Veteran TVB Actress Lee Fung, 69, Now Lives In An Old Folks Home; Says She's Grateful She Is Well Taken Care Of
"You have a place to live, what else do you want?" she said.Jiamun Koh
29 Jan 2023 at 14:41
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Lee FungTVB
Recently, a social media forum in Hong Kong enlisted the help of the internet to look for a veteran TVB actress.
In the post, the actress was described as having a "voice that sounds like a duck".
"She also has a huge black mole next to her mouth and always plays unreasonable characters," it added.
In less than a four minutes, netizens managed to identify the actress as Lee Fung, who has appeared in TVB dramas such as The Hippocratic Crush, Ghetto Justice and Another Era.
One netizen even revealed the 69-year-old actress' current whereabouts.
"She's living in the same old folks home as my father. She's still very energetic and is always out and about," the netizen said.
According to Hong Kong media hk01, the actress was diagnosed with a brain tumour and had to undergo surgery 10 years ago.
However, as she could not afford to get the procedure done at a private hospital, Lee Fung had to wait for a slot at a public hospital.
Though the surgery was a success, Lee Fung was left with post-surgery side effects such as reduced memory.
Do you remember Lee Fung?
When hk01 reached out to Lee Fung earlier this week, the actress admitted that she has lived in the old folks home for almost a year.
"Yes, I'm living in an old folks home that I previously volunteered at," she said. "The environment here is considered decent, there are a few rooms and we get our own beds. I'm quite lucky because I managed to get my own room, so I have my privacy which is quite hard to come by. Even when I'm on the phone I don't have to worry about other people eavesdropping," she said.
Le Fung also shared that she's really grateful for what she has now considering how life wasn't easy for her in the last few decades.
The actress got married at a young age to a man who owned a business in the clothing industry. They have a son and a daughter together.
Unfortunately, after her husband's business failed, Lee Fung had to sell her dowry and jewellery to pay for his debts. To make things worse, her husband became addicted to buying stocks and eventually lost even more money.
As a result, their family went through two bankruptcies and had to move from a luxurious apartment in Hong Kong's Cove Hill to a flat.
Lee Fung also previously revealed in an interview that she had neglected her children when they were young, and that it caused their relationship to be estranged.
Luckily, Lee Fung's son told her at his wedding that he doesn't blame her for the past, adding that he still loves her very much.
Lee Fung in 2005 TVB drama The Gâteau Affairs
The actress said she doesn't harp on the bad things that happened, and chooses to focus on the good things in life instead.
"I don't think my current state is miserable, I'm very thankful. You have a place to live, what else do you want? I have some friends who weren't that happy before they passed on, and that made me sad. I hope that I won't be like them."
Lee Fung then added that she's very thankful that she's been kept warm and fed well in the one year she's been living at the old folks home, and has nothing to complain about.
She also revealed that the government subsidises part of her living costs and her son contributes as well.
"The most important thing is that I'm not troubling anyone. I really don't want to bother others," she said.
Lee Fung was part of TVB sitcom Come Home Love as well
Sharing that her health is "okay", Lee Fung was then asked if she would like to return to acting.
Her response?
"During those tough periods when I was ill, I tried my best to overcome it myself. Previously it was really terrible, I injured my back and was limping. I was miserable and broke, but those tough times have passed! I'm not cursing myself, but I don't wish for my life to be that long. But life is unpredictable, I don't get to choose."
"I'm glad that I'm still alive and breathing. If I'm able to, I wish I can do a little bit more as well," she added.
Lee Fung added that the old folks home has restrictions when it comes to their residents heading out and she has to apply for permission if she wants to go out to work.
"The biggest drawback is that there isn't much freedom here. The old folks home has their own rules and we can't blame them for being strict because if they let us head out as and when we want, how can they manage the place?"
She then revealed that many of her friends there would sneak out but she rarely does that.
"I'm living here so I have to obey their rules, if I have to attend some banquet or the Artiste Training Alumni Association's function which happens every year, or even go for some charity events, I'll just apply for permission."