Do all failed celebrity romances end with bitter hearts and severed friendships?

Not in Karen Mok’s case.

The 45-year-old Hong Kong singer and actress recently contributed her vocals to the promotional song You’re The Best In The World for renowned Hong Kong actor and director Stephen Chow’s latest comedy blockbuster, The Mermaid, which is showing here.

And she has nothing but praise for her 53-year-old ex-boyfriend, whom she dated in the mid-1990s.

She starred in a few of Chow’s slapstick flicks such as The God Of Cookery (1995) and King Of Comedy (1999).

Her last appearance in a Stephen Chow movie was 2001’s Shaolin Football, where she had a cameo.

“Firstly, The Mermaid is a great movie. It’s entertaining and funny. Yet at the same time, it delivers a meaningful eco-friendly message,” said Mok in Mandarin during a video press conference with local reporters yesterday.

She was promoting her concert here next month. She last performed here 15 years ago.

DUET

“I haven’t worked with Sing Ye (Uncle Sing in Mandarin, a wordplay on Chow’s Chinese name Chow Sing Chi) in a very long while.

“So when I received the invitation to record the song, I jumped at it.

“It’s such a classic Cantonese duet and I had so much fun covering it with (veteran Hong Kong crooner) Adam Cheng.”

Mok, who was speaking from Hong Kong, said that in her opinion, Chow is a director “who just keeps getting better”.

“Several years ago, I remember him talking about pursuing directing. He’s doing so well now,” she said.

The music video for You’re The Best In The World has scenes of Chow goofing around in the recording studio with Mok and Cheng.

In January, Mok even posted a selfie on her Sina Weibo page of herself with Chow, showing that there are no hard feelings between the former couple.

Has she asked the film-maker for a role in his future projects?

With a smile, Mok said: “I don’t need to. He will look for me if he needs me in his films.

“Who knows? We might work together again.”

Karen Mok’s hacks for long distance love

Click on thumbnail to view photos. Source: 

The New Paper, Universal Music, Karen Mok

In the meantime, she is busy with her world tour, which includes stops in London, Milan, Madrid, Los Angeles, and Vancouver.

“I’ve done a number of concert tours in the last 15 years, but somehow, I just haven’t been able to come to Singapore, which has been rather upsetting,” she said.

She promised local fans an electrifying show filled with “extravagant costumes, lots of laser effects and cool visuals” as well as a segment where she will flaunt her skills on an electric guzheng, a Chinese plucked zither.

Of course, no Karen Mok concert would be complete without a dose of onstage sexiness.

“As a performer, I’ve always been very bold. That hasn’t changed after marriage,” she said with a laugh.

She tied the knot with her college sweetheart, German finance executive Johannes Natterer, 45, in 2011.

The couple have no children, but Natterer has three from his previous marriage.

Mok remained tight-lipped about details of her sexy concert costumes, but stressed that her husband has no issue with her baring skin.

“In fact, he’s quite happy to see my sexy side,” she said.

WHEN

April 9, 8pm

WHERE

The Star Theatre

TICKETS

$88 to $188 from Sistic (6348-5555 or www.sistic.com.sg)

keeyunt@sph.com.sg

This article was first published on March 12, 2016.
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To call him a celebrity chef is to downplay his status, for Wolfgang Puck is arguably the celebrity chef.

Not only does he have the restaurants and TV shows, he has also catered for many celebrities, including Kim Kardashian’s wedding to now ex-husband Kris Humphries.

Yesterday, he stopped by ONE FM’s #1 Breakfast Show studio to talk food secrets and celebrity encounters with hosts The Flying Dutchman, Glenn Ong and Andre Hoeden.

Puck’s restaurants Cut and Spago are located around the world – from Beverly Hills and Maui to London and Dubai – and of course, Singapore.

The chef was in town for the opening of Spago, his second restaurant here. It is located at the Marina Bay Sands.

All his outlets have seen their fair share of celebrities. He has also catered the food at the official post-Oscars party – the Governors Ball – for the past 22 years, so he is well-placed to know all the celebrity secrets and gossip.

And when asked about his encounters, he was more than willing to spill.

THE KARDASHIANS

INFAMOUS: (From right) Kim Kardashian, Khloe Kardashian, Kendall Jenner, Caitlyn Jenner and Kourtney Kardashian.  Photo: Reuters

Part of one of the most infamous families in the world, Kim, Khloe, Kourtney and Rob, loved going to Puck’s restaurant when they were children.

Puck said: “They were so little that they weren’t even tall enough to reach the kitchen counter.”

But even back then, there were diva-like demands as they would order something not on the menu: Mickey Mouse-shaped pizzas.

“I remember them just running into the kitchen screaming, ‘I want a Mickey Mouse Pizza!’ I probably saw them more than their parents,” he said.

When asked who the naughtiest Kardashian was, he said he could not pick because they “were always smiling”.

He cheekily added: “They were a lot more well-behaved then as opposed to now.”

Their wealth has also increased considerably – and Puck has noticed.

He joked: “Years later, Kim came to our restaurant as an adult. And she arrived in a Bentley.

“I was thinking that something wasn’t right. I was still driving a Cadillac Station Wagon and she’s driving a luxury car.”

LEONARDO DICAPRIO

Photo: AFP

After his Oscar-winning turn in The Revenant, everyone can probably recognise a heavily-bearded Leonardo DiCaprio.

Well, Puck did not manage to. Although admittedly, it was before the movie was filmed.

Both of them belong to the same Hollywood tennis club, and when a bearded man came up to say hi, Puck had no clue who he was.

He only noticed the women around the bewhiskered bloke, which proved infuriatingly confusing.

Puck exclaimed: “I play with my coach and he plays with three beautiful models?”

ORSON WELLES

Photo: The Straits Times

One of the first celebrities Puck cooked for was legendary film director Orson Welles in the late 80s.

Back then, Puck was a chef at Ma Maison in Los Angeles, and Welles was a man of considerable size who clearly enjoyed his food.

Welles would come in every day for lunch and ask Puck: “What are you going to cook for me?”

Puck said: “I would end up cooking just for him. He used to open a bottle of champagne. He liked the same champagne as me, so I would reassure my boss, ‘It’s for Orson. He has to drink before he eats.'”

JUSTIN BIEBER

Photo: AFP

The polarising pop star has not always had the best reputation.

Thankfully, none of that bratty behaviour was apparent during his visits to Puck’s restaurant.

“He did not throw eggs around the restaurant or do the things that he’s infamous for,” said Puck with a laugh.

Recounting Bieber’s first visit, Puck said: “He didn’t know who I was.”

Bieber’s friend was quick to admonish him: “Don’t you know, you idiot? That is Wolfgang Puck!”

“Bieber then ran to the kitchen and asked for a selfie with me,” said Puck.

As for the singer’s favourite dishes?

“He loves to eat. And he especially loves the Kobe steak and my pasta with truffles,” Puck said.

When asked what Bieber was really like, Puck said: “He’s a very nice kid.”

djenn@sph.com.sg

This article was first published on March 12, 2016.
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