Text/Photo: Teo Sijia
Video: Teng Siew Eng

Don’t be surprised if you spot Rui En sitting at a kopitiam, dressed in her T-shirt, shorts and slippers.

It’s normal, says the MediaCorp actress. For Rui En, being natural and comfortable is the key to self-confidence.

“I think I look best wearing shorts, T-shirt and slippers in the kopitiam,” laughed Rui En.

“At the end of the day after filming, you just want to change out of the clothes and be comfortable. So that’s my day-to-day style and the most natural side of me.”

She is also perfectly comfortable with showing her bare face as she shared that she usually puts minimal make-up, even during work.

“Even on-screen, I don’t wear foundation and I just apply make-up base, concealer and powder. In some shows especially, like the upcoming Dream Makers where I’m playing a director, I’m practically showing my barest face.”

Rui En joins the ranks of international stars such as Gong Li and Fan Bing Bing to become the latest face for L’Oréal’s Youth Code. At a promotional event at Ngee Ann City yesterday, the star told xinmsn in an interview that fate landed her this endorsement deal.

“I actually like to experiment with a lot of skincare, and I happened to pick up Youth Code just as L’Oréal approached me.”

This is also Rui En’s first endorsement in four years. Admitting that she has always been rather picky about her endorsements, Rui En explained that she needs to believe in the product before taking up the deal.

“I don’t want to do it for the sake of money or just for the sake of doing it. I don’t want to feel like it’s a sham or promote something that I don’t even believe in.”

When asked about the remuneration, Rui En cleverly avoided the question with a simple reply, “Let me just say that they have been very sincere.”

However, the actress who is known for her devotion to charity work added that she would like to put the money to good use by giving back to society. Helping children from the lower income families is something that is especially “close to her heart”.

“Kids don’t get to choose whether they are born with a silver spoon or not. There are actually a lot of low income families in Singapore, and most of us who are living comfortably are not aware of it.”

Speaking of her notable style transformation over the years, the ‘ice queen’ explained that she “was a girl and became a woman”.

“I think it’s a natural phase of growing up. The tomboy part and wearing shorts, T-shirt and slippers aspect of me will always be there, but I guess when you grow up, you realise there are pretty things out there, so why not wear them?”

The eyes are the windows to one’s soul, and to Rui En, that’s very true. When asked which part of her body is she most confident of, the actress highlighted that she likes her eyes best because she expresses emotions through them.

“Human beings’ eyes are very interesting because you see a lot from a person’s eyes and that’s how you get to know him or her.”

The tough girl may appear all confident, but she has had her fair share of insecurities as well.

“I did go through a period of time when I felt confused and thought how come I didn’t look like those girls on TV and why isn’t my skin as fair as them etc.” However, the actress has come to accept herself for who she really is and is comfortable in her own skin.

2013 is proving to be a good year for the local actress, with her second Best Actress win at the recent Star Awards and the new endorsement. Given her success in her career, is there anything that she feels missing in her life?

Giving a rather unexpected reply, Rui En answered, “Pets!”

“I’m taking care of my grandma and she’s really afraid of animals, but I would love to have a dog and 20 cats.

Other than that, the 32-year-old said that she enjoys being in solitude and her life is “pretty much complete”.

“I’m not a fan of the idea that you need someone or something to make you feel whole. I think you should be complete yourself first,” she added.

Source: Xinmsn

Categorised in Endorsement, L’Oréal Paris, xinmsn.