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SINGAPORE : Just three months ago, we saw Chen Hanwei as a frumpy, stuffy Chinese teacher in “My School Daze”, now the MediaCorp actor has turned the ‘uncle’ factor up a notch.
For his role as Ye Zhengkang, a househusband and stay-at-home dad, in upcoming Channel 8 drama “Daddy At Home”, Chen went and got himself a head of tight curls à la Phua Chu Kang.
“It’s [the perm] permanent,” said Chen, giving his hair a tug. “I am stuck with this for two months!”
“Initially, I thought of shaving off my hair and wearing a wig so that it will appear like I have a receding hairline but I couldn’t because I have another project coming up, so I decided to perm it.”
And the transformation doesn’t end at the head. Chen was also sporting a gaudy printed shirt, bright yellow frames, first generation Crocs and a paunch, when Channelnewsasia.com caught up with the 40-year-old while filming.
“The paunch is a result of cooking for the kids [in the show] and eating their leftovers,” explained Chen.
“I realised that a lot of people in Singapore are actually pretty thin but they have tummies. So after discussing with the producers, we agreed that this image is pretty unique... I came up with this image myself.”
But if you think his getup is always this garish, you’re wrong. The actor revealed that he was more ‘dressed up’ for this shoot because he was supposed to be at a party.
“I am usually in tight T-shirts, very simple, very ‘uncle’. And I usually wear old-fashioned, black-rimmed frames, not this pair of spectacles.”
In “Daddy At Home”, Chen plays a househusband who runs the household and cares for the kids while his wife Chen Mei Hui, played by Cynthia Koh, goes out to work and brings home the bacon.
“I am a typical ‘auntie’, I am very frugal and calculative... I am the first to rush for sales bargains, and I clip coupons to enjoy savings.” he said. “I really enjoy this role. I have not played such an interesting, comical character in a long time.”
But acting aside, Chen said he cannot fathom being a househusband.
“I am more traditional. I feel that men should have careers, and women too can go out and work. But if the man is capable of supporting his wife, then she can choose to stay home. Women are more patient, thoughtful and sensitive to the needs of the kids. Men, on the other hand, are more haphazard, so it is better for the mom to nurture and educate the kids,” he said.
“But I personally do not like noisy kids. My nephews are very quiet and well-behaved because they have been well trained by me. I don’t like kids who are very kaypoh and talkative. They should be quiet and obedient.”
Catch "Daddy At Home" when it debuts November 2, 9pm, on Channel 8.
- CNA
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