By Yip Wai Yee
After acting for two decades, MediaCorp actress Ann Kok is finally making her big screen debut in upcoming local flick Filial Party.
In 2004, she returned to Singapore to join the now-defunct broadcaster SPH MediaWorks, before going back to MediaCorp a year later after SPH MediaWorks closed.
“Five years of being away is a long time for an actress. I felt I had to start all over again and do everything from scratch.”
By then, younger actresses such as Joanne Peh, 30, and Rui En, 32, had also overtaken her in popularity – something she says she was perfectly fine with.
Source: Straits Times, Diva Asia
Categorised in Diva Asia, EN, The Straits Times.
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 Rohaizatul Azhar & Leslie Kay Lim
HIGHS
NEW FESTIVAL GROUNDS
While it was no longer at Ngee Ann City in the heart of Orchard Road, the Asia Fashion Exchange’s new location at the Marina Promenade did not disappoint. Situated on the waterfront and across from Marina Bay Sands as well as Gardens By The Bay, the new venue was especially scenic at night.
The Audi Fashion Festival tent was much more spacious this year – 40 per cent larger than the previous one at Ngee Ann City’s Civic Plaza. Showgoers could mingle comfortably and rub shoulders with celebrities, including Fann Wong and Rui En, as well as the who’s who of the local fashion scene, such as designer Jo Soh of Hansel and fashion director Daniel Boey.
Blueprint, the Exchange’s tradeshow and shopping event, was held a stone’s throw away from the tent at the Pit Building.
This made it convenient for guests to spend the afternoon shopping before the evening festivities started.
Source: Diva Asia
Categorised in Audi Fashion Festival 2013, Diva Asia, EN.
By Charlene Chua
Together, at last. But they’re not even friends – at least not yet.
Local television’s “princesses†Rui En and Jeanette Aw are finally starring in their first drama series together (as love rivals, no less), ending their fans’ decade-long wait for their on-screen pairing on The Dream Makers, which will air on Channel 8 in June.
It’s all significant as both actresses belong to the same management company Hype Records, yet haven’t crossed paths professionally till now.
Will there be rivalry? Or perhaps the coupling will lead to a budding friendship?
Whatever the outcome, all eyes will be on Channel 8’s latest blockbuster drama, The Dream Makers, which is currently being filmed and will air in June.
Rui En, 31, told The New Paper recently: “Jeanette and I don’t interact a lot. I can’t say we are close.
“Even though we’re signed to the same company, we rarely see each other.
“I would say we’re just acquaintances. So I’m looking forward to working with her for the first time.”
Said Aw, 33, in a separate interview: “I guess Rui En and I are both known loners in the industry.
“We meet when we have common events and it’s always been a friendly relationship. But we don’t know each other well on a personal level.
“How are she and I similar or different? Perhaps when the filming of our show is over and I get the chance to know her better, I will know just how to answer this.”
Since signing up with Hype Records some 10 years ago, Rui En and Aw have conquered Caldecott Hill and are famed for being two of the seven “MediaCorp princesses”.
Even when former starlets Fiona Xie, Dawn Yeoh, Jesseca Liu and Felicia Chin were still acting full time, Rui En and Aw remained arguably the most popular.
So surely there has been rivalry between the two?
Said Rui En: “I think we’ve outgrown the whole princesses thing; it was a nice marketing tool.
“The three of us (Rui En, Aw and Joanne Peh) are now doing our own thing. I don’t think we need to compete or be compared to each other.
“As for Joanne, I’ve never had the chance to hang out with her.”
Added Aw: “My cloest friend are all from outside of the industry. It has always been this way.”
Rui En echoed the same sentiment, and said she also refrained from making friends at work as she wanted to concentrate fully on her job.
She scrampers off into her own corner during filming breaks to read her script.
“It makes sense to just work when you’re working.
“My only friend in the industry is (veteran actress) Chen Liping. We get along really well, we can talk about anything, and she’s someone I look up to and respect a lot.
“We met while filming (Channel 8 drama) Unriddle (in 2010) and there was just chemistry.”
In The Dream Makers, Rui En plays a variety show director who has to take over hosting duties when someones else messes up.
Her character then becomes an actress when she’s well-received by the audience.
In the show, she’s caught in a love triangle with an actor (Qi Yuwu) and actress (Aw).
Said Rui En: “When my character meets Yuwu’s character, it’s a love at first sight.
“Then halfway, I find out that he’s actually attached to someone else…so it becomes complicated.”
