“I am always ME,” enthuses Ng HUI 黃慧 Singapore Actress. Sometimes, being UNDERSTATED has its MERITS.

NG HUI Singapore Actress

SHE played AH TAO, the self-sacrificing maid in the SINGAPORE MEDIA CORP’s 45th anniversary offering “THE LITTLE NONYA”, which to date, is still the Station’s highest rated drama of all time, in the Republic.

It was the role that bagged her the BEST SUPPORTINGACTRESS accolade (2009) and made her a household name in countries that aired THE LITTLE NONYA.

She definitely stole “the thunder” from the leads, in practically every scene that she appeared in as the chirpy, loyal and caring peranakan maid from a long gone era.

How could we ever forget her as she fleshed out that singular role that “fitted her like a glove”?

She does not need to be the lead actress to be adored.

This is to tell us, that, there’s this uncultured pearl, and if your employer sees your potential and is willing to give you a “good shine”, you can always sparkle!

You just have to fight the favoritism and the politics.

For a fact, NG HUI‘s features resemble the popular Hong Kong TVB actress KENIX KWOK.

Yet we hope that she would not be taken for granted and that her fate would not be like KARA HUI who started so young, and after more than 2 decades, stormed the industry again in 2010 with her best actress role in the recent “AT THE END OF DAYBREAK”.

We are profoundly bored with reading the same old shit about the 7 princesses that the Station is trying in vain to promote and retain, as some of these are leaving the nest for greener pasture without even a ‘gracias’ murmur.

Such a shame!

So what is the weekly 8 Days tabloid and her Chinese counterpart doing? Boring everyone with the same alluring faces + same mundane news, decked in different clothes weekly?

Come on, give us a break! (yawn)

But of course, it’s much safer to tread on familiar grounds because the notion is “the choice of beautiful top liners on the covers can sell the magazines better”.

Hey, content is what everything is about …..

which is why most of the 2010 dramas for want of “freshness” are so predictably stale and induce sleep.

Switch to another channel, please!

Where happened to the writing team who gave us THE GOLDEN PATH, REUNION DINNER, THE LITTLE NONYA and TOGETHER?

We feel that NG HUI is pretty much “understated”…..

that she has an unspoken charm, one that is not garish, loud, obvious, or even ubiquitous.

It’s a charm that is subtly-chic, and doesn’t cry for attention.

“I love my job as an actress,” she gushes, “it’s been something that I’ve always to do this life.”

We hear that the Station’s magnificent talent scouts are furiously roping in male and female “stars” from Taiwan, China and Malaysia?

The latest sign-ups from MALAYSIA is a far cry from what we were expecting. Try harder!

What will happen to the home bred Singapore regulars lying on home ground?

Leave them to rot?

The neighbor grass is greener?

Isn’t there a wise Chinese proverb that says “prosperous waters do not flow into others’ meadows”?

So much for casting the safety net.

When others chose to quit the nest, NG HUI remains fiercely loyal to her employers.

ACTING is her dream career, no less, in her own words.

Our team hunts her down and here’s NG HUI‘s candid revelations on her life and work:

1. What is your ethnicity and astrological sign?

Chinese. Born & bred in Singapore.

Cancer.

2. Was LITTLE NONYA your BEST drama to date?

It depends on your definition of best. My role as Ah Tao in the Little Nyonya allowed me to showcase my acting skills to a great potential and I put in my very best in all the roles given to me and aim to fully portray the roles as real as possible.

3. Did you audition for the role? Gossip mill has it that MAY PHUA was originally slated for the part, but opted out because she was expecting?

No.

Gossips are meant to be taken with a pinch of salt.

4. Would you consider playing AH TAU the peranakan maid a difficult role? How did you prepare yourself for this role?

All the roles I have played so far have a certain degree of difficulty in them.

I always make sure I read and understand the script and the character’s emotional journey fully followed by an in-depth character analysis of the role. I will then embark on my own journey of discovering that character within myself and try my very best to be in the role.

5. Was there an affable working chemistry between you and the merry cast of XIANG YU, JEANETTE AW and JOANNE PEH during the filming of LITTLE NONYA?

Yes, not just with them but the whole cast as well.

It is always about teamwork and a good team produces good results.

6. What advice would you give to someone what wants to get into the acting industry?

Be sure to know what you are coming into the acting industry for.

If it is for the fame or fortune, think twice, think hard and think deep.

7. What is your personality like?

Ever-changing.

8. What was your proudest moment?

None that I can really remember.

I have always been reminded to stay humble.

9. Name any incident that made you sad or upset?

The premature departure of the people I know.

10. What are your interests or hobbies?

Travelling. Photography. Culture and the Arts.

11. What is that you wanted to do in life, but never gotten around to do it?

Nothing that I really remembered.

