Latest news with #JeanetteAw


New Paper
17-07-2025
- Entertainment
- New Paper
Star Awards 2025: The 11 red carpet looks that caught the eye
It was tasteful, if a touch restrained, on the Star Awards 2025 red carpet. The 30th edition of local entertainment's biggest night had promised spectacle, but the artistes in attendance on July 6 overwhelmingly opted for trusty suits - mostly in penguin colours, though some dared a navy - safely pretty black dresses, lucky red ones and standard sequinned gowns. It felt like sober good sense taking over in the third decade of the awards show, teased by backstage pictures of the stars sipping bird's nest tonics from little flasks supplied by celebrity hairstylist David Gan. The upshot was competent, even relaxed looks, with few misfires. Fight through the polite applause and one might find interest in the details: host Quan Yi Fong's windswept tromp l'oeil tie, newbie Tiffany Ho's clover-shaped "bib" or actor Desmond Tan passing off a tassel for a tie. And with the likes of actors Li Nanxing, Sharon Au and Jeanette Aw making their Walk Of Fame comebacks, there was enough going on to keep oglers occupied. A new crop of actors from the hit series Emerald Hill (2025), as yet too fresh to keep it chill, also turned up the heat. Here are the most memorable hits and misses from the annual extravaganza. Tasha Low Like a true clothes horse, Low made no concession to the weather in this feathered Chanel jacket and skirt set. The charmeuse top, with its jewelled buttons, gave a sense of occasion. The spring green was bright, without being timid. The matching jacquard skirt with a Chanel camellia motif was faultless. Her Chinese period drama-esque hairdo might have tipped the look into costume, if not for the flash of those black velvet platform boots. All in all, a rock star look from the Emerald Hill star. Chantalle Ng Here was another Emerald Hill lead - and Low's bestie - looking to make an impression. Ng's divisive, barely there chainmail dress of 2023, and sports bra-flashing, white overlay fishing net number in 2024, showed her admirable scorn for quiet dressing. This time, she finally nailed it in her most conservative look yet. Her strapless white gown was a busy one, with ruffles round the bust, waist and fringing a fluffy-looking train. Look closer and some boning is visible in the bodice, as well as a charming criss-cross pattern in the skirt. Ng gets props for holding it all together, without looking too bridal. Zoe Tay Ah Jie made a queenly entrance in Chanel. With hair slicked back, in a floor-grazing black coat - naturally made of tweed - and a controlled explosion of flowers embroidered on the collar, she looked every bit the matriarch of Mediacorp. It was welcome relief from the ruddy dresses Tay reached for in 2023 and 2024. But do not mistake her for severe now - she still swished her coat playfully for the cameras and capped off the look with a fun pair of velvet and mirror platform sandals. Jeanette Aw Singaporean actresses Jeanette Aw (right) and Jesseca Liu walking the red carpet at the Star Awards ceremony at Mediacorp on July 6. ST PHOTO: BRIAN TEO After a six-year break from the silver screen, Aw is making a leading lady TV comeback in 2026. For her red carpet return, she went for a prim Shushu/Tong number, with a flat bow detail on the neckline that added a dash of girlish sweetness. The woollen weight and full-hipped silhouette kept it classy. Her towering stiletto heels and crocodile-shaped open necklace added a welcome pinch of danger. Fann Wong Actress Fann Wong and her husband Christopher Lee at the Star Awards on July 6. PHOTO: LIANHE ZAOBAO Wong famously turned up at the 2003 Star Awards in sneakers, a cropped top and ultra-loud floral red knee-length pants. Those who hoped she might reprise that spirit might be disappointed to learn she has retired from wacky, if her all-white look was anything to go by. But it was gauche to quibble. Her simple shift dress fell perfectly to her feet and, with only the most sparing of accessories - a thick silver bracelet, earrings and a thin necklace - she proved less is more. Chen Liping Chen Liping walking the red carpet at the Star Awards ceremony at Mediacorp on July 6. ST PHOTO: BRIAN TEO Chen arrived like a Roald Dahl character - specifically, the giant peach in James And The Giant Peach. Her linebacker shoulders in a pleated orange top, with an exposed zipper no less, was the most flammable look of the night. Still, it was difficult to say what clothes could carry the energy of the beloved on-screen teacher known as Aiyoyo, who somehow managed to overpower her screeching garb, looking easy-breezy above the noise. Li Nanxing Singaporean actress Zoe Tay and actor Li Nanxing on the red carpet at the Star Awards ceremony at Mediacorp on July 6. ST PHOTO: BRIAN TEO