Actor Patrick shaves head for leukemia role, conceals baldness for six months

Actor Patrick, known for his comedic roles, has undergone a dramatic transformation for his part in the upcoming DaAi drama "His Soul and His Bookstore." He portrays a leukemia patient, a role that required him to shave his head, a decision he embraced for the sake of realism in depicting the chemotherapy process.

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I really believe in this character, and I'll be whatever the character needs to be.

"I really believe in this character, and I'll be whatever the character needs to be," Patrick stated. Initially, the director considered having his head shaved before filming began. However, to capture the raw emotion, the scene was changed to have co-star Huang Tsai-yi shave his head on camera. Huang Tsai-yi, unfamiliar with clippers, was reportedly nervous, while Patrick remained calm, even joking about how easy it would be to wash and dry his hair.

To keep his new look a secret during the six-month filming period, Patrick employed various methods. He wore hats while recording the variety show "Miss Unbelievable" and even used a specially made wig for a video game endorsement. His co-star, Dee Hsu (Xiao S), was aware of his transformation and supported his commitment to the role.

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Washing my hair is so easy now, and it's dry before I even blow-dry it.

Patrick drew inspiration for his portrayal from a female friend undergoing cancer treatment. He learned that patients often worry more about their families than themselves in the later stages of the illness. A particularly challenging scene involved a "magical realism" segment requiring him to memorize 15 pages of dialogue and switch between five or six emotional states within a single day, a demanding performance that left him feeling drained.

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You know what? Seeing you at first was scary. We were most afraid of variety show hosts acting in dramas; many treat it as a hobby. You truly shocked me; you are very professional.

The role also evoked personal memories for Patrick, reminding him of his late grandmother. He recalled her watching him dance on television shortly before her passing, a memory that brought him comfort. The experience of portraying a cancer patient has deeply affected him, prompting him to consider a full-body health check-up, though he admitted he hasn't scheduled one yet. The drama "His Soul and His Bookstore" is set to premiere on July 6.

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You are completely 'Huang Wan-tong' himself!