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| At 50, Charmaine Sheh Says Career Fulfilment Matters More Than Marriage and Children (Photo: OrientalDaily) |
Hong Kong actress Charmaine Sheh is proving that success doesn’t come with a one-size-fits-all life script. At 50, her career is still climbing, her screen presence remains dominant, and yet public curiosity has shifted toward a more personal question: why she’s still single, and whether motherhood is still on the table. In a candid sit-down with close friend Toby Leung, Charmaine Sheh addressed those questions with honesty, humour, and a refreshing sense of self-awareness that resonated widely online.
When the topic of having children came up, Charmaine’s reaction was immediate and instinctive. “Now?” she replied, half in disbelief, half in realism. She admitted that the possibility is already extremely low, not because of regret, but because of clarity. One of her biggest concerns is physical stamina.
She openly acknowledged the old saying about having children when you’re young, explaining that she no longer feels she has the energy needed to fully commit to raising a child the way she believes a parent should.
Beyond the physical side, Charmaine Sheh was equally frank about the mental and emotional demands. Balancing a demanding career with family life, she said, requires an extraordinary level of discipline and sacrifice.
Time has to be split between work, a partner, children, and personal space, and something almost always gives. She openly praised women who manage to handle both, calling them genuinely impressive, while admitting she doesn’t believe she could do the same without losing herself in the process.
In a softer moment during the conversation, Charmaine Sheh told Toby that she sometimes envies her life, a stable marriage and a happy family.
But that sentiment was quickly followed by laughter, as she joked about not being able to imagine waking up at six every morning just to get children ready for school. That mix of honesty and humour made her reflections feel grounded rather than dramatic.
Charmaine Sheh also shared that if she could turn back time by 20 years, her choice might have been different. Marriage and children could have been part of her path back then. But as years passed, her mindset evolved.
Watching close friends navigate family life up close changed her perspective. She described their daily responsibilities and emotional labour as “even more exhausting than filming”, a statement that struck a chord with many working adults.
She also made it clear that her current life gives her a sense of freedom she never fully imagined before. Being single allows her to make decisions entirely on her own terms, whether it’s about work, rest, or personal priorities, without having to compromise or explain herself.
For Charmaine Sheh, this freedom feels earned rather than lonely, and it reassures her that choosing a different path doesn’t need justification. Right or wrong no longer matters to her as much as feeling at peace with her own choices, and in that sense, she believes she has chosen correctly for herself.
Her reflections didn’t stop at relationships.
Charmaine Sheh also spoke about life’s unpredictability and how experience has taught her to plan ahead. With an estimated net worth of at least HK$200 million, she revealed that she has already prepared a will.
Most of her assets are set to go to the three people she treasures most: her mother and her two brothers. For Charmaine Sheh, this decision is about responsibility, gratitude, and acknowledging the family who stood by her throughout her career.
Online reactions to her comments were mixed but deeply engaged. Many fans applauded her honesty, praising her for normalising a fulfilled life outside of marriage and motherhood.
Supporters described her as realistic, self-aware, and empowering, especially for women who feel pressured by age-based expectations. Others expressed mild regret on her behalf, saying they wished she could experience family life, though even those voices largely respected her reasoning.
A smaller group debated whether career success truly outweighs personal companionship, sparking wider conversations about choice, timing, and societal pressure.
Charmaine Sheh’s words have clearly struck a nerve, not because they’re controversial, but because they reflect thoughts many people quietly share.
Her story raises a bigger question about what fulfilment really looks like in modern life. Do you agree with her perspective, or do you see things differently?