Ah Ge Li Nanxing was the one to watch on awards night as he made his long-awaited return to the ceremony. He could have come in the national service admin tee and it would not have made a difference, but he played nice and went for a baggy suit. His yellow-tinted sunglasses and metallic corsage - a brooch shaped like a spray of flowers - capped off the mob boss look. Ya Hui Singaporean actress Ya Hui walking the red carpet at the Star Awards ceremony at Mediacorp on July 6. ST PHOTO: BRIAN TEO She dared to experiment with a denim fishtail dress. Alas, the intrepid actress was foiled by the casual-looking wash of the jeans, the randomness of her elbow-length black gloves and the truly bizarre lone silver bangle on one wrist. It might have been worth it if she could move in it, but the well-loved star was seen grappling with her skirt, stalled before the stairs up to the venue by the stiff material and awkward length. Xiang Yun (From left) Host Hazelle Teo, host-actor Guo Liang, actress Xiang Yun and actor Chen Shucheng at the Star Awards at Mediacorp on July 6. PHOTO: LIANHE ZAOBAO The veteran actress is not one to shy from colour. In 2023, she went full highlighter in a fluorescent yellow number. This year, she opted for fuchsia. But if her neon look two years ago worked because of its considered structure, her rosy collared dress this year was undone by its Office Lady sensibility. Think three-quarter sleeves, flared skirt and a sorrowfully misshapen bow tacked onto the waist. A haphazard ponytail that could only have been hastily done inspired the present suspicion - perhaps, she had not meant to attend. Pierre Png Actors Xu Bin (left) and Pierre Png walking the red carpet at the Star Awards ceremony at Mediacorp on July 6. ST PHOTO: BRIAN TEO The Crazy Rich Asians (2018) heart-throb and best supporting actor nominee rolled up in an all-black paisley printed suit - and bedhead. Maybe it was an adventurous hairstyling choice, but the cowlick visible from behind suggested ambivalence. Then again, with nearly 30 years in the dog and pony show of show business, Png might be forgiven for taking a nap. Elvin Ng Mr Bandung - so named for his infamous pink ombre get-up circa 2021 - ditched the strictures of a suit altogether this time, favouring a belted cool grey jumpsuit, unzipped to mid-chest. His popped collar, silver ear studs, gold brooch and a wispy forelock added some glamour. But otherwise, his elevated loungewear looked the most comfortable of the night.


New Paper
04-07-2025
- Entertainment
- New Paper
No foundation on screen in 22 years: Jeanette Aw talks beauty in her 40s
Jeanette Aw has not worn foundation on screen in 22 years. The local TV star says she was told to ditch the base make-up to better suit her breakout role as naive ingenue Mo Jingjing in the Channel 8 drama Holland V (2003). "When it aired, nobody realised," says Aw. Later, it was simply "a lot easier" to act in her bare skin, when full coverage would have meant tedious touch-ups after sweaty outdoor shots or her many crying scenes. Now, some 30 TV series and a six-year acting hiatus later, the 46-year-old is filming her comeback show - still sans foundation. While acting, she typically wears only concealer. When The Straits Times meets Aw on June 27 at the opening of nail salon Nailz Haus' new Ngee Ann City outlet, she says her secret to youthful skin is consistency. She has kept up the same skincare regimen - "not beauty", she is careful to say - since her 20s, finding little to tweak in her 40s. Keeping off thick make-up to let her skin breathe is one thing. Other habits she swears by include drinking lots of warm water, no sweet drinks - which she quit in secondary school after her PE teacher said the sugar would undo the work done in class - and double cleansing every day. She says: "I use an oil cleanser first and then a very gentle face wash. That's the thing I really believe in." Her zeal for cleaning goes all the way down to her toes. She exfoliates her heels for up to a month straight at times, particularly when they get cracked and dry after work trips to Japan for her patisserie Once Upon A Time's pop-ups there, she says. Her second career in the food and beverage industry also means she keeps her nails bare. "At most, a shine and buff," she says. But beyond the skin deep, in her inner and professional life, the actress has moved far away from the limitations of her 20s. She was drawn out of on-screen retirement by the depth of her character in the upcoming drama Highway To Somewhere, a woman who goes on a road trip with her husband (Romeo Tan) to mend their flagging marriage. It is her first leading role in a Mediacorp Chinese-language drama since After The Stars (2019). Set to premiere in March 2026, the series is based on marital conflict that cuts close to the bone for many