Men’s Folio June/July 2024 Digital Cover star Jeffrey Ngai keeps his feet firmly grounded as his meteoric rise continues. Jeffrey Ngai wears full Loro Piana on the cover.
“Life is like a box of chocolates. You never know what you’re going to get.” In the tapestry of life, some threads shimmer with certainty and others vanish into the realm of the unknown. Some credit life’s great moments to lady luck, some to fate, while others manifest it through hard work and determination. Whatever life takes us on, it has little ways of surprising us. From the quiet simplicity of childhood days spent chasing butterflies in meadows to the bustling chaos of adulthood’s urban landscapes, each chapter of life unfolds like a new flavour — some sweet, others bitter.
Reality becomes clearer as we age: life is about adapting and embracing the unknown rather than the simplistic linear progression towards our childhood dreams. For Jeffrey Ngai, his brush with stardom came rather unexpectedly, or even reluctantly, if you will. Look up some of his past interviews, and there is a common narrative: he had resisted joining the entertainment industry due to certain negative preconceived notions. “I think I will have my coffee shop if I don’t choose to develop my career as a singer and actor,” shares the Hong Kong actor and singer.
However, as life would have it, Ngai eventually dipped his toes in ViuTV’s reality show, Be a Better Man, in 2020. His popularity grew as he endeared himself to the hearts of many, leading him to appear in Be On Game afterwards. The cascading effect grew momentum as one opportunity led to the next. A support role in the drama In Geek We Trust ultimately led to a main role in i.Swim alongside Edan Lui from Hong Kong boy band Mirror. By then, Ngai was seen as one of Hong Kong’s rising names as he began his upward trajectory in the entertainment industry. A pivot into singing further cemented that status as he launched his debut single, The First Fan, in 2023.
Consequently, being recognised is part and parcel of being a celebrity. “Celebrity life is like a career to me as I respect my job and work. I’m not afraid to stroll through the streets since I welcome anyone coming up for an autograph or a photograph,” shares Ngai when we quizzed him about whether he is comfortable being approached by fans. “If one autograph or photo can make people happy, then why not?” Before relegating Ngai’s fame to within Hong Kong only, he points out that being abroad is no different from being at home. “Unfortunately, people can still recognise me even when in a foreign country, so there’s no big difference between being in Hong Kong and abroad.”
After releasing a few more singles and appearing in other film and television projects in the months that came, Ngai’s future looks more assured than when he first started out. Despite the fame that follows him, Ngai, who turned 26 earlier in April, keeps himself firmly grounded instead of letting it get to him. “Always stay humble and genuine with everyone and everything. Stay focused on your work, improve it and learn as much as you can.” Just as life can be a box of chocolate or a wilderness of unexpected adventures and opportunities, Ngai continues to navigate it with a sense of surety and confidence.
Does this Instagram caption (posted on 13 May) “青春就是一群熱血去挑戰不可能的事” ring a bell to you? Where were you when you posted it, and what was going through your mind at the time?
I remember posting it on Instagram right after I had my first meeting with the team for my first collaboration concert, which will take place on 22 June. “Live young, Stay young” is our main theme for the concert, so I was inspired by it.
Has age ever been a stumbling block or reason for rejection for your career so far?
I haven’t been rejected or blocked in my career because of my age.
You’ve had a meteoric rise since bursting onto the scene. How different has life been for you these days? Have you been able to stroll through the streets of Hong Kong without someone coming up for an autograph or photo?
Celebrity life is like a career to me as I respect my job and work. I’m not afraid to stroll through the streets since I welcome anyone coming up for an autograph or a photograph. If one autograph or photo can make people happy, then why not?”
It must feel refreshing to be in a foreign country where you’re able to wander and not be recognised?
Unfortunately, people can still recognise you even in a foreign country, so there’s no big difference between being in Hong Kong and a foreign country.