12. Where have you traveled that impressed you a lot?

Japan.

That was many many years back though. It could have changed by now but I will be going there very soon to find out.

13. What are your types of food?

Fresh and nutritional ones

14. What would be your ideal guy for boy friend …a corporate business minded man or a gorgeous hunk?

Both can do

There is never an ideal. It is all in the mind.

I believe in fate yet still has the right to choose.

Make the best of what you have but never make do.

15. Have you decided that acting would be what you would really like to do for the rest of your life?

Yes.

16. Who in the entertainment industry do you look up to and who is closest to you in your family?

Lydia Sum. For her professionalism and her kindness towards the people around her.

My parents.

17. What is your personal motto?

To learn. To love. To live.

18. What is love in your point of view?

Generosity.

19. Do you have a special someone presently?

Lots. My family and my close friends all have a very special place in my heart.

20. Is there life after LITTLE NONYA for you in terms of role playing?

Definitely. Everyone is role playing all the time. We all play roles in our everyday lives and we should put down our masks sometimes and have the courage to face the world as who we truly are and learn to be better human beings.

21. Describe yourself in 3 words.

Realistic. Artistic. Simplistic.

21. Is there anything else you want to leave to your readers out there?

Do visit www.nghui.com and join my fan page on Facebook.

Hopefully it will make a good difference in your life

SINGAPORE DRAMA SERIES "TOMORROW" 当我们同在一起 . RELIVING MEMORIES OF THE 60s.

DRAMA REVIEW

"TOGETHER" is touted as SINGAPORE MEDIACORP's YEAR END-CUM-ANNIVERSARY PRODUCTION FOR 2009.

You will be more than pleasantly amazed.

We are treated to a heartwarming tale of male bonding and female camaraderie,

the trials and tribulations of 3 girls falling in love with the same guy, and yet remain as close chums,

plus a 30-year roller coaster ride of memorable events taking you through the economic and political storms of the 60s where SINGAPORE was going through a period of radical changes.

For the better.

If you are a baby boomer, it's a definite stroll down memory lane laces with memories of this thing called national service that was imposed on the guys way back then,

You also learn that SINGAPORE started printing its own currency in the 60s, the horrific oil crisis that hit the doldrums in the 70s, the horror when the stock market crashed in the 70s and more ......

The story centers on 3 young guys and 3 nubile gals and their different families residing in NORTH BRIDGE ROAD which over the years,had lost the "old feel" of the 60s due to modernization .....

so the principal cast and crew all left by coaches across the Singapore-Johor Causeway for location shooting in MALACCA and IPOH to authenticate that "old world charm".

And did this move measure up?

YES, special mention must be accorded to the excellent work put in by the LOCATION MANAGERS, WARDROBE PEOPLE,HAIR and MAKE-UP STYLISTS who were responsible for creating the retro "feel" of the 60s. They did a meticulous job to bring us the old forgotten shop houses and streets, the go-go attire with bell bottoms, the beehive hairdos for the ladies and the Brylcreem slicked hairstyles for the guys.

So there!

It's a job well done.

Notwithstanding the superb cast that lends credence to the entire story.

Here's what I feel, from the other side of the fence as a fellow writer/producer, far away from SINGAPORE:

KUDOS to the CASTING PEOPLE for assembling a personable cast where each and everyone did his or her best to weave heart-wrenching scenes that evoke indelible memories of a long gone era.

Let me pay tribute to some of the cast who had put in painstaking performances:

ELVIN NG, who, in his previous roles had been dubiously criticized for stiff acting has made a 360 degree roundabout turn and delivers a BEST ACTOR performance as a bumbling nitwit with a strong sense of friendship who would do anything for the girl he loves.

And love he did ..... not only buffing himself in the acting department, but the fight sequences as well.

Watch ELVIN NG as he takes us to the boxing ring where he delivers death-defying kicks and blows a la ONG BAK style that would have made TONY JAA sit up and take notice.

I cannot recall any actor in the Singapore MediaCorp stable who can display his prowess as a perilous fighter. Here's one action star in the making.

Well done, ELVIN!

On the female side, there is this lovely young beautiful thing called EELYN KOK, whom we'd love to hate as she is the pivotal focus in the story that shapes the lives of her friends around her.

But hate we cannot as she delivers a flawless performance as a spoilt, simple-minded damsel with her bimbo head in the clouds who "dares" to love and hate the person she adores.

Why wasn't one of the 7 princesses anyway?

She has definitely come a long way, holding her fort now as leading actress status and is a lot better than some of them, go guess who!

JEANETTE AW has always been good and may garner an award, but she's pretty much the same selfless maiden that she was, in THE LITTLE NONYA.

