By Gladys Chung
It comes as a surprise when actress Rui En says some of her favourite bags are brand-less canvas totes, and that she used to be a tomboy who hated dresses.
After all, the 32-year-old was dressed in a flattering and slinky Grecian-style toga dress for this interview and photoshoot.
And who can forget the beautiful plum Christian Dior tulle gown she wore at the Star Awards show in April, where she won her second Best Actress award. She also won that night for Favourite Female Character and Top 10 Most Popular Artistes.
“It was an Academy Awards-ready gown, I chose it just three weeks before the event, and I looked forward to wearing it.”
“It was ‘princessy’ but the dark colour made it classic and ‘me’.”
She admits she could have handled the dress more elegantly that night. She had seemed exasperated at times when she had difficulty moving about in the gown.
“It was lightweight but there were so many layers of fabric and I was kind of wrestling with it,” she says.
“But I promise I will get better at this.”
This disarming honesty and lack of pretension, on top of her pretty girl-next-door looks and acting chops, have won Rui En fans, as well as the attention of marketers.
In May, she was named one of the faces of the L’Oreal Paris Youth Code skincare range. She joins a roll call of A-list international celebrities, such as Gong Li, Li Bingbing and Fan Bingbing, who also front the range of skincare.
The ambassadorship is apt as Rui En is a self-professed beauty junkie. She loves trying new skincare products and make-up and uses a different mask every night on her dry and intolerant skin.
To keep healthy and give her face that extra glow, she works out religiously with home videos. And every morning, she downs green detox drinks made from recipes she found on the Internet.
Rui En started her career in show business when she was 20. But the industry started to take serious notice of her only in 2011 when she won her first Best Actress trophy at the Star Awards that year for her role as a widow in the drama serial With You.
Rui En says the nomination in 2011 made her pay more attention to her clothes.
“It was the first time I had to dress up properly for an event and I had so many choices. I felt very lucky but confused too.”
“My sense of style was not set then, so it was just a whirlwind of trying on all sorts of outfits and just seeing what worked for my image.”
In the end, she picked a steel grey Hermes pantsuit, with a black belt tied stylishly and provocatively around her neck.
These days, she knows instinctively what she likes: “Nothing revealing, but classic, simple, clean and accessorised with diamonds.”
7 things in her bag
1. Soul by Ludacris headphones
This was a Christmas present I received last year. Its sound quality is good and it blocks out noise. I love music, and listen to everything from country to K-pop. When I’m travelling, I’ll plug into this and be in my own world.
2. Museli bars
I eat these when I am shooting and have to be constantly on the go. They are quite sweet and taste good, and they keep me from bingeing on the unhealthy stuff.
3. L’Oreal Youth Code prodigious rejuvenating pre-essence
I apply this essence on my bare skin and it helps everything else that I use later, such as serums and moisturisers, to be more easily absorbed.
4. Insect Repellent
This is an insect repellent soldiers use; I bought it from the army market in Beach Road. It is a must whenever I’m filming outdoors. It does not smell but is so potent that it is not safe to be applied on the skin. I apply it on the hem of my clothing instead and the mosquitoes do not come near me.
5. Memoirs of a radical lawyer by Michael Mansfield
I’m currently reading this for research purposes as I play a lawyer in the upcoming Chinese legal drama Sudden. Whenever I take on a new role, I will read about the character’s occupation as it helps me with my acting.
6. Creative electronic chinese dictionary
A friend gave this to me as a birthday present two or three years ago. It tells me how to pronounce Chinese words I’m unfamiliar with and their meanings.
7. Scripts
I feel naked without my scripts. This is for Sudden, which I am currently working on and which airs in September on MediaCorp Channel 8. I prefer physical copies because I can make notes in the margin.
Her bag
A fan gave this to me. I own about 20 to 30 canvas tote bags. I carry them around when I am filming or not working. For designer bags, my favourite is the Balenciaga Motorcycle bag because it is very versatile.
Source: The Straits Times, Asiaone, Diva Asia, Lollipop
Categorised in asiaone.com, Diva Asia, EN, Endorsement, L’Oréal Paris, Lollipop, Star Awards, Star Awards 2011, Star Awards 2013, The Straits Times, Unriddle 2 最ç«ææ¡£ 2, With You æˆ‘åœ¨ä½ å·¦å³.
By Jocelyn Lee
In The Dream Makers, Qi plays a director who has relationship issues with his B-list actress-girlfriend (Jeanette Aw) and eventually falls for a variety show director (Rui En).
The Dream Makers 志在四方 debuts 24 June 2013 9pm on Channel 8.
Source: The New Paper, Asiaone
Categorised in asiaone.com, EN, The Dream Makers 志在四方, The New Paper.
