Above: Eddie Kwan with his wife and two daughters. Although he lives in a household full of women, Eddie Kwan (關禮傑) is more than just a ladies’ man. He is the father of two beautiful daughters and the husband of an understanding wife. “I always look forward to going home. My family is my stress reliever.” Unlike his opera-singing role in Beauty at War <金枝慾孽貳>, in which he gives up his son to the care of relatives so he could perform around the country in an opera troupe, Eddie cannot bear to live another day without the presence of his two daughters. “I left them once, and I don’t want to go through that pain again,” said Eddie. Raised in a male-centered family, Eddie was once a very traditional man, but these views had a 180 degree turn after the birth of his first daughter, Fabienne Kwan (關楓馨), in 1994. The flesh-and-blood connection to his children further strengthened after the birth of his second daughter, Franziska Kwan (關佩盈), in 2001. “If I were to have another child, I would still want another daughter!” Eddie said proudly. The mature 18-year-old Fabienne will start her first year in university this September, pursuing her dream to become a teacher. Eleven-year-old Franziska, however, still has a habit of throwing tantrums at her parents. Eddie said, “Fabienne is the quiet one. She is already 18-years-old after all. As for Franziska, she is bolder, louder, and very straightforward. But no matter what, she is the younger one, and she will always be a baby in front of us.” Whether Eddie is working in the mainland or in the pressure of a hectic rundown schedule with TVB, he will always find time for his two daughters. Regardless of distance traveled or time spent, Eddie remains as his daughters’ designated driver, eating companion, and afternoon tea date. With such an unpredictable work schedule, it is important to spend as much time as he can with his family. But Eddie was not always available for his daughters. In the past, Eddie often filmed in the mainland and to not see his daughters for months was a common occurrence. “I remember when my eldest daughter was still in primary school, her teacher once asked her where her father was. She told the teacher that daddy was working in the mainland. She cried thinking about it. My heart ached. Thankfully, with the technology we have today, I would be able to see and hear them wherever I go. Now that I am home, I will spend as much time as I can with them.” Eddie is more than willing to sacrifice sleeping time to take his daughters to school in the early mornings. “They calm me down in a way. I am very lucky to have them in my life. With them, I feel much more relaxed and at ease. All the unhappiness and pressure I had accumulated at work would all disappear! I really enjoy my life with my family.” Creds: East Weekly
