Fat hope.
That was how a Mediacorp senior executive evaluated Jeanette Aw’s chance of clinching the coveted Best Actress award.
“Do you think the time has come for Jeanette Aw to bag the top prize? Fat hope. She was nominated in similar roles in the past and didn’t win,” the executive had said.
It was Aw who had the last laugh at last night’s Star Awards Show 2.
She was crowned Best Actress, one of the highest accolades in the ceremony, for her role in The Dream Makers 2.
It was her first time winning Best Actress after six previous nominations since 2003.
The 36-year-old said in her acceptance speech last night: “Well, hope has always been slim or even nonexistent for me. But I guess today, against all odds, there’s still hope.”
In a separate interview, a visibly happy Aw admitted it felt horrible to read those comments from her own company’s senior executive in an entertainment magazine.
“Because in the past few years, there was really no hope for me,” she joked.
Thought to be the hot favourite to win in 2009 for her lead role in The Little Nyonya, Aw lost the award to co-star Joanne Peh.
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UNUSUALLY NERVOUS
“If I had won with my character in The Little Nyonya, people would think it was natural that I did because it was such a big role.
“So I’m glad I won the award with this character because it means that people are seeing my acting more than the role,” Aw told reporters backstage.
Aw, who did not make it to the Top 10 Most Popular Female Artistes list at last week’s show, said she was relieved to have won the Best Actress award.
She was a bundle of nerves all night during the ceremony.
“I wasn’t so nervous in the beginning, but as more people asked me about (the nomination), I got more and more nervous… I was unusually nervous and Zoe (Tay) was telling me to smile because I was just that nervous…
“I’ve been nominated many times and each time had been disappointing. I was worried that today would be the same,” she said.
Aw, who was also named the Favourite Female Character, said: “The happiest today would be my parents because they always wanted their daughter to go up (onto) the stage.”
The Straits Times, The New Paper, Shin Min Daily News
Her co-star in The Dream Makers 2, Qi Yuwu, was named Best Actor last night. Qi also won the Favourite Onscreen Couple award with Aw.
Sharing a kiss with his wife, actress Joanne Peh, before giving his acceptance speech, the 39-year-old said: “(The point of) acting is not to win an award. Nevertheless, I’m still very happy.”
Elaborating backstage after his win, Qi told reporters: “I did think it was possible (that I would win), but I didn’t think too much since it’s not something I can control… Acting and the award are not connected. But still, it’s an affirmation.”
Actress Julie Tan continued her winning streak from last week by clinching the Best Supporting Actress award last night.
Last week, Tan, 23, took home the Rocket Award (for most improved artiste) and was one of the Top 10 Most Popular Female Artistes.
She said: “Before I left the house, my mummy still said that it doesn’t matter if I win, I’m already the best supporting actress in her eyes.
“My next aim is best actress. Then Golden Horse and then Oscars. You need a goal to go forward.”
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Disappointed but not defeated
He is arguably one of the more popular actors among Channel 8’s 8 Dukes, a term that refers to the rising male stars on the channel.
Yet, Romeo Tan was the only one of the six nominated Dukes who did not make it to the Top 10 Most Popular Male Artistes list this year.
The 31-year-old candidly told reporters at the after-party show that he was disappointed, but would continue to work hard.
“When they announced the eighth winner, I assumed I might be the ninth. But when it wasn’t me, I knew that the 10th would be Elvin (Ng).”
When asked if his popularity has dimmed, Tan said: “This is showbiz. Nothing is confirmed. I was surprised (that I didn’t win) too.”
He added that acting remains his priority.
“I believe the best is yet to come, so I’ll remain optimistic,” said Tan.
There was some consolation when he nabbed the London Choco Roll Happiness Award.
To his fans, he said: “Do not be sad. Do not cry. Do not be discouraged. Next year, we will do better.”
Actress Ya Hui, 28, also seemed to be on a losing streak this year.
Last week she failed to clinch a spot on the Top 10 Most Popular Female Artistes list.
Yesterday, she lost the Best Actress award to Jeanette Aw.
But Ya Hui did not go home empty-handed last night.
The Bioskin Flawless Skin Award winner quipped: “I have one trophy. It’s (in) the sparkling Ribena colour. I think purple is my lucky colour this year.”
She said she would continue to work hard.
“There’s still 118 part 2. So I will work even harder, cook more wonton mee, and touch the audience’s hearts,” said Ya Hui, who acted as a wonton mee seller in the drama.
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WHO WON WHAT
Best Theme Song: Finally (The Dream Makers 2)
Top Rated Drama Serial: Tiger Mum
Top Rated Variety Programme: Ge Tai Challenge
Young Talent Award: Damien Teo
Best Supporting Actress: Julie Tan
Best Supporting Actor: Zhang Zhen Huan
Best Drama Serial: The Dream Makers 2
Best Actor: Qi Yuwu
Best Actress: Jeanette Aw
Top 10 Most Popular Male Artistes: Aloysius Pang, Zheng Ge Ping, Shane Pow, Dennis Chew, Xu Bin, Zhang Yao Dong, Zhang Zhen Huan, Lee Teng, Jeffrey Xu, Elvin Ng
tnp@sph.com.sg
This article was first published on April 25, 2016.
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