No pressure being part of Caldecott's 8 dukes

They were among those crowned the "8 Dukes of Caldecott Hill" at last month's Star Awards Show 1, an affirmation of their status as rising stars.

But as World At Your Feet co-stars Ian Fang, Xu Bin and Zhang Zhenhuan tell TNP, the label doesn't mean more pressure for them.

"Nothing much has changed. My fans know I've always been confident and filled with high self-esteem. I'm still the same," said Fang, 24.

" What I do know is that if you take me out of the eight, nobody can replace me."

Besides the trio, who play footballers in the new drama, the "8 Dukes" also include Romeo Tan, Desmond Tan, Jeffrey Xu, Shane Pow and Aloysius Pang.

'MOTIVATION'

Xu, 25, and Zhang, 28, were both first-time recipients of the Top 10 Most Popular Male Artiste award at the Star Awards Show 2, which is decided by public voting. They see their inclusion in the "8 Dukes" as "motivation" to do even better.

"I hope all eight of us will go on to scale greater heights. We are like a breath of fresh air for local showbiz," said Xu.

Agreed Zhang, who said with a laugh: "Now, I can officially put #8dukes on my Instagram."

The Sichuan-born actor's next goal is to win an acting award.

"That would be the exclamation mark in my career," he said.

Popular Fang, who didn't make the Top 10, insisted he wasn't disappointed about going home empty-handed.

He said: "I still have a long way to go, and there is always next year to try harder.

"I'm just upset for my fans. One of them spent so much money voting for me that her dad slapped her when he saw her phone bill."

This article was published on May 8 in The New Paper.

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