Night of first-time winners

Night of first-time winners

SINGAPORE - Three of four acting honours at Sunday night's Star Awards went to first-time winners.

At the event celebrating the best of local Chinese-language television, Pierre Png nabbed Best Actor for his role as a villain in the period drama The Journey: A Voyage.

Guo Liang, better known as an accomplished host, collected Best Supporting Actor for playing a philandering plastic surgeon in The Dream Makers.

Rebecca Lim's portrayal of thrice- divorced woman, also in The Dream Makers, won her Best Supporting Actress. Best Actress went to Chen Liping for playing Guo's wife in The Dream Makers. It was her third win in the category, after achieving the feat for Holland V (2003) and Reunion Dinner (2010).

With The Dream Makers cast picking up so many acting awards, it was perhaps no surprise that the drama about the television industry went on to win Best Drama Serial.

In an interview with Life!, Png thanked his goatee for helping him get into character as the baddie Hei Long, an unscrupulous tin factory supervisor.

The 40-year-old actor, who made his debut 15 years ago, also said that he "screwed up" his acceptance speech and wished he had thanked his parents better. To make up for it, he would be displaying the trophy in his parents' house for his nieces and nephews to look at.

Lim, Best Actress winner at the 2010 Asian Television Awards for the English-language law drama The Pupil, felt encouraged by the fact that many veteran colleagues had told her that they hoped that she would win. She said: "I did not dare expect anything because I was worried I would get disappointed."

How did the 27-year-old feel after she won? Literally "like a million bucks", the estimated cost of all the diamond jewellery she was wearing.

Guo's reputation as one of the best hosts on Channel 8 is unquestioned, indicated by the fact that he was hosting the Stars Awards yet again on Sunday night with Quan Yifeng.

The 45-year-old told Life! he hoped that his Best Supporting Actor win will open doors to more acting opportunities in the future.

He added that he was confident about winning: "I try to bring something fresh to my character every time. And frankly, I feel that some of my competitors did not completely lose themselves in their roles."

Apart from the acting awards, the other high-profile categories are the Top 10 Most Popular male and female artiste honours, which were decided by public vote.

For the men, there were three first-time recipients: Desmond Tan, Xu Bin and Zhang Zhenhuan. They were joined by Dennis Chew, Elvin Ng, Lee Teng, Romeo Tan, Pornsak, Qi Yuwu and Zheng Geping.

Among the women, Chris Tong and Ya Hui were the first-timers, joining Jeanette Aw, Belinda Lee, Joanne Peh, Quan Yifeng, Rebecca Lim, Rui En, Vivian Lai and Yvonne Lim.

At the Star Awards, which held its 20th edition at the Suntec Singapore Convention and Exhibition Centre, veteran actress Fann Wong's baby bump stole some of the limelight too.

The actress, who is about five months pregnant, wore a flowing white gown with gold trim, which she said she chose because it fit her "rounder" figure. Her husband, actor Christopher Lee, told reporters he thought that his wife looked different but still sexy.

The celebrity couple revealed that they still did not know the sex of their baby and might try to find out next month so that they can start decorating the child's room.

Wong, who got pregnant at 43 after five years of marriage, also said that her baby had started kicking and it seems to react most to the sound of Lee's voice.

THE BEST-DRESSED

Rui En (above left) channelled old-world glamour in this dramatic Romona Keveza gown. She normally turns up for such events in more edgy options, so it's refreshing to see her softer side. Jeanette Aw's (right) sweetheart neckline on this Dolce & Gabbana gown was a great start and the mermaid hemline a perfect finish.

Joanne Peh gets an A for creativity. Her "dress" was four Hermes scarves tied together. The bold colours complemented her sunny personality

Fann Wong's baby bump was the star of the night and that was in part due to this Bottega Veneta Grecian-style gown that draped over her belly.

Rebecca Lim wowed viewers with her acting chops and this Giambattista Valli gown which accentuated her figure.

THE WORST-DRESSED

Priscelia Chan's plunging neckline, high slit and loud prints on this Diane von Furstenberg dress seemed like a desperate call for attention. It was just a little too trashy for our liking.

It's a bird, it's a plane... no, it's just Julie Tan in a Frederick Lee dress. We're not sure what she was thinking when she decided on this shaggy look.

Chen Liping picked up the award for Best Actress, but her outfit was far from desirable. The asymmetrical dress from local label Zenchi looked like a nightie on her and her low-maintenance hairdo did nothing to help.

Felicia Chin's pink crop looked super fun, but her Dsquared2 gown was far too baggy for her petite frame.

Jayley Woo? This Raoul gown looked too mature and conservative for the 22-year-old actress.

This article was published on April 29 in The Straits Times.

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