SINGAPORE: The cast members of the hit Mandarin drama “The Dream Makers”, about the lives and loves of people working at a television station, won three out of the four major acting awards up for grabs at the Star Awards 20 Show 2 on Sunday.
“The Dream Makers” star Chen Liping won Best Actress, while co-stars Guo Liang and Rebecca Lim won Best Supporting Actor and Best Supporting Actress respectively at the awards show, which recognises the top talents in local Mandarin television programming.
Chen beat out her "The Dream Makers" co-stars Jeanette Aw and Rui En, along with “The Journey: A Voyage” actress Chris Tong and Lim, who was nominated for her leading role in the drama “Sudden”, to take home the Best Actress award.
“I’m grateful for the award. The judges must have found this piece of spicy old ginger more to their taste!” said Chen in her acceptance speech, before taking the opportunity to encourage her son, Xavier, who is preparing for an exam.
“Xavier, this award is the result of my hard work. You have to work hard in school too!”
Chen said the win is “really special” for her because it is the third time she won Best Actress.
“I’m really happy. It was very tough for me to win this,” said Chen backstage, pointing out that it also takes “networking” and “good inter-personal skills” to win acting awards today.
Although Chen edged out Lim to take the Best Actress award, Lim didn’t go home empty-handed.
Lim beat veteran actresses Priscelia Chan, Aileen Tan, Xiang Yun and Hong Hui Fang to win Best Supporting Actress for her performance in “The Dream Makers”, which won the Best Drama Serial award this year.
Lim was close to tears as she went on stage to receive the award, and thanked Hong, Tan as well as Xiang Yun along with all the showbiz veterans who have helped her along the way during her speech.
Lim met reporters, tissue in hand, after her win.
“I never dared think I’d win because I was afraid I’d be disappointed, so I just let nature take its course.”
“I’m feeling like a million dollars right now!” said Lim backstage, as she brightened up and gave a radiant smile.
Guo was also overjoyed after winning Best Supporting Actor and said he won because “the judges were more professional” this year.
“I’m really moved. I feel the judges really paid attention to every nominee’s performance. I’d like to thank the company for giving me the opportunity and for hiring some professional judges!
“My character didn’t have a lot of screen time so it takes a keen eye to see that the actor had put in a lot of effort to craft this character!” Guo explained at the post-show party.
However, nobody could match the exuberance of actor Pierre Png, who won the coveted Best Actor award for playing the villain Hei Long in “The Journey: A Voyage”, despite being up against heavyweights like Chen Hanwei, Terence Cao, Bryan Wong and Qi Yuwu.
Png simply could not stop smiling and happily took the time to pose for photos with all his fans at the post-show party.
“This is the sweetest thing ever!
“Everything pretty much aligned. The role was good, the characterisation was wonderful, they chose me … I dare say I was probably the best actor for the role,” gushed Png after his win.
“It’s so surreal! I’ve been waiting too darn long for this award! I only wish I did a better thank you speech!” added Png with a chuckle.
“I didn’t get a chance to really thank the people I wanted to. Maybe I need to win another time! So let’s see next year!”
Although it took him many years of hard work before he won Best Supporting Actor, Png believes that it had been “necessary” for him to wait all these years, as is was the experiences he had during that time which contributed to his success today.
Png said he plans to celebrate his win with his wife, Andrea DeCruz, when she returns from her trip to Hong Kong to celebrate her mother’s birthday.
Other notable winners at Sunday’s awards show include Bryan Wong and Chen Hanwei who picked up the All-time Favourite Artistes award after winning their tenth Top 10 Most Popular Male Artistes Award last year, and Vivian Lai as well as Jeanette Aw, who won their tenth Top 10 Most Popular Female Artistes award this year.
The two actresses will receive an All-time Favourite Artistes award next year.
“I really want to thank all my fans because it is their support that allowed me to win this award!” said Aw of her win.
Was she disappointed that she didn’t win Best Actress as well?
“Although I didn’t win Best Actress, I am still happy. When they realised I didn’t win, my colleagues all hugged me to encourage me and that moved me to tears.
"I could feel their love. I am filled with positive energy!" said Aw.
“Even the media recognised that my acting has improved, unlike past years where there I’d get a lot of criticism! I hope that my future performances will be able to get nods from all of you. I will still work hard!”
There were quite a few new names on the winner’s list for the Top 10 Most Popular Male Artistes awards and Top 10 Most Popular Female Artistes awards this year.
Zhang Zhen Huan, Xu Bin and Desmond Tan all won their first Top 10 Most Popular Male Artistes award.
Actress Chris Tong also won her first Top 10 Most Popular Female Artistes award on Sunday, as did actress Koh Ya Hui.
- CNA/ha