Whenever you get the chance to travel for personal reasons, do you prefer to be in the city or nature? Where’s a destination on your bucket list, and why?
It depends. If I’m going back to Amsterdam, I love hiking with my family, but I’m more into the city if I’m travelling for shopping. Finland will be on my bucket list because I’m dying to see the Northern Lights in person.
Metaphorically speaking, how relevant is the saying “Getting lost is the best way to discover new places” to you? Was there a period of uncertainty prior to entering the entertainment industry where you didn’t know what your next step was?
I have to say I’m lucky enough to have gotten my first job as an actor and singer before getting a full-time job.
Many youths or even adults experience this these days, not knowing their next step or what they want to pursue.
I always aim for something small and lower my expectations rather than thinking of a big one. I believe it will make me happier if I do not hold my expectations high so I don’t get disappointed if I can’t reach my goal.
You mentioned in past interviews that there was a reluctance to enter the entertainment industry due to certain negative preconceived notions. Had you not been in showbiz (as an actor and singer), how would you envisage your life to be now?
I would have had my coffee shop if I hadn’t chosen to develop my career as a singer and actor because I love coffee so much. I hope I can bring joy and happiness to people who come to my shop and enjoy their time with coffee.
What was the defining or lightbulb moment where you thought you could make a career out of this?
Being a member of the Hong Kong variety show Be On Game, which has content similar to Running Man, was the moment I decided to make it my lifetime career.
At the beginning of your career, there was a lot of “figuring out with your partner”. (Quoted from The Business Times interview) Have you found that surety and confidence at this stage of your career where you say, “Yes, this project will be good (or not good) for me”?
I wish I could have the ability to be very confident to say in my career, “I think this project is gonna be good”. However, being good or bad depends not on your effort; it’s teamwork in the movie world. So, being an actor, I can only ensure that I give 100% of my effort to a project in which I’m engaged. It’s a little bit different as a singer than an actor. You can always share with your fans and listeners what kind of music you really love. The music you make might be able to reach out to someone who shares a similar taste in music with you in the world.
Does it scare you to wander out of your comfort zone?
I’m not scared to be out of my comfort zone, as I believe practice makes perfect.
How do you deal with it and overcome the first hurdle, which is yourself?
Be confident in something that you are not good at and deal with it with daily practice.
You turned 26 not too long ago in April. How do you navigate fame, or even the pressure of being a rising star that media outlets labelled you as, considering Hong Kong’s famous veteran actors and singers?
Always stay humble and genuine with everyone and everything. Stay focused on your work, improve it, and learn as much as you can.
On one hand, you’re pursuing your creative passion, navigating the blessings and burdens of being a celebrity, and on the other, you’re as human as everyone else is on the street. Have you had a moment of stillness to reflect on or even be grateful for all the good that has happened to you?
I always told my fans to stay healthy and be happy. As long as I’m healthy enough to support my work schedule, that’s all I need. As long as my family and I are healthy, I’m grateful enough for all the good things that happen to me.
What does stillness mean to you, and where is the safe space you retreat to for calm and comfort amidst the craze of being a celebrity?
Stillness means being focused on my work; I find the gymnasium my safe space for all the calm and comfort if I need a break from my work or away from any pressure.
This period you’re going through as a celebrity is one of the many chapters of your life. What do you think are the fondest memories you’ll look back on when it eventually closes?
That will be making some timeless songs and movies in this world.
Last question. In the blink of an eye, we’re halfway through 2024 already. What can fans expect (or if you can drop hints of special projects) from you for the second half of the year?
I’m excited to hold my first concert, and I’ll also be dropping my new single in late June. A big movie will be coming out soon, too, so stay tuned!
All outfit and accessories Loro Piana
Photography Zantz Han
Creative Direction & Styling Izwan Abdullah
Fashion Coordinator Manfred Lu
Styling Assistant Vanessa Grace Ng
Once you’re done with this story, click here to catch up with our June/July 2024 issue.
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