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SINGAPORE : In the middle of our interview, we were interrupted by a Rubber Ducky ringtone.
"Sorry," apologised Tay Ping Hui, as he hastened to turn his phone off. "That's not a very manly ringtone," I commented. "I'm not manly, lah, so it's okay," replied the veteran leading man of Chinese drama.
Blistering barnacles! Did Tay Ping Hui - the suave swashbuckler, the testosterone torero, the hunky hombre - not embrace his reputation? "Tay Ping Hui has always been this somber, cool, macho kind of character," said the 39-year-old. "But I've been trying to create something different in every drama."
In "Baby Bonus", which is currently airing on Channel 8, he claims to have developed the original character into a nerd of his own initiative, just to spice things up.
"The first day I went to set, a lot of people didn't recognise me. Jesseca (Liu, his co-star) couldn't stop laughing at me. It's fun creating something. I think I've reached a stage where I'm constantly trying to expand or reach a new paradigm."
As it turns out, Tay might be aiming for a new paradigm in his career, too. His contract with MediaCorp ends in January, and he has yet to hear from the powers that be regarding its renewal.
We thought he'd be Channel 8's leading man forever, perhaps morphing gracefully into our generation's Chen Shucheng. Now, though, it looks like we shouldn't hold our breath where Tay Ping Hui's future is concerned. Even Ping Hui himself isn't.
There's a rumour that Fiona Xie is pregnant, and you're the dad. True or false?
Really?! That's a new one. She's pregnant? Well, I'm not the father, that's for sure. What's it got to do with me? That's so weird. She has her lifestyle, I have mine. She parties, as far as I know. I don't party. We don't contact each other ... how's it possible that she can have my baby?
Okay. So what's the craziest rumour you've ever heard about yourself?
That I was a driver to some married woman. I used to drive her around so she could go shopping. And I apparently had sex with somebody on the Engineering Bridge in NUS. (laughs) That's too happening, man. My reputation is overrated. Everybody thinks I have this super connection with women. I don't.
What about the rumour that you're leaving MediaCorp?
My contract ends at the end of January, so of course, when your contract is ending, you contemplate the options. I don't know if MediaCorp wants me back. I don't want to be left in the cold, not doing anything. I'll weigh my options and see what is available, what are the possibilities or options, vertically and horizontally.
What are some options you're considering?
I'm doing a lot of investing. So I could go into full-time investing. Or I could stay in MediaCorp. Number three, I've arranged a couple of casual meetings with old acquaintances I've worked with overseas in different countries - in China, Taiwan, Hong Kong. I'm taking a break between 'Baby Bonus' and my next project, which starts in the latter part of the year, so I'm going to travel a bit; meet up with old friends. My options are very, very open.
Would you like to do movies?
Of course. I think the Holy Grail of any actor would be to do movies, because it is probably similar to jumping from the Asian Games to the Olympics. I feel that my kind of acting is always more understated; it's more internalised. Perhaps on a bigger screen, it will come forth better.
Would you aim for Hollywood?
I would be pragmatic. I'd like to aim for Asia, if I can, because Hollywood is not just about how good you are anymore - it's also about race. I don't want to fit into a typical stereotype of what Hollywood has of Asia, because sometimes I find it quite insulting. The Chinese guy is not about gongfu. It's not about us being the descendants of the Dragon; we're not some triad gangster or Chinatown thug.
And here, you're Caldecott's leading man ...
Am I happy? Yes, I'm very happy. But am I contented? No. Because I think there is a bigger stage for all of us here. I know many good actors and actresses here. And if you put us on a much bigger stage, we will flourish. It's a question of whether we will have the opportunity to step on those stages. So, I'm happy, but I'm not contented. Therefore, I have to work on the contented part.
So it's safe to say that you're actually looking for those opportunities?
Everybody's always looking. I think if the time comes, it's whether or not you're able to step out of your comfort zone.
Catch "Baby Bonus" on weekdays at 9pm on MediaCorp TV Channel 8.TODAY/il
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