real-life couples, with depictions of quarrels and secrets, she says. "There's a lot of emotional layers to her." Jeanette Aw as her character in Highway To Somewhere. PHOTO: MEDIACORP "Some characters are loud, with a lot of big actions, and (require) a very outward kind of performance. But I tend to be into the deep, heartfelt, emotional performance right now and that is what really called out to me." It is a departure from the cutesy mould of her earlier roles. In a Freudian slip, Aw accidentally refers to her younger self in the third person while discussing her role as a "young, silly girl" in Holland V. It was a suitable gig for her at that age and one she has a lot of affection for, but she has grown into heavier roles, she says. That the complex and meaty characters she played in The Little Nyonya (2008) and The Dream Makers (2013) ebbed into typecast offers was in part behind her decision to leave the local entertainment industry in 2019. She took up bit parts in Chinese dramas afterwards and made a cameo in Emerald Hill (2025), the sequel to The Little Nyonya, though filming did not go beyond 10 days. Highway To Somewhere calls for more subtle acting, the micro-expressions that betray true feeling. "I really like that," she adds. How did Aw make the leap? Life experience is what acting comes down to, she says. In the six-year break she took from the "sheltered world" of show business to start Once Uopn A Time in 2021, she was cheated by a contractor. She had paid him a lump sum to make deliveries, with the money meant to cover his fees over time - but he disappeared without making a single run, she says. The four-figure loss stung. It was a novel experience, she adds. "In the entertainment industry, I was very protected. I didn't meet a lot of people, just other actors, the production team and the media." Running her own ship also pushed her into giving instructions, instead of taking direction. She was no longer playing roles and reading scripts, she says, referring to the heightened stakes of real-world ventures. The bachelorette adds: "When you have all that in you, that's when you can scale back and do all the inner work for an actor." Once hailed as one of the "Seven Princesses of Mediacorp", Aw is sceptical at the suggestion of a new generation discovering her work on Netflix. The streaming giant acquired the rights to The Little Nyonya in 2016 and Emerald Hill in 2024. Still, she obliges in dispensing some counsel to younger women: "Just do what makes you happy, and double cleanse."

Straits Times
03-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Straits Times
No foundation or sweet drinks: Jeanette Aw talks beauty in her 40s and comeback lead TV role
Sign up now: Get ST's newsletters delivered to your inbox Jeanette Aw pictured at the opening of Nailz Haus at Ngee Ann City on June 27. SINGAPORE – Jeanette Aw has not worn foundation on screen in 22 years. The local TV star says she was told to ditch the base make-up to better suit her breakout role as naive ingenue Mo Jingjing in the Channel 8 drama Holland V (2003). 'When it aired, nobody realised,' says Aw. Later, it was simply 'a lot easier' to act in her bare skin, when full coverage would have meant tedious touch-ups after sweaty outdoor shots or her many crying scenes. Now, some 30 TV series and a six-year acting hiatus later, the 46-year-old is filming her comeback show – still sans foundation. While acting, she typically wears only concealer. When The Straits Times meets Aw on June 27 at the opening of nail salon Nailz Haus' new Ngee Ann City outlet, she says her secret to youthful skin is consistency. She has kept up the same skincare regimen – 'not beauty', she is careful to say – since her 20s, finding little to tweak in her 40s. Keeping off thick make-up to let her skin breathe is one thing. Other habits she swears by include drinking lots of warm water, no sweet drinks – which she quit in secondary school after her PE teacher said the sugar would undo the work done in class – and double cleansing every day. Top stories Swipe. Select. Stay informed. Singapore $500 in Child LifeSG credits, Edusave, Post-Sec Education Account top-ups to be disbursed in July Singapore Man to be charged after he allegedly damaged PAP campaign materials on GE2025 Polling Day Singapore Scoot launches flights to Da Nang, Kota Bharu and Nha Trang; boosts frequency to other destinations Asia 4 dead, 30 missing after ferry sinks on way to Indonesia's Bali Singapore Electrician who bit off part of coworker's ear during fight gets 6 months' jail Singapore $1.46b nickel-trading scam: Ng Yu Zhi's bid for bail midway through trial denied by High Court Asia Thai opposition to hold off on no-confidence vote against government Business Singapore six-month T-bill cut-off yield tumbles from 2% to 1.85% She says: 'I use an oil cleanser first and then a very gentle face wash. That's the thing I really believe in.' Her zeal for cleaning goes all the way down to her toes. She exfoliates her heels for up to a month straight at times, particularly when they get cracked and dry after work trips to Japan for her patisserie Once Upon A Time's pop-ups there, she says. Her second career in the food and beverage industry also means she keeps her nails bare. 