By Gwendolyn Ng
Television’s ice queen, Rui En, is probably not someone you’d think would easily collapse into fits of laughter.
But the 32-year-old actress seems to have shed her aloof-ness for a more cheerful persona while filming her latest local Chinese drama, The Dream Makers.
Rui En is taking on her most comedic role to date – that of a happy-go-lucky variety-show producer – and is relishing it.
“I love it. I had the best time; every day there was a (hilarious) situation… It was the happiest production ever.
My character is so lively and jovial…I hope to take on more of such roles, it puts me in high spirits every day,” said Rui, who was among the television stars present at Tuesday’s press conference on The Dream Makers.
In fact, the role that she plays is so peppy that fellow cast member Chen Liping jokingly described her as quite the “siao char bor” (Hokkien for crazy woman).
Rui En was spotted giggling and slapping Chen on the arm repeatedly during Tuesday’s event, held at Four Seasons Hotel – not the usual stuff ice queens do.
The Dream Makers, a 30-episode series premiering on June 24, is about the lives of the people working at a television station. It also delves into the dark side of the entertainment industry.
The Dream Makers features (front row, from left) Rebecca Lim, Chen Liping, Rui En, Zoe Tay, Jeanette Aw, Jayley Woo, (back row) Shaun Chen, Guo Liang, Qi Yuwu, Chen Hanwei and Ian Fang.
The Dream Makers 志在四方 debuts 24 June 2013 9pm on Channel 8.
Souce: Mypaper, Lollipop, Asiaone, The Straits Times Communities
Categorised in asiaone.com, EN, Lollipop, MyPaper, The Dream Makers 志在四方, The Straits Times, The Straits Times Communities.
By Catherine Robert
He hasn’t been very active in the local showbiz scene for the past seven years.
So it took many by surprise when Malaysia-based Singaporean actor Aaron Aziz beat Channel 8’s biggest stars like Fann Wong, Jeanette Aw and Rui En for the title of Singapore’s Most Popular Actor at the inaugural Social Media Awards held at Marina Bay Sands last Friday.
But nobody was more stunned than Aaron himself.
He said: “How could I possibly win on the Singapore front since I haven’t been active in Singapore for quite a while?â€
His score could be attributed to his solid online fanbase.
Top 5 S’pore actors on social media
1. Aaron Aziz
2. Fann Wong
3. Jeanette Aw
4. Leon Jay Williams
5. Rui En
Source: The New Paper, Asiaone, Lollipop
Categorised in asiaone.com, EN, Lollipop, The New Paper.
You can have your cake and eat it too; these individuals are the living proof of it.
Entertainers don’t exactly need a degree in their line of work, but these celebrities didn’t let that get in the way of them completing a degree.
While some of them were discovered through talent contests while in university, others managed to earn their certificates while managing an already blossoming career.
Other celebrities were also able to excel in both fields.
Here we take a look at some who managed to accomplish it all.
Rui En
She graduated with a Bachelor of Business from NTU, specialising in Banking and Finance.
Source: Asiaone
Categorised in asiaone.com, EN, NTU.
By Joy Fang
Home grown actress Rui En is often thought of as a no-nonsense tough girl, but she can also be “very girly and vain”, she said.
The 32-year-old goes through a strict skincare regime, both day and night, which involves tonnes of products, she told My Paper.
The self-professed “skincare product junkie and hoarder” cleanses and tones, before putting on a layer of L’Oreal Paris Youth Code, an antioxidant serum and day cream. This is followed by three different sunscreens, for under her eyes, her face and neck, and her body.
At night, she alternates between retinol serums and those with human growth factor. “I end up looking like I’ve slathered my face with margarine,” she said.
The results are worth it, for her skin looks flawless.
No wonder that Rui En, who first found fame in the drama No Problem! and who in 2002 launched a music career in Taiwan with her debut album, is the latest face for L’Oreal’s Youth Code.
She joins the ranks of international celebrities such as Gong Li and Fan Bing Bing, who have all endorsed the product.
But while Rui En goes all out with her skincare regime, she actually doesn’t wear much make-up, other than for work.
“I’ve got make-up on the whole day when I’m filming and the last thing I want off-duty is more make-up,” she said.
She’s humble about how she looks without make-up on.
“There’s a reason why (actresses) wear those huge sunglasses,” she quipped.
Rui En, who nabbed the Best Actress award at the recent Star Awards, does watch her figure.
She works out every day, either running, lifting weights or doing plyometric moves – training that involves explosive movements.
“It’s not because I want to be skinny, but it’s because I like the endorphin rush. It lifts your mood,” she said.
Asked about her style icon, Rui En said she looks up to the late Katharine Hepburn.
