BACK in 1981, Hong Kong pop star Chelsia Chan retired at the tender age of 24, to the dismay of her many fans.
It has been a long wait for them, but in November last year, they were finally rewarded when she released a comeback album, Fly Our Dreams.
The entertainer caused the music industry to sit up and take note when in 1975, she won Best Composition and Best Singer in the Hong Kong Creative Pop Contest, with the English song Dark Side Of Your Mind.
A year later, at age 19, she showed her versatility by winning the Golden Horse award for Best Actress for the movie Qiu Xia (Chelsia My Love), the youngest winner at that point.
The soundtrack, with songs she composed, was also a hit.
She even found time to sing with the popular Hong Kong pop group The Wynners.
But she left it all behind to marry Malaysian entrepreneur Tan Sri William Cheng, chairman of the Lion Group.
The 50-year-old now lives in Kuala Lumpur with her husband and three daughters - Natalie, 23, Serena, 20, and Vivien, 18.
1. So why did you decide to quit the scene?
To get married. But there was another reason: I was too tired. Not physically, but mentally.
I entered the entertainment industry too early and then won some awards. It was a great start but also a big burden.
You felt you needed to prove you won those awards not because of luck or because the studio was trying to turn you into a star.
After seven years, I decided not to carry on acting in the same roles and singing the same songs.
2. Would you object to your daughters entering showbiz?
I wouldn't object but they don't seem to be interested. But my eldest daughter, Natalie, has appeared in a music video of mine as the director wanted someone who looked like me.
My daughters enjoy watching movies and listening to music but they know that the entertainment business is a tough one.
3. Who do you admire among the younger crop of singers today?
Jay Chou and Huang Yida. I'm influenced by my youngest daughter as she listens to Chinese pop. I've plenty of chances to listen to the newest music as she spends all her money on concerts and CDs. It's better than spending money on dresses.
I have an agreement with Yida, made when we had tea together once in Taiwan. Either he writes a song for me to sing or I write a song for him to sing. We'll see who writes faster.
4. Do you enjoy working with young people in particular?
No, not really. In this album, I also collaborate with (Hong Kong actress-singer) Deannie Yip, who's about the same age as me. When I ran into (Hong Kong actress) Nancy Sit the other day, I also thought of working with her.
Opportunity is brought about by fate. We can become good friends after working together for one day.
5. What are you working on now?
I'm doing a remix album. It may be a little late doing this at my age, but it's better than waiting till I'm 60.
If I think of doing something, I'll just do it and not worry about the market. There'll always be someone who will enjoy it.
6. Why did you return to showbiz after such a long time?
Because of missed chances to be affirmed by people in the past.
People look at you as a celebrity and don't treat you as a composer. Now, you're at a disadvantage if you don't compose, but it was quite rare in the past.
That's why on this album, I sing solo on only four tracks as I want the compositions to be at the forefront.
7. What's the hardest thing about your comeback?
Wearing high heels again. The heels are so high nowadays. Even wearing 3-inch- high shoes is painful for me.
And the fact that one has to put on and remove make-up several times a day, as I normally don't wear much make-up.
8. Complete this sentence: If I could live my life again...
I would definitely still choose the same road. This was something I decided that I wanted to do in my teens. I joined a band when I was 12, but I didn't get a chance to sing. I just played the keyboard. I decided that one day I would sing on stage and not just play an instrument.
One of my songs, One Summer Night, has been popular in Korea for 30 years. I was moved to tell my daughter that for a composer to have a song stay popular for 30 years, your Mum has not lived in vain.
