Hongkong actresses Ada Choi, 48, and Sheren Tang, 55, were guests on a recent episode of Chinese talk show Hello, Saturday, where Ada revealed that she was originally supposed to play the role of Imperial Consort Yu in the 2004 TVB drama War And Beauty instead of Sheren.

According to Ada, the producers of War And Beauty had offered her the role of Imperial Consort Yu but after she heard that her character would be caught up in events that are “a little terrifying", she decided that it was too much for her.

She then turned down the role, which eventually went to Sheren. Ada, on the other hand, went on to star in Chinese drama, The Legend Of Magic Mirror.

Ada and Max

“Although I saw how popular the actors in War And Beauty were after [the drama aired], I was not envious at all ‘cos I found the one I love the most, my husband [Chinese actor] Max Zhang [on The Legend of Magic Mirror],” she said.

Max and Ada, who tied the knot in 2008, first got to know each other on the set of the 2003 drama.

After hearing what Ada said, Sheren jokingly responded: “I got [Ada’s] role, but I didn’t find myself a husband. That’s life, right?.”

Sheren's popularity skyrocketed 'cos of War And Beauty

Sheren also went on to share that after War And Beauty blew up, she received multiple offers to star in other period dramas.

At one point, the producer of Empresses in the Palace offered her the role of Empress Ulanara Yixiu. However, Sheren had already accepted the role of the empress in New My Fair Princess and hence had to reject it.

Ada in Empresses in the Palace

And in a strange twist of fate, the next actress the producer approached happened to be Ada, who took on the role.

“You gave [a role] to me, and I gave [a role] to you. Our lives may be different, but it’s all interesting in their own ways,” Ada said.

A fair exchange

Photos: Ada Choi/Weibo, TVB, Sheren Tang/Weibo, 湖南卫视你好星期六/Weibo