Leslie Cheung not forgotten 15 years later
HONG KONG: It’s been 15 years since singer- actor Leslie Cheung’s suicide, but the media in Hong Kong have apparently not forgotten him.
Industry veterans remember his passion for performing.
One example being cited even today was in connection with his gender-bending role in Farewell My Concubine.
Despite running a fever up to 39 Celsius degrees, he continued to prepare for a difficult shot in the movie.
Leslie was in the role as Cheng Dieyi, a Peking Opera artist, and this performance won him a nomination for Best Actor for the 1993 Cannes Film Festival.
Said Peking opera tutor Zhang Manling: “I was not present that day. When I arrived, Leslie had been there, leg pressing. My husband said to Leslie, ‘you look extremely exhausted. Why were you up so early?’
“Leslie’s face turned red when he exercised. He’s been running a fever up to 39 Celsius degrees.”
Though I was several years younger, I was treated as a dear little brother. Very meticulous, Leslie took care of me in many aspects, including but not limited to life and career.
Another example was his Guangzhou concert in 2000.
Lightly dressed on the stage on a cool autumn evening of howling wind and soaking rain, he delivered an incredible performance of singing and dancing at the concert. He was the ultimate perfectionist.
Jacky Cheung was his co- star in A Chinese Ghost Story 2.
Recalled Jacky: “Though I was several years younger, I was treated as a dear little brother. Very meticulous, Leslie took care of me in many aspects, including but not limited to life and career.”
Similarly, singer Leon Lai remains grateful to Leslie’s mentoring.
Said Leon: “When I completed the singing competition for new talents, Leslie was the first to ask me out for a celebration. He asked me to stay humble as a person and in styling.”
Wang Leehom has written in his micro-blog: “I was always nicknamed as Kid by Leslie. Kid is a dear term and I came to realise that in reciprocity, Leslie is my uncle. He said he was my family in HK because I was far away from home in the States and my Cantonese was not fluent enough. I miss you, Uncle Leslie.”
Leslie was also known as being extremely proud of his heritage.
During most interviews, he would say: “I am proud to be a Chinese and as a Chinese, I have identified my sense of belonging. I am spiritually calm, thanks to my Chinese heritage.”
Leslie was dashing, stylish and fitted the public idea of a perfect heterosexual male lover. But in reality, he was in a long-term relationship with his childhood friend, Daffy Tong.
“The LGBT movement in Hong Kong took off in the 1990s, when the community finally became visible to the public,” said Travis Kong, an associate professor of sociology researching gay culture at The University of Hong Kong.
Despite outwardly appearing calm and composed, Leslie wrestled with conflicting emotions.
This was apparent from his suicide note. The translation read: ”Depression! Many thanks to all my friends. Many thanks to Professor Felice Lieh-Mak ( his last psychiatrist). This year has been so tough. I can’t stand it anymore. Many thanks to Mr Tong. Many thanks to my family. Many thanks to Sister Fei. In my life I have done nothing bad. Why does it have to be like this?”
Jacky Cheung, singer