Ma Li upbeat on 'different' role in The Dumpling Queen

Catapulted to fame through hit comedies like Goodbye Mr. Loser, actress Ma Li is set to take a new direction with her upcoming film, the poignant and moving The Dumpling Queen.

Currently grossing 7.67 million yuan ($1.05 million) from online ticket bookings, the film, scheduled to open on Wednesday, has topped the presale charts for the May Day holiday, a traditionally strong box-office season.

Adapted from the real-life story of Zang Jianhe, who founded the popular frozen food brand Wanchai Ferry, the biopic features Ma as Zang, chronicling her tough journey — rising from a single mother, raising two young daughters by selling dumplings on Hong Kong streets to becoming a business legend whose ready-to-make foods are sold worldwide.

The film held its premiere in Beijing on Friday, with director Jeffrey Lau Chun-wai revealing that the project attracted him because the protagonist's striving spirit reminded him of his own mother.

Ma revealed that she once worried the film might not fare well, as she had long been labeled a successful comedic actress. However, the director's trust gave Ma the confidence to fully immerse herself in the role, despite challenges such as the language barrier — most of the other actors in the Hong Kong-set film spoke Cantonese.

Drawing from her own early experiences of facing discrimination when entering the entertainment industry, Ma encouraged the audience to become the writers of their own destinies, emphasizing the importance of self-confidence, self-reliance, and independence.