SINGAPORE : It’s tough being a woman. Just ask MediaCorp actor Yao Wenlong who had to don stockings and run around in four-inch heels in the sweltering Singapore heat for his latest role in upcoming MediaCorp Mandarin drama “Your Hand in Mine”.

On top of that, Yao also had to throw on a long flowing wig of wavy brown hair, a tight constricting orange stuffed bra and endure hours of filming in a stuffy three-room flat.

It’s easy to understand why the actor is quick to empathise with the fairer sex, as he shares with the media how his ribs were covered with bruises after filming the previous day.

There’s no denying that an actor has to make sacrifices for his art.

“It’s so tiring. Being a woman is so difficult. You all are amazing!” said Yao to a bunch of female reporters, as he catches a quick breather from half a day of filming.

In the 180-episode long series which also stars Chen Liping, Huang Wenyong and Yvonne Lim, Yao plays the character of Zheng Shui Guo, a man with a hooligan past who is trying to make good.

Dressing as a woman to avoid being recognised, Yao’s character tries to make amends to the blind Ah Bing - played by Pamelyn Chee who was last seen in hit drama series "The Little Nyonya" - and her sick mother whom he wronged 12 years ago.

But before you begin to panic about seeing Yao in drag for 180 episodes, the actor reveals that he will only be donning his feminine garb for six or seven episodes towards the middle of the series.

Yao has a total of five female outfits in the show, one of which is a nurse’s outfit, which Yao jokingly says will definitely not make any hearts go a flutter.

Few would disagree that Yao is one dedicated actor. Since winning MediaCorp’s talent competition, Star Search, in 1993, he has played many memorable and iconic roles on television, and I’m sure this will join the list.

But Yao did not take on the role because it is 'impactful', in fact, the actor only came to learn about this feminine part of his role as Zheng Shui Guo after filming began in December last year.

It also couldn’t be more of a drastic turn from his last role in which he played Liu Yidao, the simple-minded, wide eyed butcher in “The Little Nyonya” which garnered him a nomination for Best Supporting Actor at this year’s Star Awards.

Though having much more skin exposed, Yao still maintains that he’d rather bear his top any day as the manly Liu Yidao than dress up as a woman. “Liu Yidao is after all a man!”

While this isn’t the first time Yao is dressing up as a woman, he would only give himself a dismal grade of 20 upon 100 for his performance.

“I’m just too big!” whispered the 1.76 metre tall actor with size 10 feet in a hushed voice at the corridor. Though he claims that perhaps with a pair of heels, his long and slender, albeit hairy, legs are his most womanly asset.

But Yao adds that he doesn’t dare go home to his wife and child in his outfit for fear of scaring them.

His co-star Belinda Lee who plays Zeng Aishan concurs laughingly as she arrives on set.

“He fails miserably. I wouldn’t want to look like him! I think he has chest hair, and lots of leg hair. It’s not very glamorous. He’s not the kind of woman I would desire to be.”

“Really cannot make it leh!” she concluded jokingly.

Chee who has more scenes opposite Yao is more generous and gives Yao an A1 grade of 75.

“I think he’s very chio! (pretty in Hokkien) When he first walked in, I thought, ‘Oh this is a new makeup artist right?’ before realising, ‘Oh my god! It’s Yao Wenlong!’” exclaimed Chee.

Chee admits that it’s tough to stifle the laughter during the scenes but thankfully, she plays a blind girl in the series and so doesn’t have to maintain a direct line of vision with Yao.

“If I were to talk to him (face to face), I wouldn’t be able to take it! I know many people have burst out laughing when filming with him!” she added.

We'll find out if audiences laugh or cry when they see Yao in drag when “Your Hand in Mine” airs on Channel 8 in November.

- CNA/il