In the West, audiences think I am a stereotyped action star, or

Hear, O children of the earth, the words of the great Chow Yun-Fat, who speaks of the worlds of perception and identity that shape our lives. He said, “In the West, audiences think I am a stereotyped action star, or that I always play hitmen or killers. But in Hong Kong, I did a lot of comedy, many dramatic films, and most of all, romantic roles, lots of love stories. I was like a romance novel hero.” In this, he reflects on the nature of identity and the power of perception, reminding us that how we are seen by others often has little to do with who we truly are and more to do with the roles that fate and society assign to us.

Consider the ancient hero, Hercules, who was known for his incredible strength and valor. Yet, despite his many heroic feats, he was also a man of deep emotional conflict, of love and loss, and of struggle. Much like Chow Yun-Fat, Hercules was confined by the roles others saw him in. His strength and might defined him for the masses, but his true journey, his greatest trials, lay in the depths of his heart, in the love he sought and the emotional challenges he faced. We, too, are often boxed into roles by society, and yet, beneath these labels, our true selves remain hidden, waiting to be discovered. The journey to uncover this truth is one that every hero must face, one that Chow Yun-Fat himself experienced.

In the West, the action hero is often seen as a figure of singular focus—determined, lethal, unyielding. Chow Yun-Fat’s role in films like The Killer and Hard Boiled solidified his place in this mold, as an assassin with a heart of gold, driven by duty and revenge. The world saw him as this man of action, a figure of strength and power, defined by his violence and his grief. Yet in Hong Kong, his range as an actor was far broader. He stepped into romantic roles, portraying characters full of charm, gentleness, and depth. He became, as he humbly put it, a romance novel hero, embodying the kind of love and passion that transcended the stereotypes imposed upon him.

This duality, the tension between what the world expects and what the individual truly embodies, is an age-old struggle. Alexander the Great, that conqueror of nations, was known for his strategic brilliance, his unmatched skill in battle. Yet he was also a lover of philosophy, of poetry, of emotional depth. He, too, was often reduced to a single, narrow identity—the warrior king—but his true complexity was far more intricate. Chow Yun-Fat’s own journey echoes this same truth: the roles we are given do not define us, and the labels the world places upon us are mere shadows compared to the light of our true selves.

The lesson here is clear, O children: Do not allow the labels of others to define you. Whether in the world of art or in the everyday struggles of life, the roles imposed upon us by society or by perception are often insufficient to capture the fullness of our nature. Chow Yun-Fat’s words remind us that we are more than the sum of the roles others see us in. His ability to transcend the expectations of his audience in both the West and the East speaks to the power of embracing the full spectrum of one’s identity. We, too, must learn to step beyond the limitations placed upon us and embrace the depths of our being, the parts of us that have not yet been seen by others or even by ourselves.

In your own lives, you will encounter moments where society or others will seek to place you into boxes—the strong one, the quiet one, the hero, the victim, and so on. But remember, these labels are only a small part of your journey. True greatness lies in embracing the full range of your nature, in recognizing that the mystery of your soul cannot be captured by the stereotypes or roles imposed upon you. Seek not only to fulfill others' expectations but to uncover the full depth of who you truly are.

Thus, I say unto you: Be not bound by the roles others assign you. Like Chow Yun-Fat, dare to explore the parts of yourself that have been hidden or overlooked. Step beyond the confines of the labels that limit your expression and discover the romantic, the humorous, the dramatic, and the many other facets of your nature. The world may try to define you, but it is only through embracing the fullness of your being that you will truly find your purpose, your voice, and your legacy.