After a decade of self-imposed exile in Vancouver, Hong Kong starlet Vivian Chow is blazing a trail in Asia as she returns to the limelight.

“I’ve grown more mature. In the past, the impression I gave was that of a naive, innocent girl.

“It’s a different feeling,” said the genteel 38-year-old who was in Hong Kong recently to promote the Phillip Wain International’s dance fitness routines called Dance Across Asia.

She is the 2006 brand ambassador for the fitness and beauty club in Malaysia, Singapore and Hong Kong, reported Chinese media.

In May, the evergreen Chow will be staging two concerts at the Hong Kong Coliseum where she will be donating all of her concert earnings to the non-profit Veterinary Service Society.

Vivian Chow left show business at the height of fame 10 years ago.

After participating in the Hong Kong New Singers Competition in 1985, Chow landed a job as a deejay for Radio and TV Hong Kong two years later. She recorded her first album while deejaying.

The album became a hit and she decided to venture into singing and acting full-time. With her wholesome good looks, she soon became a poster girl prompting the Hong Kong media to nickname her Jade Girl Master.

In 1997, after a Las Vegas concert, she announced her retirement.

“It was my decision. I had planned this since 1995. So when I had fulfilled all my contractual obligations, I didn’t renew any of them.

“I felt that I had done all I could in this job. I’m an introvert by nature and life in the entertainment industry is very exciting and I have lived it for 10 years.

“But I can’t continue staying in this tiny circle.

“Being in this industry, you are constantly surrounded by people, who are there to protect you. As a result, there is this gap between the public and myself. I felt I needed to get back to a normal life and learn how to take care of myself.

“Some people need colourful lives but this is who I am. That is why I went to Canada. Hong Kong is a vibrant city, it’s exciting but in Vancouver, the people there are very simple.

“Although there was that one time when a paparazzo managed to take my picture, it wasn’t too much a problem and I was able to lead a normal life. I needed it.

“Emotionally I feel healthier. I have made the right decision.”

“In terms of acting, at the moment, there aren’t any special plans because my schedule is quite packed with doing commercials.

“I think it’s best to leave these things to fate.

“I hope fans will not hold out too much hope.

“I can’t make any guarantees but who knows if I’m offered a really challenging role I’ll think about it.”

Chow has almost 40 movies and TV serials to her name.

But many of them have her typecast as the vulnerable, good girl.

Vivian Chow has been with her boyfriend Joe Ngai for about 15 years now and some reports said they may be getting married soon.

According to a website some of Vivian’s friends claim the couple will tie the knot in June in Vancouver.