The Discreet Charm Of A Modern Man

In the flesh, actor Mark Chao exudes a charisma grounded in the roots of old-school chivalry.

- Lynette Kee

In the city of Dongyang, Jinhua, Zhejiang province, sits the Chinese town of Hengdian, which proudly chronicles the history of China in cultural architecture. Arguably China’s equivalent of American Hollywood, Hengdian, where the world’s largest film studio (Hengdian World Studios) is located, is billed as the unrivalled filmmaking destination of the country. What I imagine on set: a man dressed in a Qing Dynasty robe strikes a powerful stance with the smoke machine on high.

Meanwhile, in reality, set in a private studio downtown, lights are up and cameras ready. Actor-model Mark Chao refocuses as the centre of this operation.

When conversing in Mandarin, Chao, articulated his words in unbridled boyish enthusiasm. Occasional giggles and slur of Chinese witty remarks punctuate, much like the effortless and relatable Chao one would recognise on Asian reality programmes. His mannerism fine-tunes to give off a more mellow and charming air when he speaks in English, by comparison. And this code-switch between two languages comes second nature for him.

Chao was born in Taipei, where he lived up till his primary school years before moving to Canada. Chao spent his entire adolescence in Canada and graduated from the University of Victoria with a degree in business. But at the age of 25, Chao kickstarted a career in the entertainment industry. A decade later, the now 35-year-old has accumulated a formidable portfolio having starred in many critically acclaimed films and drama series. “I hope I’ve grown,” he says. “I think I’ve definitely become more intelligent in my choices and in life.”