Andie Chen lost out at the Star Awards again: 'If you really love what you are doing, you just keep going'
The 40-year-old was up for three trophies: Best Actor for his role as a strict dad in Born to Shine, Top 10 Most Popular Male Artiste and BYD Favourite Male Character.
The Best Actor trophy eventually went to Special Achievement Award honoree Christopher Lee, who also bagged the Best Programme Host award for Dishing With Chris Lee Season 2.
In a moment we caught on camera, Lee approached Chen to 'apologise' to him. Chen jokingly replied: 'You still have the cheek to come up to me?'
'You will surely get it next time, okay?' Lee reassured Chen after giving him a tight hug.
When 8days.sg met the Star Search 2007 champ, even this writer felt compelled to spend a few minutes consoling him.
After all, how can you not feel for the dude who has been waiting 16 years since his first nomination for Best Newcomer at Star Awards 2009?
We also chose our words carefully, especially when he remarked that some people had come up to him and said he 'just has to work harder'.
'But it has been a long time, and I am already doing my best,' Chen laughed.
Despite the obvious disappointment, Chen assured us he is not devastated.
'I think that feeling [of devastation] peaked a few years ago, and now, I am in an okay place. Right now, I guess I will have to wait till the heavens decide that I deserve it before giving it to me,' he said.
Chen even jokingly said that his family seemed to have got used to him not winning at this point.
His wife, former Mediacorp actress Kate Pang, dropped him a text saying, 'You are the best!', while his parents, who attended the awards, told him that they would 'wait by the road to go home together'.
'I do feel sian [tired] for them [his parents]. They have been coming almost every year. I know deep down, they can't wait to celebrate when I win something,' he said.
There is, however, at least one person who is openly sharing her disappointment – Avery, his nine-year-old daughter.
'My kids are staying with my brother, and he texted me that she is quite sad that I didn't win,' he said.
However, Chen told us that he sees it as a teaching moment.
'They have never seen me stop, and I am not about to stop now. If you really love what you are doing, you just keep going,' he said.
The couple also have a son, Aden, who is 10.
It's not all doom and gloom, though.
Chen said he found joy in seeing his colleagues go up to collect their Top 10 Most Popular Awards.
The popularity stakes, he reasoned, is a game he doesn't think he's 'suitable for or capable of winning'.
'There are many aspects of the 'popularity' contest that don't sit well with me,' he said, declining to go into further detail.
However, he reiterated that he's always set his sights on acting.
'An acting award is something that I have been working towards my entire career, and it would be nice to be recognised," said Chen.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
AsiaOne
2 hours ago
- AsiaOne
Singapore's Chiral Comics partners Archie Comics for exclusive SG60 book cover, Singapore News
SINGAPORE - Home-grown outfit Chiral Comics has teamed up with American comic book publisher Archie Comics to launch a Singapore-themed variant cover for the first issue of Betty & Veronica: Summer Fun In The Sun. The exclusive book cover - where main character Archie dons an "I Love SG" shirt while his best friend Jughead munches on durian - features the characters from the popular franchise (1942 to present) exploring the country's iconic Gardens by the Bay. It is limited to 300 copies worldwide. Priced at $25.55 each, pre-orders started on July 19 at Select Singapore comics retailers like Kalibak Komiks and 1to3 Comics will also carry it. This SG60 book cover collaboration involves local comic artist Kang Jing (also known as KJ), who was the penciler and inker, and Italy-based freelance comic colourist Daniele Caramanico, who did the colouring. KJ established Chiral Comics, a Singapore-based art studio which specialises in comic book publishing and visual storytelling, in 2021, and reportedly started working on the Archie project in April 2025. The 31-year-old, who has been sketching anime characters since he was six, began his comics career in 2019. His debut series The World My Arena (2021 to 2022) has since been adapted into an animated video, and other notable works include bilingual webcomic series Save Me From Chloe (2021) and Zhao (2023), an original wuxia comic series. KJ has also worked on seven Star Wars-themed projects with Topps, an American trading card manufacturer. And in 2024, he illustrated a Singapore-themed variant cover featuring the Singapore skyline for the Mighty Morphin Power Rangers #122 comic. All 525 copies released at comic convention Singapore Comic Con 2024 were sold out. [embed] [embed] [[nid:697039]] This article was first published in The Straits Times . Permission required for reproduction.
CNA
3 hours ago
- CNA
Dennis Chew says he will stop working as a full-time DJ when he enrols at NUS next year
Two months ago, Love 972 DJ Dennis Chew shared that he was offered a spot to enrol at the National University of Singapore after graduating from Ngee Ann Poly with a diploma in Chinese Media & Communication. At that time, the 51-year-old said he was on the fence about starting university this year. Now that it's almost August, the time when universities start admitting students, Chew has decided to... defer his matriculation. In an interview with Chew shared that he's set to start school next year in August. Why the delay? Well, the busy bee just has too much unfinished work and has jobs lined up until December. Chew said he took on the gigs as he wasn't expecting to be accepted by NUS and that he would return to radio full-time after graduating from poly. Now, the soon-to-be Chinese Studies undergraduate plans to put his showbiz career aside once school starts. "If I go to university, I'll really give up on my full-time job temporarily and focus on school," he told over a WhatsApp voice message. He's making such a decision because he's someone who "can't multi-task" and also believes "university life will be very different [from poly]". How is he going to sustain financially though? The DJ said his "finances wouldn't be too affected" and that he could still take on jobs, such as endorsements, that are less time-consuming when school starts. "If I can make some pocket money, that'd be better," he said. He also thinks he wouldn't have to make that many changes to his lifestyle as he "isn't someone who splurges regularly anyway". "My money is all spent on food, buying toys, treating others to meals, and buying gifts for people," he chuckled. "Then I shall buy less gifts for others and less toys for myself. If I spend a little less on everything, then I can save a lot." The only thing Chew is unwilling to compromise on is going on holidays. "While I'm studying, I'll still go for vacations because the holidays are very long," he shared. Based on his experience in poly, Chew said schools don't give out homework during the term breaks which would allow him to thoroughly enjoy himself. "I love that kind of life. It's not like when you're working. Even when you go on leave, you have to worry about work. School is different, you don't know what you're going to study next anyway, so you can't prepare beforehand," said Chew.
CNA
4 hours ago
- CNA
CNA938 Rewind - Eat, Drink, Singapore - Reimagining afternoon tea @ St Regis Singapore
The St. Regis Singapore introduces The Tea Room - a new space that brings a fresh take on the afternoon tea ritual. Hui Wong finds out what's on their new menu and what are some traditional afternoon tea etiquette to take note of with Nathalyn Fong, Director of Marketing Communications from St Regis Singapore.
