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SINGAPORE : MediaCorp actress Eelyn Kok has been in showbiz for almost eight years, but she’s not had the privilege of being included in the coveted list of Caldecott Hill’s seven princesses. But this down-to-earth actress wouldn’t have it any other way.
“As you rise, you have to deal with the media attention, deal with your own acting, deal with maybe your image and all that, you don’t have a lot of time for yourself,” said Kok thoughtfully, “I guess when it all comes together, you become more stressed.”
It wasn’t until a month ago that Channelnewsasia.com was working on an article on Kok’s first lead role in the Channel 8 heartlander drama “My Buddy”.
But before we could publish it, news broke that this understated actress would be taking over a role reportedly tailor-made for one of MediaCorp’s princesses, Fiona Xie, in year end Channel 8 blockbuster, “Together”.
We managed to squeeze in some time in between Kok’s hectic filming schedule for an email interview and asked her what she thought about her recent big breaks.
“It could be that my previous roles as the 'baddie' has been so deeply etched in everyone's minds that they can’t imagine me playing something other than that?” said Kok when asked why she thinks it’s taken so long before she had the opportunity to play the leading lady.
“I think [recognition] came one step at a time, I don’t feel [resentful] because I got to enjoy who I am as a person, rather than just an actress or a star,” said Kok when we spoke to her previously.
Over the years, Kok has unfortunately, or fortunately, been mostly remembered for playing hateful villains, most recently, in last year’s Channel 8 blockbuster drama “The Little Nyonya” as Zhenzhu, the conniving step-sister who vied for Chen Xi’s (Qi Yuwu) affections with Jeanette Aw’s Yueniang.
Kok may play a really convincing antagonist in reel life, but is she really a bad person in real life?
“Me? A baddie? That’s not for me to say either! Maybe you should ask around!” was her reply.
Despite Kok’s ambiguous answer, when Channelnewsasia.com met up with the actress at a press conference a month ago, no signs of b****iness were detected at all.
In fact, when emailed interview questions, Kok’s manager declined on her behalf to answer any questions about Xie’s controversial last minute pull out from “Together” - understandably for being too sensitive.
So why does this incredibly nice ex-Miss World Singapore finalist always end up playing the bad guy that everyone loves to hate?
“Mmm, [maybe it’s] because I don’t look that evil?” wrote Kok before speculating, “I mean, real life baddies [don’t] have 'I'm evil' written all over their faces, so it could be a refreshing take in getting someone [to] play a baddie role when he [or] she doesn’t look that way.”
Well, if Kok is indeed a “baddie”, then this tall and soft-spoken actress, who wears a bright smile across her face the entire time she’s talking to you, must really be a good actress.
Kok, who turns 30 on Wednesday, proved that she could hold her own even while playing the good guy for a change in “My Buddy”, in which she played single-mother Ruyi and Christopher Lee’s love interest.
“Strangers on the streets have become friendlier to me, maybe because they feel I'm more approachable now playing the goodie, and giving me feedbacks,” said Kok, “Most say that it's a refreshing change to see me in 'My Buddy'”
With so much riding on Kok’s character in “Together”, who’s the show’s resident vainpot, and a favourite of the scriptwriter, the actress is definitely feeling the pressure.
“I had to finish reading the entire 35 episodes within a week and then start filming my parts,” said Kok. “Usually we have ample time to slowly create the character we're playing, say a month or so before filming commences so this short notice was rather overwhelming, combined with the sudden media interest.”
Going back to playing the bad guy once again in her latest role in “Together”, the character of Huang Jinhao will definitely be a time for Kok to prove herself, even as the last minute replacement for Xie.
So, will this two-time Best Supporting Actress nominee be gunning for a coveted Star Award?
“I won't be thinking too much about the Star Awards, being nominated and bagging it is surely a bonus but my immediate concern is getting the character right,” said Kok.
“Together” is scheduled to air on Channel 8 in November.
- CNA/os
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