She added: “It’ll be nice to work with Jeanette on this as it’d be a fresh pairing.”
Well, they may have more in common than they think.
New Year resolutions
When asked if they made any New Year resolutions this year, both gave uncannily similar answers.
Both don’t make resolutions.
If you are wondering why they have such similar perspectives on work, these principles were instilled in them by their boss.
Ken Lim, who owns Hype Records, was candid as he spoke of his two biggest assets.
He said: “I believe in the saying that it’s lonely at the top. So I tell all my artistes to just concentrate on their work and not to mix with others when they are filming.
“When you interact with others at work, you will get yourselves involved in politics – what for?
“Rui En and Jeanette appeal to different fans, and this is why they are both at the top of their game.
“Rui En is the one with the attitude, while Jeanette is relatable.”
He added that both are finally starring in a drama together only because they have established themselves in showbiz over the years.
They are so “vastly different†in terms of their market appeal that they cannot be compared to each other any more, he said.
In the past, Lim believed that comparisons made between them would have harmed their status in the early years of their careers.
Said Lim: “The on-screen pairing has to be right. If not, it’ll never work.
“This was a matter of timing, and since their fans have wanted it for the longest time, we decided to make it happen/
“I’m sure there’s rivalry between the all actresses, so I always tell Jeanette and Rui En to let their work speak for itself.”
But even keeping themselves hasn’t protected Aw and Rui En from workplace politics, as they’ve encountered instances of back-stabbing.
Added Rui En: “There will always be bad things and you’ll get to hear of them. Not much of it is true, but people will say what they want to say.
“I have witnessed unprofessional actors trying to sabotage one other.
“Everyone puts up with back-stabbing and politics in the workplace everyday, but I have consciously chosen not to engage.”
The Dream Makers 志在四方 debuts 24 June 2013 9pm on Channel 8.
Source: The New Paper, DivaAsia
Categorised in 50th TV Anniversary, Diva Asia, EN, The Dream Makers 志在四方, The New Paper.
Source: The New Paper, Diva Asia
Categorised in Diva Asia, EN, m:idea Youth Choice Awards, The New Paper.
By Kwok Kar Peng
Source: The New Paper, Diva Asia
Categorised in Diva Asia, EN, Joys of Life èŠ±æ ·äººé—´, Star Awards, Star Awards 2013, The New Paper, Unriddle 2 最ç«ææ¡£ 2.
Japan’s top casual-wear brand, Uniqlo, held a private preview of its latest store for more than 420 invited guests, media and partners on Wednesday evening.
Boasting approximately 20,000 sqft, the Japanese retailer’s two-storey outfit is housed at Bugis+, formerly known as Iluma.
The store will officially open to the public on Friday.
The preview event, hosted by Anita Kapoor, saw performances by local bands Jack and Rai and members of Sixx.
A lucky draw was held, where guests won vouchers and the top prize of a trip for two to visit any Uniqlo store in the world.
Local artistes Rui En, Joanne Peh, Qi Yiwu and brand ambassador Rebecca Lim were among the celebrities who lent their star power to the event.
Source: Diva Asia
Viewers’ favourite on-screen characters, hosts, programmes, and production crew were honoured at the Star Awards Show 1 on Sunday evening.
But fashion-watchers were definitely eager to see what the stars in attendance were wearing.
The show featured many skits which poked fun at the artistes, but according to The New Paper, ruffled at least a few feathers in the crowd.
In one of the skits, host Quan Yifeng pretended to be Rui En and objected to filming a rape scene. It was an obvious reference to the controversy between Rui En and Zhang last August.
Zhang had talked to the media about the rape scene, after which Rui En wrote in a heated blog post that she is against doing kissing and rape scenes.
She stressed that the particular scene was actually a failed attempt at a rape scene.
The New Paper reported that both Rui En and Zhang did not appear amused during the segment.
When interviewed after the awards show, both were curt in their replies, but denied that the skits went overboard.
Here’s a look at the fashion highlights of the night.
Rui En wore a trendy white studded dress, but it was her glum face and cryptic remarks that critics jumped at. She won for Favourite On-screen Couple with Elvin Ng in Code of Honour, and Favourite Female Character for Tale of Two Cities.
Source: Divaasia
Categorised in A Tale of 2 Cities ä¹åœ¨åŒåŸŽ, Code of Honour æ£ä¹‰æ¦é¦†, Diva Asia, On The Fringe 边缘父å, Star Awards, Star Awards 2012.
