No matter how society progresses, the collective subconscious of the public always hopes for a balance of “beauty and intelligence” in celebrities. In reality, having excellent appearance conditions is already rare, so how can we expect them to have a deep understanding of astronomy, geography, and every aspect of life? As a result, journalists often encounter artists who have a great temperament, acting skills, or singing abilities, but lack substance in their interviews. They still try their best to extract profound statements from them, creating the image of a wise person. However, when interviewing Ashley Lin, there is no such pressure because she is a truly thoughtful woman, even though she is only 22 years old and has just graduated from the architecture department of the University of Hong Kong.
The two days of shooting were just as the weather turned cold. Before the formal interview, I exchanged a few words with her. Ashley smiled and said that she was feeling a bit “subtle”: “But I have confidence in the team I’ve been working with.” Thinking I was clever, I tried to open the conversation with “Fashion Week” and mentioned the time a few years ago when we sat close together to watch a show. But she, who has been in the industry for many years, starting from childhood advertisements, was ready to talk about anything: “I also miss Fashion Week. I was very excited when I went for the first time. After going to Milan, the plan was to go to Paris for the next season, but the pandemic put everything on hold.”
Let’s start with fashion and get to know this future architect layer by layer. “To be fair, when I was young, I had more of a tomboy style and was interested in fashion but not very sensitive to it. It was only after studying architecture that I began to understand design.” Ashley said that the teachers in the architecture department pay attention to their clothing and their classes are like fashion shows, becoming a topic of conversation among classmates. That’s when she started to become more sensitive to fashion: “Fashion and architecture are essentially the same in terms of design. Whether it’s a space, a piece of clothing, or a ring, they only differ in scale, but the ideation process is similar.”
“I hope to find another way to quietly do what I love in the entertainment industry.”
Although Ashley appears very intellectual, I still mustered up the courage to ask her about her unique family background: Did you always want to pursue a career in front of the camera since you were young? “I saw my parents on TV when I was young, so I knew very well what their job was like.” Ashley didn’t mind saying, “My first impression of working in front of the camera was when I visited my dad who was working in Taiwan. He was wearing a doctor’s gown in the hospital, and I thought to myself, ‘Dad is not a doctor, why is he wearing a doctor’s gown?’ That’s how I started getting involved in acting.”
“I learned a lot about performing arts when I was young because I enjoyed it, but I’m not someone with a strong desire to perform, and I’m also more introverted and slow to warm up. When I’m in front of a lot of people, I get stage fright and perform worse than when I’m alone, so I never thought about pursuing this career. Even when I started working in performances at 14 or 15 years old, I felt even more unsuitable and a bit scared. When I first entered the film set just now, I was afraid when I saw so many people, and many camera shots made me feel uneasy.”
Later on, when Ashley felt that she truly connected with the artistic and craft aspects of this industry, and started thinking about how to become a good actress, she began to enjoy this profession. “After taking drama classes and playing roles with substance, I started to discover myself as an artist, intertwined with the characters, and that’s when I began to love this industry. I may not be the typical person suited for this job, but I hope to find another way to quietly do what I love in this field.”
“Acting is a form of playing, and it also pushes me to grow.”
“Recently, I filmed a drama series called ‘Rope Angle.’ The character I played was much more mature than me, but the character and I are very similar to the core. After experiencing the character’s life, it’s like skipping time and experiencing my own life. It’s as if I saw an alternative possibility: if I continue to live like this, I might end up like her. In addition, some personal experiences during that period forced me to grow up quickly. It was a difficult time, but looking back, it was actually very satisfying, it made me feel great, and it was very refreshing. It’s a form of playing, and it also pushed me to grow.”
The performance of “Rope Angle” by “Jiang Xiuxian” has received good reviews. Ashley mentioned that she initially felt a bit stiff, “a bit too animated and lacking in a sense of real life.” She felt that she could improve, but as the performance went on, the sense of real life gradually emerged, and the development of the character did not hinder the audience’s engagement with the drama. As for the actresses she admires, Ashley admits to having a somewhat old-fashioned taste: “When I was a child, my mother showed me movies like ‘Gone with the Wind,’ ‘Roman Holiday,’ and ‘Funny Face,’ so Audrey Hepburn’s fashion and demeanor have had an influence on me. However, their acting methods may not necessarily be suitable for the present day, but their dedication to art is something I admire.”
What are your future music plans after participating in musicals, shooting MVs, and singing with AK? Ashley appreciates her acting experience, which has inspired her music production. “Next, I hope to promote my own published music because I am an independent musician and there are many obstacles in terms of mindset, budget, and manpower. Actually, the music is already written and I hope to release it as soon as possible.” As for the music she has recently downloaded herself, she said, “Novel Fergus, a Cantonese rapper, his lyrics are very interesting, with a touch of fantasy and elusive.”
