybe it was time to stop dreaming,' says Kwong, 19, who signed with the entertainment label Universe Music.
'When I first signed with the company, I thought there would be endless opportunities for me. But it turned out that I had to keep waiting [over the past two years]. There were also a lot critics saying that I was not pretty enough to make it [in showbiz].'
But her opportunity came last year when she was asked to sing a cover version of the theme to a Doraemon feature film. This, says Kwong, changed her life. This summer, her EP, Innocent, and a glossy book of portraits called Paradise of Colour put her in the spotlight.
She also played a supporting role in the summer blockbuster Invisible Target alongside teen idols Nicholas Tse Ting-fung, Shawn Yue Man-lok and Jaycee Chan Cho-ming.
'I asked the director [Benny Chan Muk-sing] why he picked me, and he said he wanted to give me a chance,' says Kwong, who then joined the other unknowns to audition for the role.
Chance may play a role in Kwong's rise to fame, but it was persistence and optimism that lead to her breakthrough.
'I'm quite stubborn. When people say I'm not up to the task, I'm more determined to succeed.' However, Kwong had to work to convince her mother that entertainment was the right choice.
'She felt showbiz was too complicated an environment for me, and the industry was like a cauldron where one could turn bad easily. But I didn't want the opportunity to slip away because it could be the turning point of my life,' says Kwong. 'I've loved performing since I was a child, whether it is singing, dancing or choral speaking. I enjoy the feeling I get on stage. It's like I make the stage my own while mesmerising everyone in the audience.'
Kwong's relationship with her mother is reflected in an impromptu photo in her CD liner, taken when her mother visited her during the album photo shoot.
'She brought me food and soup - I was really moved.
I hugged her and the photographer captured the moment,' says Kwong.
Kwong is enjoying herself while learning to cope with the pressures of her job, which - in addition to singing and acting - includes dealing with rumours and bad press.
'I feel I have grown up a lot. It's like I have gained a year of experience in a month. I never know what to expect tomorrow. One day I was celebrating the release of my EP, and the next I was worrying about the box office. Then there was the bad press. One minute I was happy and the next I was crying.'
As for the future, Kwong says she just wants to ensure she has no regrets. 'I set myself a time limit. Either I achieve my goals as a performer within the next five years or I will go abroad to study.'