Vivian Chow:The Valiant Maiden "The Eternal Maiden Queen" appeared calm and easy when photos of her boyfriend kissing a university girl, almost 20 years her junior, were splashed on tabloids. Though Vivian Chow broke up with Joe Nieh briefly, she still chose to stand by him in trying times and married him eventually. The public opined that it was a silly and irrational move; but think twice about it, this decision calls for courage. For a woman who has been "emotionally betrayed" by a man, besides love, she has to have the courage to give this man a chance and even entrusts her lifetime to him. This exclusive interview with Vivian was done in Singapore, before the Nieh's kissing scandal broke out. Though the questions were screened beforehand, in the 25 minutes long interview, we still touched on topics outside the screened list and despite that, Vivian answers all questions without any evasion. She tells us, "I must have gone through a lot of ups and downs to become who I am now. I will remember and cherish every important moment of my past performing career. My fans' supports are my source of motivation." After the kissing scandal and her marriage, when Vivian first showed up in public in Hong Kong, she took on all reporters' incisive questions with ease and is fully cooperative. This is probably what she meant by "fruits of her self cultivation". Vivian was cultured and refined in handling the issue that attracted region wide attention; she lives up to her name as "The Eternal Maiden Queen". Yet in her eyes, only Xiaolongn Jin Yong's classic wuxia novel "The Return of the Condor Heroes" could be termed as a "maiden". "Perhaps when the modern viewers refer to an artiste as a maiden, they meant that she has high regards for oneself; I think viewers see me as such a lady. Actually there are many sides of me. I can be gentle and naughty at times," she laughs, "There are times when I am active and prefer being with a crowd; but when I'm drawing, I'll become another person. I simply immerse in my own world and do not communicate with others." "I believe everyone will regret throwing a temper after they did it. Usually I'll throw my temper at home, over things which I've done and feel were not up to my own expectations. I'm always angry with myself and will just keep quiet. I don't throw things around, not that crazy. I'm very simple," Vivian adds. She admitted to be very mindful of how others see her; the years she spent abroad after withdrawing from showbiz in 1999 made her mature and truly drop the burden of being an artiste. "I do not feel much about the title as Maiden Queen now, and will not do anything to live up to that title; nothing can restrict my feelings or actions. I believe as a woman, when you find self-confidence, you can face everything with an open mind. For example this title as Maiden Queen, it does not bother me anymore. I am confident about myself and am happy with any assignments. I lead a fulfilling life." This self-confidence is perhaps the very source of courage that gives her the power to face the unhappiness that had happened; this self-confidence also convinced her that she is living a life "that's filled with love and hopes"; that she has married the right man for her; and that they will have a wonder future together. Perhaps, a title like the "Valiant Maiden" would be more apt for the current Vivian Chow.