一时衝動愛上建築，最愛Carlo Scarpa
Ashley’s development in the spotlight today can be said to be very smooth, but why did she choose to study architecture in the first place? “I chose to study architecture, you could say it was a momentary impulse, but this impulse actually lasted for 8 years. In Form 2, I heard that a senior sister had built a library and I thought she was very stylish. I really wanted to do that kind of work, where I could help others in a very artistic and whimsical way. The whole thing is great and beautiful – architecture is a very elegant problem solving.” Because of this impulse, Ashley learned to paint and took architecture courses, preparing all the way until Form 6, and finally got admitted to HKU for a four-year program. She just graduated recently, and her final year project was about transforming Kwun Tong into an artistic place. “I do hope that architecture can become another part of my career, but the timing may not be right at this moment. Right now, I want to focus on performing arts.”
When it comes to architecture, Ashley says there are many architects she likes, but her favorite is Carlo Scarpa. “The reason I like him is because of his attention to detail and his ability to incorporate elements of nature into his designs. His most famous design is a window in the corner of a building, like a cube that brings in sunlight and illuminates the artifacts inside the museum. Another example is when he renovated an old museum but kept the original roof and built another roof underneath it, preserving the steel beams and giving it a skeleton, brutalist feel. He blends the new with the old, which is very clever and beautiful. To be fair, he didn’t have an architect’s license and wasn’t even a real architect, which makes me respect him even more.”
The intense emotions of Gustav Klimt and the free-spiritedness of Jane Birkin
Ashley pointed to her Gucci velvet evening gown and said that her favorite color is yellow, so she really likes this dress. She also talked about her favorite artist: “My favorite artist, whom I haven’t had the chance to see his works in person yet, is Gustav Klimt. His most famous work is, of course, ‘The Kiss.’ I bought a print of it to hang in my home. His paintings are filled with intense emotions. Looking at the abstract representation of life, death, and everything in between in his paintings is captivating. I love the colors and symbolism, as well as his embrace of emotionality. Especially when I see the scale of his original works, it must be magnificent. But I haven’t had the opportunity to see them yet, so I hope to see them in person soon.”
After the art, the topic has returned to fashion. Who is Ashley’s fashion idol? “I don’t really buy into a particular style. In fact, a designer’s works can be very different in different periods. But if I had to choose a style icon, I would say it’s Jane Birkin. Her casual style inspires me a lot – she thinks that all handbags are not suitable, and she uses a wicker basket instead. I really like that sense of freedom and casualness. In addition, I like how she uses basic items like a white tee and jeans, but she always sticks to a style that suits her best. This is something I’m trying to figure out. I may not necessarily follow the off-shoulder trend, but instead, I pay attention to my body shape and think about what suits me best.” Ashley added that she also likes to collect rings and accessories with stories and origins.
“I’m still seeing how that goes…..”
In a recent interview, Ashley mentioned her interest in studying philosophy in the future. How did she become interested in philosophy? “I only started in college… because studying architecture involves various approaches. Some people have a more engineering mindset, while others have a more artistic mindset. Personally, I enjoy reading books and I don’t consider myself very skilled at drawing by hand. So, I tend to lean towards using philosophy and researching human conditions to support my designs.”
“Instead of designing based on ‘I painted this corner so beautifully, so I have to arrange it like this,’ I would consider designing based on human preferences for space. For example, people don’t like standing next to sharp objects, or looking at it from a more ontological mindset. During university, I read a lot of books on ontology and urban space, as well as books on the potential of Hong Kong as a city. After reading a lot of texts for assignments, I realized that the architectural approaches that interested me were all related to philosophy and anthropology.” Ashley jokingly said, “If I can’t make it in the entertainment industry in the future, I would switch to architecture and work on research projects. A interdisciplinary approach can support future research. Maybe I will also minor in philosophy – I’m still seeing how that goes.” Ashley is an intellectual girl, and being intellectual doesn’t necessarily mean being bookish (although it’s not denied), but it means using your brain – people who use their brains will succeed in whatever they do!”
Executive Producer: Angus Mok
Art Direction: Mimi Kong
Photography: Ken Leung
Videography: Kason Tam & Angus Chau
Video Editor: Kason Tam
Styling : Mimi Kong assisted by Yoanah Chan
Interview: Meiji Ray
Makeup: Sheila Ko @hongkongmakeupartist
Hair: Cooney Lai
Wardrobe: Alexander McQueen, Gucci, Givenchy, Loewe, Prada, Junya Watanabe @ Joyce
Special Thanks Singchin Lo for the wonderful location