Watch another rising star ZHANG ZHEN HUAN who played JEANETTE's younger brother, a timid mouse who's forever afraid, an introvert who loves quietly and is a sad victim of circumstances.

He provides squealish relief when he cross-dresses as an "ah qua" (transvestite) to help pay off his father's gambling debts.

Veteran actor WANG YUQING puts in a memorable performance as the wimpish father, the street performer who peddles medicine for a living, who whiles his time gambling away his life, who suddenly has this glimmer of pride for his dimwit son to marry into a wealthy family, only to have all hopes dashed when his son and his in-laws shun him. He dies, sadly, admonishing us what filial piety should all be about.

And HONG HUI FANG as the demeaning, bitchy landlady .... Nothing escapes her, and this is what we call real acting.

There's also ZHENG GER PING, who have us in stitches when he adorns an effeminate Elvis Presely persona to play this comely role.

Old wine mellows with age, hah.

One significant flaw though.

Is it funny at all to have EELYN KOK in one stinking scene taking a dump and uses newspaper to wipe her butt?

Or having DAI YANG TIAN and ELVIN NG spicing their dialogue using words splattering with SHIT and FART?

We are not prudish, but there're more savory ways to inject humor.

Too much is an overkill.

Other than those, "TOGETHER" is a drama series that has a rare fascination and power, thanks to the content development writers at the station.

It is designed to startle and entertain.

And that for sure, IT DOES!

Now hear the THEME SONG and watch THE TRAILER of "TOGETHER".

REUNION DINNER tastes even BETTER this TIGER YEAR, thanks to veteran actress CHEN LIPING.

CHEN LIPING.

How do we describe her?

In three little words …..

She is cute, fun, very versatile.

And definitely, one of SINGAPORE’s best loved actresses.

When it comes to au naturel acting, not that many come close, at least, not in Singapore.

Her diction, her gesticulations, her vivid portrayal of the undaunting mother never fails to strike a chord in our hearts, always.

She is simple, her versatility puts us at ease and we laugh and cry with her her as she goes on in her gamut of roles.

Take this poignant scene from last year’s drama series REUNION DINNER.

It’s the eve of the Chinese New Year where the entire family sits down for the once-a-year round the table gathering.

Here she is, serving the festive foods.

Her wimp-of-a-husband has been offered a high paying position by an ex-Caucasian client.

Her dementia stricken father-in-law has just unwittingly complimented her as being the “best daughter-in-law” around.

Suddenly intense happiness assails her and as the camera follows her brisk saunter to the kitchen to get more soup,

her eyes are welling up with genuine tears …

Camera closes in on:

her face as she brushes aside tears of pride and joy that speak volumes of the long hard years that had not been in vain ….

How can we forget this heart-warming scene as it keeps on playing over and over again in my mind, reminding me of my own mother?

I wish my own mother is still living so that I can give her a hug,

IT’S SO REAL.

REUNION DINNER was aired in SINGAPORE before the LUNAR NEW YEAR of 2009 (exactly one year ago), but it tastes even better this time round.

With a grande dame like Ms CHEN LIPING around, who really cares for attention grabbing eye-candies?

MISS CHEN, THANK YOU FOR THE MEMORY!

2010.

It’s the LUNAR YEAR of The TIGER.

A time for reflection upon the past before embarking on a brand new Chinese year.

Isn’t it right that, if time could really stand still,

we’d have freeze it here …..

we’d have handled things a lot more differently?

Regrets we all have many.

Who don’t?

We are all creatures of imperfections.

Let’s begin this Lunar New Year by saluting all mothers.

MOTHER.

This word conjures an image of a stoic woman,

A woman who believes in selfless love for her children.

A mother who expects nothing in return,

Perhaps, except, maybe, for some love and care on our part.

Too shy to say “I love you” to your mum?

Don’t be.

Give her a warm hug

and that alone would speak wonders.

Treasure her when she still around,

lest when she’s long gone one day

and you’ll live with regrets that you haven’t done so.

How do you describe

A MOTHER’S LOVE?

“To some love is just a word

To me it’s a feeling

A feeling

I get everytime I look into your eyes

A feeling I get when I realize you’re my mum,

A mum who loves, shares,

A mom who inspires

Unconditionally …..

What’s that?

That’s love

A mother’s love,

but only you would know

And me

You returned that love

time and time again

Possibly too much,

nevertheless you did

Thank You

Thank You for being there when I needed you most

For being my rock when I should have been yours,

Thank you for believing in me,

even when I doubted myself

For being the one person I could trust

No matter what,

No matter where

But most of all, “Thank You” for being you ….

my mum,

A mum I am so proud to claim

I LOVE YOU,

Now and always.”

HAPPY YEAR OF THE TIGER, FOLKS!