'At most, a shine and buff,' she says. But beyond the skin deep, in her inner and professional life, the actress has moved far away from the limitations of her 20s. She was drawn out of on-screen retirement by the depth of her character in the upcoming drama Highway To Somewhere, a woman who goes on a road trip with her husband (Romeo Tan) to mend their flagging marriage. It is her first leading role in a Mediacorp Chinese-language drama since After The Stars (2019). Set to premiere in March 2026, the series is based on marital conflict that cuts close to the bone for many real-life couples, with depictions of quarrels and secrets, she says. 'There's a lot of emotional layers to her.' Jeanette Aw as her character in Highway To Somewhere. PHOTO: MEDIACORP 'Some characters are loud, with a lot of big actions, and (require) a very outward kind of performance. But I tend to be into the deep, heartfelt, emotional performance right now and that is what really called out to me.' It is a departure from the cutesy mould of her earlier roles. In a Freudian slip, Aw accidentally refers to her younger self in the third person while discussing her role as a 'young, silly girl' in Holland V. It was a suitable gig for her at that age and one she has a lot of affection for, but she has grown into heavier roles, she says. That the complex and meaty characters she played in The Little Nyonya (2008) and The Dream Makers (2013) ebbed into typecast offers was in part behind her decision to leave the local entertainment industry in 2019. She took up bit parts in Chinese dramas afterwards and made a cameo in Emerald Hill (2025), the sequel to The Little Nyonya, though filming did not go beyond 10 days. Highway To Somewhere calls for more subtle acting, the micro-expressions that betray true feeling. 'I really like that,' she adds. How did Aw make the leap? Life experience is what acting comes down to, she says. In the six-year break she took from the 'sheltered world' of show business to start Once Uopn A Time in 2021, she was cheated by a contractor. She had paid him a lump sum to make deliveries, with the money meant to cover his fees over time – but he disappeared without making a single run, she says. The four-figure loss stung. It was a novel experience, she adds. 'In the entertainment industry, I was very protected. I didn't meet a lot of people, just other actors, the production team and the media.' Running her own ship also pushed her into giving instructions, instead of taking direction. She was no longer playing roles and reading scripts, she says, referring to the heightened stakes of real-world ventures. The bachelorette adds: 'When you have all that in you, that's when you can scale back and do all the inner work for an actor.' Once hailed as one of the 'Seven Princesses of Mediacorp', Aw is sceptical at the suggestion of a new generation discovering her work on Netflix. The streaming giant acquired the rights to The Little Nyonya in 2016 and Emerald Hill in 2024. Still, she obliges in dispensing some counsel to younger women: 'Just do what makes you happy, and double cleanse.'
Yahoo
21-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
This Singapore Series Is Worth Bingeing On Netflix And Cancelling All Your Dates
Okay, gather 'round, because there's a period drama on Netflix that's keeping us at the edge of our seats: "Emerald Hill: The Little Nyonya Story"! View this photo on Instagram Think gorgeous Peranakan fashion, jaw-dropping mansions, and enough family secrets to fill an entire season of "Keeping Up With The Kardashians." This show has it all: intense drama, unexpected twists, and three incredible Nyonya women navigating betrayals and power struggles in a truly visually stunning world. Seriously, the costumes are a whole vibe! It's a journey back to the 1950s-70s that's packed with cultural richness and emotional punches. Related: 21 Extremely, Extremely, Extremely, Extremely, Extremely, Extremely, Extremely, Extremely, Extremely, Extremely, Dark True Crime Stories People Shared From Their Hometowns View this photo on Instagram Starring bigwigs in Singapore's acting industry like veteran Zoe Tay, Jeanette Aw, Chantalle Ng, Tasha Low, Zhang Ze Tong and even Malaysian actress Jojo Goh; the full episodes are now available on Netflix. Related: I Read About Creepy Unsolved Mysteries For A Living, And These 23 Are The Most Unsettling I've Read All Month Well, don't take it from us; the people have spoken! Awwwww #EmeraldHill ended on @Netflix_PH yesterday and the last few episodes felt like a Filipino series hurried to wrap up. And the gun-toting-villain-turned-p**cho trope is quite Filipino-coded, too. In short: Relatable! Nevertheless, I enjoyed its run! — Për Sørlig Vind (@sipierreko) April 21, 2025 Twitter: @sipierreko 🎉 Congratulations to 'Emerald Hill' for becoming the first Mediacorp Chinese drama to hit No.1 on Netflix Singapore! 