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| Top-paid Hong Kong actress Charmaine Sheh admits she was “secretly over the moon” meeting Chow Yun Fat at CNY gathering. (Photo: Instagram) |
Charmaine Sheh just proved that even A-listers have idols. On 23 February 2026, the Hong Kong actress shared her first-ever selfie with screen legend Chow Yun Fat, taken at a Chinese New Year gathering packed with familiar industry faces. Despite the star-studded setting, it was clear who she was most excited about.
Charmaine Sheh, widely regarded as one of Hong Kong’s highest-paid actresses and best known recently for The Queen of News, posted the photo on Instagram with a caption that read more like a fan diary entry than a celebrity update. In the snap, she beams brightly beside Chow Yun Fat, who returns the moment with his trademark warm smile.
And honestly? She did not even try to hide her excitement.
“I’ve admired him for so long” — Charmaine’s heartfelt confession
In her post, Charmaine Sheh openly admitted she has admired Chow Yun Fat for years.
“I finally got my first selfie with Brother Fat,” she wrote. “I’ve admired him for so long, and every time I see him, I still feel that same excitement.”
She then shared a throwback memory from years ago when she bumped into him at a restaurant in Clearwater Bay.
“I saw him from a distance and wanted to walk over to say hello,” she recalled. “But I was too shy. I could only softly say, ‘Brother Fat!’ and sit back down pretending to be calm.”
That wasn’t the only moment etched in her memory.
Charmaine Sheh revealed another encounter dating back to around 2000, when she was still a newcomer. A senior from her management asked her to attend a training class — and it turned out Chow Yun Fat was leading it.
“He recognised me because he had watched Return Of The Cuckoo,” she shared. “I was secretly over the moon inside, but I had to act composed.”
You can practically picture the internal screaming.
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Although Charmaine Sheh has built a formidable career and earned A-list status in the Chinese entertainment scene, she admitted she has not had many opportunities to work directly with Chow Yun Fat.
“It’s such a heartwarming photo for me,” she said about the selfie. “Some moments just feel special.”
The gathering also included familiar Hong Kong stars like Michael Miu and Bosco Wong, but fans quickly noticed that Charmaine Sheh’s attention was laser-focused on one person.
And frankly, who can blame her?
Online reactions came fast and enthusiastic.
Many fans praised Charmaine Sheh for being refreshingly honest about her admiration. Comments ranged from:
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“This is what happens when a fangirl works hard enough to meet her idol.”
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“You’re already a queen but still so humble.”
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“Successful fangirl level: legendary.”
Some netizens joked that she manifested the selfie through sheer determination over the years. Others pointed out how sweet it was to see two generations of Hong Kong stars sharing such a natural, unfiltered moment.
There were also plenty of hopeful voices calling for a collaboration.
“Please let them act together in a drama or film,” one comment read.
“Producers, are you seeing this?” another added.
Clearly, the public is ready for that dream project.
What makes this story resonate isn’t just the selfie itself. It’s the fact that Charmaine Sheh, despite being one of the most respected actresses in Hong Kong today, still reacts like a genuine fan when meeting someone she admires.
Her journey from quietly whispering “Brother Fat” in a restaurant to confidently standing beside him for a selfie says a lot about how far she has come.
And yet, that inner fangirl? Still very much alive.
Now the real question is: will we finally see Charmaine Sheh and Chow Yun Fat share the screen in a future project?
If that happens, you already know who will be the happiest person on set.
What do you think — should they collaborate on a drama or a big-screen film? And which genre would suit them best?