The actress was known to be unconventional, choosing to wear pants and men’s shirts at a time when doing so was seen as taboo.
“I applaud her for her guts… She also aged gracefully rather than fight it, which I admire,” said Rui En.
“My message is, people should accept themselves for who they are, rather than try to look like someone they are not.”
Here’s how to get Rui En’s look
Soft Skin
As an artiste, Rui En is constantly under the sun while filming. A diehard sunscreen fan, she says she can’t live without these potions.
To keep her skin moist, she also applies L’Oreal Paris Youth Code Boosting Essence under sheet masks and before she puts on her serum, to allow for better absorption.
Since she started using Youth Code two months ago, her skin is more radiant and retains moisture better. “It really does help my dry skin,” she said.
Flawless Face
The fresh-faced star prefers loose powder instead of thick foundation creams. The brands that she favours include Cle de Peau Beauteand La Mer, which make her face look flawless, she said.
For cheeks, she also loves Urban Decay’s Quickie Afterglow (which is no longer available here). “It’s very pretty, and quite a cult favourite,” she said.
Eye Spy
For eye colour, Rui En likes L’Oreal Paris Color Riche Les Ombres’ nude palette. To line those peepers, she uses L’Oreal Paris Superliner Waterproof Gel Liner, which she says lasts for hours.
Don’t go for expensive mascaras, she said. Drugstore brands work just as well. Her choices? Majolica Majorca and L’Oreal.
Lip Tips
The actress says that her dry lips drive her crazy. So, she always applies a generous amount of lip balm from French brand Nuxe, which she calls a “godsend”.
“I’ve tried literally everything, including nipple crea, and this is the only one that worked,” she said.
When she wants a dash of colour, she turns to L’Oreal Paris Shine Caresse. “I’m in love with these lip stains. I like them because they have staying power, yet keep your lips moist,” she said.
Mane Attraction
Rui En uses shampoo and conditioner from American brand Pureology’s Hydrate and Nanoworks line, which give her thick hair the bounce it needs. It is not available here, so she orders it online. “It”s absolute best,” she enthused.
She also loves Kerastase’s serums. “My hair gets flat-ironed every day when I’m filming, so I definitely have to put on a heat protectant to prevent my hair from drying out.” she said.
Hair masks from Kerastase, which she uses “religiously”, help leave her tresses smooth and radiant.
Catch Rui En at Ngee Ann City’s Watsons (#B2-06-10) on June 1 and Compass Point Atrium on June 15.
Source: Mypaper, Asiaone, Straits Times Communities, Lollipop
Categorised in asiaone.com, EN, Endorsement, Lollipop, MyPaper, The Straits Times, The Straits Times Communities.
By Jan Lee
The usually upbeat, celebratory mood of the annual Star Awards Show 1 at the MediaCorp TV Theatre was nowhere to be felt last night.
The ceremony began on a sombre note, as colleagues of veteran actor Huang Wenyong struggled to come to terms with news of his death on Saturday.
The well-loved actor died of lymphatic cancer at age 60. Audience members in the theatre stood up and observed half a minute of silence; a two-minute video montage of his many TV appearances also played.
Actress Rui En, 32, donned a black jacket over her siren red gown out of respect to the late actor when she accepted her award for favourite on-screen couple with Elvin Ng, also 32.
(From left, front row:) Jayley Woo, Kimberly Chia, Felicia Chin, Rebecca Lim, Ann Kok, Rui En, Chew Chor Meng, and Zoe Tay, together with fellow artistes, technical crew, members of the audience and fans stand during a segment at the beginning of the Star Awards Show 1 on April 21 2013 to honour their former colleague, Huang Wen Yong.
Source: The Star, The Straits Times, The Straits Times Communities, Asiaone, Her World, Lollipop
Categorised in asiaone.com, EN, Her World, Lollipop, Star Awards, Star Awards 2013, The Star, The Straits Times, The Straits Times Communities.
By Mervin Tay
Source: The New Paper, The Straits Times Communities, Asiaone
Categorised in asiaone.com, EN, Star Awards, Star Awards 2013, The New Paper, The Straits Times, The Straits Times Communities.
By Joanne Soh
They are young, pretty and talented.
Julie Tan and Jayley Woo are going places with two local movies and several television dramas piled on their increasingly plates.
But now there is talk that these former New Paper New Face contestants, both 21, are rivals on their way up in the entertainment industry.
Like fellow MediaCorp stars Fann Wong and Zoe Tay or Rui En and Jeanette Aw, speculation abounds that these two fresh-faced actresses are “not friends, just colleagues”.
Source: The New Paper, Straits Times Communitites, Asiaone
Categorised in asiaone.com, EN, The New Paper, The Straits Times, The Straits Times Communities.
