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Franchesca Wong is a Canadian born Chinese actress currently based in Hong Kong. After studying marketing, she discovered her true passion was with acting. She graduated from the Hong Kong Academy for Performing Arts (HKAPA) in 2019 and has since then lived her passion onstage. Franchesca is also a drama teacher, corporate role player, and an avid adventurer.
In this interview, Franchesca tells us about her path, her passions, and her thoughts on the world backstage.
I am thirty-one years old. Pure Chinese (even though everyone thinks I’m a mix). I am a Christian. And, I am an extrovert, bubbly, very down to earth I’d say, adventurous and curious.
I was born in Calgary, Canada in 1990. When I was three years old, I moved to Hong Kong with my family. Then moved back to Canada when I was fifteen years old.
I speak fluent Cantonese, English, and good Mandarin. I finished my high school and business degree at the University of Calgary majoring in Marketing. Then, I moved to Hong Kong in 2013 for work.
My passions are performing, acting, sports, hiking, stream trekking, adventuring through the woods, scuba diving, travelling… and making an impact in this world with my passion.
I am currently a freelancer. With various roles – actor, drama teacher, corporate role player, workshop facilitator, EMCEE, VO, model… pretty much available for everything haha.
When I was a teenager, I never really thought about what my passions were, all I knew was that I need to get a degree and make money like what most people are doing.
I just followed everyone else around me. So, I studied business and hoped I’d make lots of money and live comfortably.
In the two years of working in an office, I was very unhappy, unsatisfied, and demotivated. I realized that’s not for me. Instead, I wanted to do something I truly enjoy. Definitely something meaningful to me and to the world.
I started to question my life’s purpose and my passion. I was really confused at that time.
Then, I read a book called “The Alchemist” by Paulo Coelho. It inspired me to pursue my own personal legend and my passion. So, I started my journey of exploring in search of things that excite me.
One day, my friend invited me to watch a theatre play in HK. I still remember the feeling inside of me, as if someone lit a fire in me.
Whilst sitting in the auditorium, watching the actors playing on stage, my childhood memories flooded back into my mind. And I recalled I was once very passionate about performing and acting. Something I had completely forgotten since high school.
I had grown up with a mentality that acting is not a “proper” career. And that most actors can’t make a living unless you are at the top 1%. All silly stereotypes which stopped me from pursuing what I like.
After seeing the play with my friend, I went online and searched for drama courses in Hong Kong.
I remember thinking ” Fine, if I can’t change my career, I will just do what I like to do outside of work. I’m going to keep trying to make myself happy.”
Then, I took three drama courses. One after another, three times a week after work, until like 11pm.
I then realized just how much I enjoy doing this. I felt life was full of hope and excitement. Then, I wondered if it’s possible to turn my passion of acting into a career…
I was living in Hong Kong at the time. And if I wanted to work in the theatre industry in Hong Kong, I was advised to go to HKAPA to get my training. Learn about theatre, acting, as well as get my foot in the industry by making connections. Especially, because I didn’t have any prior experience or connections at the time (when I was twenty-four years old).
Since I grew up partly in Hong Kong and Canada, it’s definitely easier for me to adapt to the cultural differences compared to many of my local friends in HK.
I haven’t worked in Canada (in terms of performing), so I can’t say I know the difference in the world of performing. Well, not yet. I am planning to go to Vancouver within the next two years to try out the acting scene there. So, perhaps I can share more with you in a follow-up interview.
I have enjoyed freelancing very much. I love the flexible work schedule. The best part is that I get to be part of different jobs and productions. And I meet different people from all over the world.
It’s all very exciting and eye opening for me. The fact that I can’t have a five-year career plan is quite exciting. Yes, at times it’s a bit scary. But it’s all part of the adventure. Just gotta prepare and be ready for anything.
Being bilingual gives me the advantage on the Hong Kong job market. I can get my foot in the door of both the Chinese and English-speaking sectors (acting, teaching, corporate role playing etc.).
Many of my freelancing jobs were cancelled like for most actors.
I was very fortunate though. Right when Covid hit Hong Kong, in early 2020, I was offered a full-time acting role in a local theatre company called WeDraman Group. It was a one-year contract which ended in May 2021.
During the pandemic, I was able to perform in various shows with the company. I was definitely one lucky actress.
Now, I just hope to keep acting and do what I enjoy. On top of that, I hope that my work will be able to create an impact in the world in whatever way.
For example, I just did a solo theatre play called Every Brilliant Thing by British playwright Duncan Macmillan. The play is about the spectrum of emotions experienced when dealing directly or indirectly with the reality of depression and suicide. It provides a refreshing way of destigmatizing mental health.
Since the social unrest in Hong Kong two years ago and then global pandemic, many people have been dealing with severe depression and PTSD.
After the first performance, a girl who came to see the show shared her story with me. In fact, she suffered from severe depression for a few years. Now she is trying to come out of it. She told me that the play touched her heart. She felt healed by it, and it gave her hope.
Nearly every night people from the audience would message me and tell me the same thing.
For me, it was more than just a performance, it was something far beyond just a show.
I’ve been asking myself over the last two years, what am I doing as an actor? What’s my purpose? How am I contributing to the community when the world is collapsing?
I am not a doctor, not a lawyer, or a politician. I can’t be in the front-line helping people or making direct changes to the community. Yet, by doing this play, I’m reminded of my mission/purpose in acting.
It’s never too late to enter the world of performing! I started when I was twenty-five. If you are willing to take a big step forward into the unknown, everything is possible.
Comparing yourself to other amazing actors in the world of performing is inevitable. To a certain degree you need to do that to keep improving.
However, it’s very easy to lose our own identity, our values and our dreams in such a competitive world.
One thing I find helpful for me to stay focused is this: Always be true to who you are and to your values. Focus on your own talents. Be humble and keep learning.
The world of performing is so much fun and full of adventure.
Franchesca’s profile on the HKAPA website
Actor, Director, and Lecturer in Hong Kong: Billy Sy
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Liam Klenk was born in Central Europe and has since lived on four continents. Liam has always been engaged in creative pursuits, ranging from photography and graphic design, to writing short stories and poetry, to working in theatre and shows. In 2016, Liam published his first book and memoir, 'Paralian'.
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