The importance of friendship to Chen Liping and why she is grateful to be in Titoudao
She hopes Titoudao: Dawn Of A New Stage – her first English drama in her almost four decade-long career – will “open more doors” for her, after making the news for falling victim to an investment scam for the first time. There’s one thing Chen Liping can teach us, and that’s that you’re never too old to try something new.
She plays Suan Jiah, a new character in the second season of Mediacorp’s Titoudao: Dawn Of A New Stage.
ADVERTISE
The entertainment industry
Chen Liping on why she’s thankful to be in Titoudao and why friendship is a sensitive subject
She shares that she hopes Titoudao: Dawn Of A New Stage, her first English drama in her almost four decade-long career, will “open more doors” for her after falling victim to an investment scam.
The importance of friendship to Chen Liping and why she’s thankful to be in Titoudao
Titoudao: Dawn Of A New Stage stars Chen Liping. (Photos: Instagram/aiyoyochenliping)
Koh Jiamun
The 21st of March 2023 at 12:44 p.m.
21 Mar 2023 01:04 PM (Updated)
Make a bookmark
Messenger
FriendFace
The Twitterverse
Send an email
Chen Liping has taught us that you can never be too old to try something new.
A new character in Titoudao: Dawn Of A New Stage is the kind-hearted wayang troupe leader Suan Jiah, played by the 57-year-old actress.
ADVERTISE
This is Chen’s first English drama in 38 years, and while she has won Best Actress at the Star Awards three times, acting in an English production was no easy task.
According to 8days.sg, Chen had a lot to say during the Q&A segment of the drama’s premiere at Projector X: Picturehouse earlier this month. However, she held back as she couldn’t express her thoughts in English.
“I usually have a script when I’m filming, but today I didn’t have one. I didn’t know what to say and was worried about saying the wrong thing,” she chuckled.
During our interview, we found her eagerness to converse in English especially endearing.
“You watched the show just now, how was it? Are you used to it?” she asked in English. Here’s one of Singapore’s most famous and accomplished stars asking my opinion.
Her premiere was her first public appearance since she became a victim of an investment scam involving foreign currency, so there’s nothing to love about Chen Liping. Though Chen was hesitant to elaborate on the incident, she would share her thoughts when we spoke to her privately.
She is most thankful for the experience of shooting Titoudao, which she says she is “so grateful for.”.
HOW DIFFICULT WAS IT FOR YOU TO ACT IN ENGLISH?
I’ve been acting in Chinese dramas for over 30 years. I had a dialogue coach for this show, Peggy Ferroa, who would go through each scene with me. There was also a lot of preparation and homework.
On set, things can change, they can be impromptu, and even the director can change the script on the fly. But after acting for so many years, those are still manageable (laughs). That said, I’m very happy to be part of this. I’ve really worked hard for this. I hope it opens more doors for me [to act in English shows].
The entertainment industry
Why Chen Liping is thankful to be in Titoudao and why friendship is a sensitive subject
She hopes Titoudao: Dawn Of A New Stage – her first English drama in her almost four decade-long career – will “open more doors” for her after falling victim to an investment scam.
She explains why she’s thankful to be in Titoudao and why friendship is sensitive
(Photos: Instagram/aiyoyochenliping) Chen Liping stars in Titoudao: Dawn Of A New Stage.
Koh Jiamun
The 21st of March 2023 at 12:44 p.m.
21 Mar 2023 01:04 PM (Updated)
Make a bookmark
Messenger
Send a telegram
FB
The Twittersphere
Send an email
Chen Liping has taught us that you can never be too old to try something new.
The 57-year-old actress plays the kind-hearted wayang troupe leader Suan Jiah in the second season of Mediacorp’s Titoudao: Dawn Of A New Stage.
An advertisement
While Chen is one of Singapore’s most lauded actresses, having won Best Actress three times at the Star Awards, it was no easy feat for her to act in an English play in her 38-year career.
Chen told 8days.sg that during the Q&A session at the drama premiere at Projector X: Picturehouse earlier this month, she had a lot to say, but couldn’t articulate her thoughts in English on the spot.
“Usually I have a script, but today I didn’t have one. I didn’t know how to express myself and worried that I would say the wrong thing,” she chuckled.
During our interview, we found her eagerness to speak English, or as much as she could, especially endearing.
I saw the show just now. How was it? Are you used to it?,” she asked meekly in English. Here she is, one of Singapore’s most famous and accomplished stars asking a junior reporter for comments.
Chen Liping: what’s not to love?
She also made her first public appearance since falling victim to an investment scam involving foreign currency. Chen was reluctant to discuss the incident publicly, but offered her thoughts when we spoke privately.
She says she’s “so thankful” for the time she spent shooting Titoudao.
(Photo: Instagram/chxnyixin) Chen Liping (left) and Chen Yixin star in Titoudao: Dawn Of A New Stage.
WHAT WAS IT LIKE FOR YOU TO ACT IN ENGLISH?
Chen Liping: Of course it was. I’ve been acting in Chinese dramas for over 30 years. On top of that, they provided me with a dialogue coach, Peggy Ferroa, who would go through every scene with me.
As well, on set, things can change, many things can take place impromptu, and the director may even change the script on the spot. However, after acting for so long, I’m still able to handle those. I’m very happy to be a part of this. I put in a lot of effort. I hope it opens more doors for me to act in English shows in the future.
ADVERTISE
IN THE SHOW, THERE WERE A LOT OF WAYANG PERFORMANCES. HOW WOULD YOU DESCRIBE YOUR EXPERIENCES FILMING THEM?
Getting rid of the Teochew accent was a challenge for me since the wayang in the show is performed in Hokkien and I speak Teochew with my family and my mum.
It’s a true story about the wayang actress Oon Ah Chiam, mother of our writer. [Wayang actresses] deserve our salute. I wanted to say that at the press conference, but I didn’t know how (laughs). You look at our make-up, it’s gorgeous, isn’t it? Our hair and make-up had to be done by the real wayang actresses. It’s a lot of work and it takes a few hours.
WHAT FEEDBACK HAVE YOU RECEIVED ON YOUR PERFORMANCE?
The Sky’s Still Blue [new Mediacorp Chinese drama] has kept me busy, so I haven’t been paying much attention. But I just saw a comment that was quite cheem [complex]. I don’t know what the person meant. I have to look up the dictionary. [They said] “Phenomenal” in my acting.
