WHEN acclaimed Chinese sitcom actor-turned-director Zhao Benshan announced his lead actress pick for his new drama series Dongbei Master, the question on the minds of most reporters in China was: Huh? Who's that?

Many of them had not heard of Singaporean Chen Meixin.

Only a few found her vaguely familiar - and that was because she had earlier performed at one of the charity shows in aid of the Sichuan quake victims.

Miss Liao Wei, a senior reporter with sina.com, told The New Paper on Sunday: 'While most of us are aware that Zhao laoshi (a respectful term which means teacher) loves to groom new talent, I think no one really expected that he would pick a virtual unknown.'

Much less someone all the way from Singapore - and not China, Hong Kong or even Taiwan, where some of the top actresses had hoped to land the coveted role.

Veteran TV critic Mao Qingqing pointed out: 'Even Yu Yuexian - Zhao's sister-in-law - ended up being the supporting actress.'

The media attention in China is because Zhao's TV productions have scored well with the viewers there. Ms Mao said: 'People like the way he handles countryside-themed works with skill and ease.'

Started career here

Meixin kickstarted her career in Singapore as a 'discovery secret agent' on MediaCorp's variety show On The Beat, and she also co-hosted Way To Go with Jeff Wang.

She also snared an endorsement deal with doughnut chain, Donut Empire, and clinched a key supporting role in the 20-episode Channel 8 drama Dear Son-In-Law, which aired last October and starred Jeanette Aw and Pierre Png.

Earlier this year, Meixin released her first EP, Interim, which was produced by famous Singapore producer Lee Wei Song and Taiwan's top music producer Yao Chien.

Speaking to us from Shenyang during a filming break, Meixin, who will turn 22 on 26 Nov, said: 'The euphoria of being selected has somewhat settled.

'But each day still brings a new level of learning experience. I've been really fortunate because everyone here treats me well.'

This is a comfort because, occasionally, she still misses home. Meixin said: 'But mum calls regularly to chat, find out how the day went, so that's reassuring, too.'

She has been filming in Shenyang since July and the only other Singaporean friend she has is her chaperone from her talent management company, Popstar Media.

She credits her chance for a stab at stardom to her boss, Ms Nelly Poa.

Ms Poa, 45, a veteran in the local Chinese entertainment industry for more than 20 years, has worked with Hong Kong singer Sally Yeh, retired Taiwanese evergreen singer Feng Feifei, Singapore's Edmund Chen and Kelly Poon, Malaysia's Fish Leong and even table-tennis queen Li Jiawei.

She had set eyes on Meixin at a beauty pageant she had co-organised with Lianhe Wanbao.

When the former part-time model eventually won the crown, she got a contract with Ms Poa's company.

Then came the chance encounter with Zhao.

Meixin and her mentor had bumped into Zhao at China Central Television sometime in May, when they were recording for a fundraising show.

Ms Poa recalled: 'One of our contacts there told us, oh, that's Zhao laoshi. Go take a picture with him.'

She obliged even though she did not recognise Zhao.

But that chance encounter proved to be the turning point for her protege.

Meixin said: 'After we were introduced, Zhao laoshi asked me three questions: Have you acted? Do you know martial arts? Can you dance?

'When I said yes to all, he asked us to leave our contact details with his assistant. We did that and returned to Singapore without giving it too much serious thought.'

A week later, Zhao's assistant called and asked if they could fly to Shenyang for a screen test.

Shocked by call

RIGHT CHEMISTRY: Director Zhao Benshan working with Meixin on a scene.

Meixin recalled: 'My knees went soft when the news sank in. Cliched as it sounds, the rest is history.'

Following the screen test, Meixin was told one thing - to lose some weight so she could take the baby fat off her face by the time the cameras started to roll.

Zhao also arranged for her to take various classes at Benshan Art Company, an arts institute he owns.

In the drama series, which is set in the 1930s, Meixin plays a special agent from Japan. She said of filming in Shenyang: 'The temperature's gone down to minus zero now, so I'm still trying to get used to it.'

Zhao said it was Meixin's various talents that landed her the role, other than her pretty and endearing features.

He added: 'As we wanted someone with a different accent, we were initially contemplating an actress from Hong Kong or Taiwan.'

After two months of gruelling filming, Zhao said he felt Meixin has what it takes to make a name for herself in China.

He added: 'She has a lot going for her. If she continues to work hard, she'll definitely be able to strike it big and it won't have to take long.'

Meixin said: 'He's always reminding me, before we become a personality, we must first learn to be true to ourselves and keep the right values close to our hearts.'

Critics have attributed her achievements to sheer luck, but the young artiste is determined to prove them wrong.

The Singaporean plays a special agent from Japan.

She said: 'I can't afford to disappoint everyone who has made everything possible for me, so I put in twice, even three times the effort.'

Crosstalk star turns hot actor-director

HE is called the Oriental Laughing God, though Zhao Benshan's early beginnings have been anything but funny.

Born to a peasant family in Liaoning in 1958, he was orphaned when he was only 6.

He lived with a blind uncle and it was from him that the young boy picked up many traditional performing skills, playing with musical instruments such as the erhu, the suona and the sanxian.

He went into the arts performing scene and soon caught the attention of famous Chinese crosstalk artist, Jiang Kun, who recommended him to the China Central Television (CCTV) for its Chinese New Year Gala in 1987.

Since then, his skits have been a regular sight, but at the start of the filming for Dongbei Master in July, Zhao announced his decision to 'retire'.

Zhao also said he was giving up all leading roles in TV series and focusing instead on directing.

His debut directing effort, Liu Laogen (which he also acted as the lead) gained an unprecedented audience rating on CCTV Channel 1 in 2002.

Following its success, Zhao directed a sequel, which was another huge success. He also went on to shoot another TV series, Ma Dashuai and its sequel.

All his TV series feature vivid characters, both lively and heart-stirring.

Three years ago, Zhao took on a new role as chairman of the Chinese Super League team Liaoning.

And at the Golden Horse Awards last December, he was nominated for the Best Actor Award for his role in Getting Home. Other nominees included Singapore's Gurmit Singh (Just Follow Law) and Hong Kong's Aaron Kwok (The Detective), but Hong Kong actor Tony Leung Chiu Wai pipped them to take the award for Lust, Caution.

In July, Zhao was a torchbearer at 2008 Beijing Olympic Games torch relay.

This article was first published in The New Paper on Nov 9, 2008.