Taiwanese actor Wallace Huo (霍建華) and mainland Chinese actress Zhao Liying (趙麗穎) are starring in one of the hottest television dramas this summer, the fantasy-wuxia series The Journey of Flower <花千骨>. In a recent interview with Chinese Business View, Wallace talked about the large age gap between him and his costar, the difficulties he experienced when filming, and the interesting way he interacts with fans. “It Always Felt Like We Were Father and Daughter” In The Journey of Flower, Wallace plays stern immortal Bai Zihua, who later takes Hua Qiangu (Zhao Liying) as his sole disciple. The two become embroiled in a forbidden romance, leading to events that shake both the mortal world and the immortal realms. Though he has always kept himself fit, Wallace felt that a thinner appearance would bring more of an “immortal feel” to his character. As a result, he worked hard to lose weight and attain a slimmer build. “It could be that because I’m getting older, it’s harder to lose weight,” said Wallace, who turns 36 in December. Age has also become a factor regarding his fans – he admitted that there is a generational gap between him and the young viewers of The Journey of Flower – as well as his chemistry with costar Zhao Liying, who will turn 28 in October. “When Zhao Liying and I first got in contact, it always felt like we were father and daughter,” Wallace shared. “Afterward, we got to know each other better, but it still felt like I was an uncle and she was a Lolita. Only later did it slowly feel like we became a couple.” Perhaps because of The Journey of Flower, Wallace stated that he would be “cautious” about a real-life relationship with a large age gap. “In the drama, this relationship is very obscured and oppressed,” he said. “If it happened in real life, I would be very cautious in considering it.” “I’m the One Acting, So I Look for My Own Method” When the crew of The Journey of Flower first approached Wallace about portraying Bai Zihua, the actor hesitated for a long time because he was unsure if he wanted to commit to another fantasy-wuxia drama. After half a year of being persuaded by the crew, Wallace gave in. “Their sincerity really touched me,” he remarked. Wallace would soon discover, however, that Bai Zihua was one of the most difficult characters he had ever played. “I felt like my acting skills were really put to the test,” he said. “How should one portray a character who is above the common people, who then learns to understand love after Xiao Gu’s investment, and who then goes through unspeakable pain after losing her?” His character’s cold personality also brought a new challenge to Wallace. “Bai Zihua is very hard to interpret,” he shared. “If you don’t have any expressions, then everyone will say your face is paralyzed. But if you have a lot of expressions, everyone will feel that you are not Bai Zihua. “In reality, everyone has their own way of looking at it,” Wallace went on. “Since I’m the one acting, I just look for my own method. It’s true that Bai Zihua cannot be too expressive, so it’s easy for others to think I’m wooden. I hope to express him through the expression in my eyes.” Wallace also revealed that the flying scenes took a toll on him, especially when the weather was hot. Moreover, almost every single day, he would have to wear wires around his crotch for the whole day. “I couldn’t even take them off when I went to the bathroom or ate a meal, because I could be asked to film a flying scene at any time,” he said. “I Don’t Know How to Coax Fans into Being Happy” Since Wallace is known for being intensely private, it comes as no surprise that he has yet to open an official Sina Weibo account – a popular way for actors to interact with their fans. When asked why he has held out, Wallace responded, “I don’t know how to coax fans into being happy.” Wallace shared that he has even scolded fans who brought him gifts or skipped class to attend his press conferences. “I know that fans want to make me happy,” he said, “but the gifts they give me surpass what they, at their age, can support. They should not be doing this.” Creds: Sina
