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SINGAPORE: Upcoming Mandarin cop drama "Unriddle" is quite possibly the most action-packed production in the past year and a half, with a ton of fight scenes and gunplay woven into a storyline filled with dirty cops, deranged killers and violent betrayals.
While the show has a very serious theme, behind the scenes, Rui En, who plays a no-nonsense police detective, was laughing her way through most of the shoot because of co-star veteran actress Chen Liping's infectious laughter.
"We can be working on very serious lines and she would start laughing. Once you hear her laugh, you will start laughing!
"I almost got internal injuries trying to keep from laughing!" said Rui En at the recent "Unriddle" press event, giggling as Chen looked on in amusement.
Rui En went on to reveal that she had forged a very strong bond with Chen, who plays an informant in the show, although this was the first time they collaborated on a production.
Indeed, the pair was spotted exchanging friendly banter during the press event and playfully nudged each other during a later photo shoot.
"Liping is the most generous artiste that I've had the chance to work with. She took care of me from day one.
"She has just been nothing but generous. I have been very blessed for such a very caring [co-star]," said the actress, citing how Chen had even asked her own personal assistant to help Rui En with various tasks.
"It just left a deep impression on me because normally, people who have assistants don't do that. They pay the person to take care of them.
"I've never seen it before, you know, where people [ask their assistants] to help someone else," said Rui En, looking thoroughly impressed by her co-star's generosity.
Rui En the Stuntwoman
When the discussion turned to the unusually high number of action scenes in the show, Rui En's eyes lit up.
The actress proudly declared that she did most of her own stunts in the show, though she would have done them all herself, if she hadn't suffered a major ankle injury during a fight scene with television veteran Zheng Ge Ping, who plays a crime boss in the series.
She ended up shedding tears of frustration and had to take painkillers for some time during filming.
"I was frustrated that I had a lot more action scenes that I have to do in a compromised state. I hated that because I told myself I am not going to use stuntmen for any of my shots ... but because of the injury ... some shots [were done] with the stuntmen," said Rui En, who sounded more than a little disappointed.
Doing your own stunts while nursing an injury? Isn't that a little hardcore?
"No it isn't. I believe in being committed hundred percent, even if it's for just 30 seconds on screen, I have to give like everything I have, if not, I just feel like I am cheating the audience.
"It's just maybe a month or two of pain but what you film is going to last forever ... so to me, it's worth it," she replied.
With shooting finally over, Rui En said she is looking forward to take a nice, relaxing break from work, as she had recently run into some "inner ear problems".
"The doctors said it's probably because of stress and lack of sleep, so I am going to take it easy," she said.
The actress had been involved in back-to-back drama projects since she played a happy-go-lucky girl in "Happy Family" earlier this year.
"I need a rest," Rui En said, her face a mixture of weariness and relief.
"Unriddle" airs from August 4, every weeknight at 9pm on Channel 8.
- CNA/ha
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