Behind the ambitious "Queen of News" persona, local actress Charmaine Sheh Sze-man is simply a devoted daughter—spending HK$2 million a year on rent to give her mother a better environment to fight illness.
The four-time Best Actress has again surged in popularity across the border after her acclaimed role in "The Queen of News 2," with reports putting her net worth at over HK$200 million.
Apart from her acting, the 50 year-old actress is also known for her sharp investments, reportedly owning at least five properties across Hong Kong with a total value exceeding HK$100 million.
"I buy to invest and rent them out. With limited land in Hong Kong, property appreciates better than keeping cash in the bank. It's my way of saving,” she once shared.
HK$2 million annually for mother’s health
According to a report by East Week, the sister publication of The Standard, a close friend revealed that Sheh, on the advice of a feng shui master, rents a prestigious duplex apartment in Mid-Levels for a staggering HK$166,000 per month—nearly HK$2 million a year.
This luxurious home is in a celebrity-kissed neighborhood near fellow stars like actor Moses Chan Ho and singer Tyson Yoshi. The feng shui master claimed the location would aid both her mother's recovery and Sheh's career.
A bond since childhood
The moving decision is believed to stem from Sheh's devotion to her mother, rooted in a childhood marked by loss. Her father died in a car accident when she was just five, leaving her mother to raise three children, forging an unbreakable bond.
In gratitude for her mother’s sacrifices, Sheh invested HK$35 million in a house in Sai Kung after achieving financial independence, even gifting one of the properties to her mother for a comfortable retirement.
However, her mother has unfortunately faced serious health challenges in recent years, including hair loss due to intensive medical treatment.
Precious time with loved ones
The bond between mother and daughter was further forged through life-and-death struggles. Twenty years ago, Sheh's mother suffered a critical lung condition, and her heart stopped for 20 seconds during surgery.
Fortunately, Sheh's mother made it through, but the experience made the superstar more aware of life's fragility, and she now makes time for her mother amid her grueling schedule.
Recently, she was spotted stopping at a famous Cantonese roast meat eatery, where she called her mother to ask for her favorite dish and purchased takeout for dinner—a simple yet heartfelt act of love.
Ahead of the Lunar New Year, after finishing a supermarket commercial shoot in Guangzhou, Sheh took her mother on a holiday to Bangkok.
Locals spotted the mother-daughter duo happily sharing a meal at a food court, with the mother beaming with a healthy glow and her trademark smile—a heartwarming payoff for Sheh's devotion and hard work.
