'You worried about us too much': Tay Ying has heart-to-heart talk with mum Hong Huifang before marriage
Using a mini gacha machine to draw out questions, Huifang, 64, asked Tay Ying, 29: "What is one thing I didn't do well as a mother?"
After a moment of contemplation, Tay Ying replied: "You don't love yourself enough. When we were younger, you worried about us too much — and then you forget about yourself. So I think in this season of life, it's time to love yourself more."
"I think I will, because I left not too long anymore," Huifang joked, drawing a loud "Aiyoh" from Tay Ying.
Huifang and her actor husband Zheng Geping, 61, also have son Calvert, 25, who's a singer-actor.
When asked to share their proudest moments of one another, Tay Ying talked about her mother starring in Singaporean-South Korean film Ajoomma (2022). It was when Huifang attended a gala screening and many people in the showbiz industry gathered around her in applause. "In that moment I also felt so proud of myself," Huifang reminisced.
Her proudest moment of Tay Ying is knowing that she's about to get married. She said fondly: "I'm so happy you finally found the man of your dreams."
This left Tay Ying sighing: "Done so many good things in my life as a daughter but this is the only one."
Huifang added: "This is your happiness. It's most important. I spent the first half of my life taking care of you and now someone else is taking care of you in my second half."
Thereafter, Tay Ying asked Huifang: "Is there ever a moment where you wanted to leave your relationship?"
Huifang incredulously said: "No."
Advising the soon-to-be wife on maintaining a relationship, she said: "Both parties grew up in different environments — his and your habits are bound to be different, and so will your tempers. If you plant a tree, you must water it. You can't leave it there. Otherwise, it'll die. So you have to manage [your relationship] for it to last long."
She also revealed when she found that she and Geping's spark has gone out, she suggested they go "find some spark", such as going on vacation together.
Tay Ying also asked Huifang on what her biggest fight with Geping was, which happened to revolve around teenage Tay Ying.
Mum explained: "Papa spoiled you a lot, and I wanted to beat you because you did something wrong. I didn't in the end, even though I wanted to — I couldn't bear to do it."
Huifang is starring in the upcoming film A Good Child, which stars Richie Koh and Cheryl Chou. Tay Ying has been nominated for Star Awards 2025 in two categories: Top 10 Most Popular Female Artistes and BYD Favourite Female Character.
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kristy.chua@asiaone.com
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