📺🥇 Actress Chantalle Ng shares her excitement, adding that she hopes viewers continue their support as she joins from episode 6. #EmeraldHill #NetflixSG… — Global Pulse (@GlobalPulse_Vir) March 13, 2025 Twitter: @GlobalPulse_Vir Comment byu/danilody from discussion insingapore Comment byu/danilody from discussion insingapore Comment byu/danilody from discussion insingapore More on this 7 Best Minimal Decor Ideas For HDB Homes In Singaporeretalee · June 17, 2025 12 Instagram-Worthy Spots In Singapore That Will Make All Your Friends Jealousretalee · June 19, 2025 I Hung In Singapore For Three Days And Here's Everywhere I WentEssence Gant · Feb. 15, 2020 21 Things Singapore Has That'll Make You Say, "Why Isn't This Everywhere?"Kevin Smith · Oct. 4, 2018 Also in BuzzFeed: I Read About Creepy Unsolved Mysteries For A Living, And These 29 Might Be The Most Unsettling I've Ever Heard Of Also in BuzzFeed: 50 People Who Died In Embarrassing, Nightmarish, Scandalous, Horrifying, Disturbing, Or Even Darkly Funny Ways Also in BuzzFeed: 56 People Who Are Way, Way, Way, Way, Way, Way, Way, Way Dumber Than Anyone You've Ever Met


Independent Singapore
27-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Independent Singapore
Jeanette Aw joins Insight Vacations for first-class adventures
Photo: Facebook/Jeanette Aw SINGAPORE: In a recent Facebook post, Singaporean celebrity Jeanette Aw shared her experiences with Insight Vacations, a travel company that organises business-class tours. She highlighted the comfort and quality of their accommodations and the slower pace of their tours, allowing more time to explore. Photo: Facebook/Jeanette Aw She has specifically shared photos and posts about a trip to Switzerland, including her time with the Matterhorn. Slower days, sweeter moments 'Slower days, sweeter moments. More time to explore, snap that perfect photo, or stumble on the best gelato in town,' Aw wrote in the Facebook post. She added, ' Even with a tour group, there's still space for me time. #InsightVacations isn't just about the service, it's about travelling at a pace that lets it all sink in.' In other travel-related news, Aw enjoys visiting Japan. It turns out her trips to Japan aren't just for sightseeing. Back in 2019, as CNA reported, the actress, author, and filmmaker actually spent three whole months at Le Cordon Bleu's Tokyo Institute to master the art of Superior Patisserie! So, she's got some serious culinary skills to go along with everything else she does. See also Ariana Grande asks to be photoshopped into BLACKPINK photo After her role in Eric Khoo's movie Ramen Teh (also called Ramen Shop ), she was actually appointed as a PR ambassador for Takasaki back in 2018. That's a city just an hour outside of Tokyo by bullet train, so she must have made quite an impression. Patisserie pop-ups across Japan Showing off her baking talents, Aw, who is also a skilled baker, actually held pop-up patisseries for her 'Once Upon A Time' creations all over Japan in 2024 and 2025. She brought her delicious treats to cities like Nagoya, Osaka, Kobe, and, of course, Tokyo. 'I'm in Japan at least once a year. As far as I can remember, while most of them were for work trips, I'd usually extend my time there to explore the city,' recalled Aw. 'It's a beautiful place with so much to offer. The sights, the food and the people. You get such different vibes city to city, town to town. I can't pin down my favourite city, but I do love Tokyo, Osaka and Kyoto. There are also some other very quaint places that I really love as well, like Kamakura and Hakone.' See also Adam Cheng, 73 reveals how he stays youthful Keeping warm Aw knows the importance of keeping warm when she is in Japan during the winter season for her patisserie pop-ups. Aw also mentioned that besides gloves and long socks, a good scarf is a must-have to fight off the chill. 'Seriously, keeping your neck warm makes a big difference,' she added. When it comes to clothes, she always packs the basics like a good jacket or coat, pants, sweaters, and thermal layers. Plus, since she's often in Japan for extended periods, Aw let on that she usually brings two wardrobes so she can have some variety while she's there. And Aw's newest trick? Popping thermal insoles into your shoes is a game-changer for keeping your feet toasty.