A surprising number of Malaysian-Chinese and Singaporean-Chinese actors and singers have become famous in China and elsewhere across the globe
Numerous Malaysian-Chinese and Singaporean-Chinese actors and singers have become huge stars in China.
From Malaysia, we are blessed with Ipoh-born Michelle Yeoh of Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon fame as well as talented voices like Bahau-born Fish Leong, Ipoh native Michael Wong and Kuching-born Nicholas Teo, all of whom are often thought of as Taiwanese. There’s also actor Christopher Lee who made Singapore his base. He has been more active in Taiwan in recent years, taking up drama roles like Li Shaowen in the 2013 Taiwanese series A Good Wife.
Singer-songwriter Tanya Chua is one of Singapore’s most successful singers, having released 18 albums and clinched awards such as Best Mandarin Female Singer at the 2006 and 2012 Golden Melody Awards in Taiwan. Singer and composer Dick Lee was popular in the nineties. His awards include Best Original Film Song at the 1999 Hong Kong Film Awards for City of Glass starring Leon Lai and Shu Qi.
Here are more Chinese celebrities from Malaysia and Singapore whose talent has made their countries more recognisable on the world stage.
Lawrence Wong
The Johor Bahru lad – he is not Singaporean – became an overnight heartthrob when he starred in the famed 2018 period drama Story of Yanxi Palace, playing the smart and handsome guard of emperor Qianlong.
Having been in the entertainment industry since 2002, his hard work paid off as he won two international awards in the United States – Asia’s Most Promising Actor award at the 2018 Asian-American TV & Film Festival and Best Supporting Actor award at the 2018 Chinese-American Film Festival. Lawrence has graced the covers of numerous Chinese magazines and got a part in this year’s Chinese drama series One Boat One World.
Rujing Yan
With her bob hair and round black-rimmed glasses, the bespectacled Malaysian shot to fame after appearing in hit Chinese debate show Qipa Shuo. Produced by online video platforms iQiyi and Miwei Media, the show pits two debate teams against each other in rounds of verbal jousting over a range of topics. With the appearance of a comedienne, the voluble orator impressed the audience with her razor-edged wit and humorous logic.
Penny Tai
Born in Segamat, the acclaimed Taiwan-based singer, songwriter, producer and director has achieved significant success in a music career spanning 19 years with five Golden Melody awards. After success as a solo artist, Penny joined forces with female band D-Power to form alternative rock band Buddha Jump and released their first album of the same name in late 2011, which claimed Best Musical Group at the 2015 Golden Melody Awards.
Stefanie Sun
The Singapore-born singer-songwriter also started her career in Taiwan and has been in the industry for close to two decades now, selling over 30 million records since being discovered by composer and musician Lee Wei Song. Stefanie has multiple Best Newcomer awards under her belt since she released two albums, “Yan Zi” and “My Desired Happiness” in 2000, and enjoys massive popularity throughout the region.
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