George Hu on Acting, Recent Engagement and Self-Reflection

published in enya FASHION QUEEN issue 182, find the original interview here; cover photo © 2022 enya Fashion Queen, all rights reserved

“Once you’ve made the decision, try not to quit halfway.” Eyes beaming with determination, George Hu shares how he found his ideal rhythm in the face of life challenges. From his breakthroughs in acting, outstanding performances in sports, to his recent engagement, he seems to be on life’s winning team, a role model for younger readers. Through his extra hard work and the principle of never giving up, George treats every challenge he encounters as a gift and enters the next stage of life with an open heart and open mind.

Conversations with Yourself

When it comes to choosing the right outfit, Hu focuses on the shoulder because once the shoulder line is defined, your body proportion looks better. As for accessories, he places his emphasis on practicality and prefers jewelry and watches that are lowkey but elevating. “Nothing too flashy. The most important thing is to match your personality and style.” No longer choosing exaggerated designs, he is now more certain about what he wants in terms of clothing. The lesson on understanding oneself is not limited to daily wear, but can also be extended to sports. Having recently picked up golf, Hu admits that it is different from other ball games. Without much physical contact, golf is a sport that is more like a dialogue with your inner self. “It’s about maintaining a consistent rhythm. Even when you don’t perform well, you have to force yourself to reflect on what you did wrong. Eventually, you will better understand yourself in the process.” When asked if he would like to consider competing in tournaments, Hu jokingly says it’s probably too late. Right now, he simply wants to focus on the fundamentals and keep practicing to master the sport.

Ideal Happiness

Recalling the day of announcing the proposal, Hu says they were both really nervous as they waited for the romantic moment 13:14 to arrive, but more than grateful for all the blessings they have received. “It’s actually very touching to see all the positive responses. I find it very precious that we have that kind of positive influence on people.” When asked about stepping into a brand new stage of life, he admits that he’s not used to it yet, but will embrace it with open arms. “This new role is more like a support to me. It’s a precious gift.” In terms of relationship, Hu chooses to give his significant other the space she needs, but will provide his advice when it’s needed. The bottom line lies within equality and treating others the way you want to be treated. For him, the ideal happiness is simple; it’s a heartfelt understanding of love. “If two people can be in a small space, holding hands, drinking coffee and still feel the presence of love even without any exchange of words, that is happiness to me.”

When it comes to family, Hu values the unity he shares with his parents and younger sister. At home, even when they are all doing their own thing, the soul of the Hus still holds everyone together. Growing up, he would always pull pranks on his sister and get scolded by his mom. However, whenever his sister needs him, he would immediately step up and protect her. Even though they are not currently in the same country, the love-hate relationship Hu shares with his sister is still going strong. When asked about his upbringing, he said the two principles he still follows since childhood are to always have respect for others and never do anything that he might regret. Because of his solid martial arts background, Hu is someone who doesn’t give up easily. “Once you are completely focused, you have a stronger sense of responsibility and will start to take everything more seriously.” He realizes as long as he follows this guideline, both at work and in private, naturally people around him will acknowledge his hard work and offer him their encouragement along the way.

Living with Imperfection

With his cheerful laugh and bright smile, Hu is always inspiring people with his positive energy in front of the camera. It makes me wonder how does he adjust his mindset when he encounters self doubt and negativity? He admits that it is almost impossible to tell people to not think about it. “It’s helpful to keep calm and try to look at the world with a more optimistic perspective.” If he’s still trapped in the negative mindset, he’ll try to do things he likes and get in touch with new activities and people to divert his attention. Looking back after the brief moment of distraction, he’d realize the problems are not as complicated as he had originally thought. As for learning how to live with one’s flaws, Hu says the first thing is to acknowledge them without denial. “First, accept the existence of your imperfections. Then, you learn to face them.” After accepting our shortcomings, we have to adapt and try to turn them into our advantage. Having made the mistake of mispronouncing the Chinese term of the swimming pool once, Hu chuckles and admits that the language is indeed a challenge to him. However, since he has the courage to speak and is never afraid of saying the wrong thing, his language deficiency in Mandarin actually becomes his advantage. “Since there is no way to change our imperfections, why not turn them into our strength?” We may not be able to change the direction of the wind, but we can adjust our sails to always reach our destination. Through his responses, it isn’t hard to see how Hu has gradually become more mature and open-minded in the face of challenges in life.

Life Experiences

From Wacko At Law, Dear Adam, Han Dan, to K.O. 3an Guo, Hu has participated in a selection of memorable works and is always trying to outdo himself in terms of his acting career. Recalling the most challenging role, he immediately points to his role in Wacko At Law, in which he plays Mai Da-Qi, a brilliant but disgruntled lawyer. While that role requires more technical skills, his role in the movie Han Dan, Lin Cheng-Kun, is more of a challenge to his inner psyche and how to accurately portray the dark side of a redeemed antagonist. “Each character has his own challenging aspects and overlapping parts, so the important thing is about bringing in your own stuff to make him different.” Back to where his acting career started, Hu says his first television series, Emerald on the Roof, is the experience that influenced him the most. The fact that he was able to work with so many renowned actors and actresses on his first acting debut did not scare him. He was excited, thrilled and ready to learn. “The moment we finished shooting, I realized acting had already left an impression on my body and mind. I was certain it was the path I wanted to take.” In terms of future roles he would like to try, Hu says, if the right opportunity presents itself, he’d be more than happy to take on roles related to music.

In the wake of the pandemic, he chooses to look on the bright side. “Now we understand how to love each other, cherish what we have and protect ourselves. Let’s hope 2022 will be a turning point.” Like a ray of sunshine warming the hearts of the people around him, George Hu continues to inspire us with his positivity and persistence. And thanks to him, the beginning of this new year appears to be less uncertain and more promising.