Despite having a prolific career in film
and television, not much is known about the private life of 53-year-old
Hong Kong comedian actress Kingdom Yuen (苑瓊丹). The My Dangerous Mafia Retirement Plan <火線下的江湖大佬> star may be a household name today, but it took Kingdom eight years before finally hitting it big with Stephen Chow’s (周星馳) 1991 comedy film Fight Back to School <逃學威龍>.
Yet her private life couldn’t be any more different.
Kingdom: “I Was An Abusive Wife”
Last month, Kingdom guested on a Chinese talk show and spoke about life with her husband, businessman Noel Wong
(黃乃掦). She revealed that she met Noel in 2001 through mutual friends,
and after three years of dating, they secretly registered for marriage
in Las Vegas in July 2004. Even her parents were out of the loop about
their marriage until 2009, when a tabloid magazine exposed their
registration certificate online.
Kingdom was a hot-tempered wife. She and
her husband fought a lot, and their fights often end up being physical.
Once, Kingdom threw a clock at her husband, which left a scar under his
eye. She threatened for a divorce, and while Noel eventually gave in and
signed the separation papers, he secretly voided them the next day.
Kingdom joked that her husband must be a masochist for staying with her.
But despite her fierce temper, Noel had always been patient with her,
and he never had doubts about marrying the wrong woman.
The strong-willed Kingdom then broke into
tears at the mention of her late mother, who Noel took care of during
the final years of her life. Kingdom said she is thankful of Noel for
being there for her mother even when she herself couldn’t.
“When my mother was sick, I was shooting a
drama overseas. I am very thankful for my husband, who took care of my
mother until her final moments. When my husband came to pick me up at
the airport after my mother’s death, he was crying. I told him, ‘I’m not
even crying yet. Why are you crying?’”
Noel’s Background Check
Noel Wong, ten years Kingdom’s senior,
was educated in the United States, and owns a very successful family
glass business. According to reports, the Wong family owns a large store
in Queen’s Road, Sheung Wan. They also have an office in Sheung Wan’s
Kam Sang Building, and owns some more properties in the United States.
Their company also has a factory in Mainland China. Sources say Noel’s
assets are worth at least $200 billion HKD.
Aside from overlooking his family’s
business, Noel has also established his own architecture firm, and has
designed for the Hong Kong International Airport and HSBC. Kingdom has
also dabbed into business herself, and co-owns her own salon in Jordan,
Hong Kong.