March 01, 2001

MediaCorp veteran Xiang Yun reveals her secret formula for success.

By Linda Lee

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There's only one word to describe Xiang Yun's current state of mind now - bliss.

Indeed, I've yet to see a celebrity who's so at ease with herself. You could see the gleam in the actress' eyes and sense the happiness from her voice.

"My work and family keep me going. I'm content with my life and I feel at ease with myself," she says warmly.

For those of you who don't already know, Xiang Yun has been acting for the past 2 decades (even before there was colour TV!).

The well-liked personality shot to stardom together with her onscreen 'lover', Huang Wenyong in the 80s, in The Awakening, and went on to capture audiences' hearts over the years.

She was the original Ah Jie before younger artistes like Zoe Tay and Fann Wong started to call the shots in the 90s. As their stars rose, so hers fell.

It was not until recently that the leading lady began to make her mark again in the arenas of hosting (Du Shi Xin Gan Xian) and stage acting (December Rain and Butterflies Are Free).

Her charismatic turn as Tay Ping Hui's mother in Butterflies drew rave reviews from critics. Now, she's set to star in a movie called Be Your Valentine with Wenyong.

Xiang Yun's Resurgence

How does the experienced actress deal with the ups and downs of showbiz?

Says the petite actress, who is in her late 30s, "Back then, it was only a small market. There were few opportunities unlike now. Artistes must be more talented and all-rounded. Moreover, more emphasis is placed on new technologies (like computer graphics) rather than just acting per se.

"I choose not to think about my 'downs' because they are already a thing of the past. I do not want to be bogged down by them. There was a stage when I took a long rest. I was supposed to go into teaching after finishing my shoot for My Home Affairs then because I felt it was time to move on to another stage in my life.

"Also, I was pregnant with my second child then, so I took the chance to have a break. It was something like the show Long Vacation - I was having a 'holiday' before deciding what to do with my career."

Adds the chirpy star, "I'm thankful for what I have now and I want to continue to enjoy my work and life. I'm more accommodating, enthusiastic and optimistic."

The Best Thing In Butterflies Are Free

How did the veteran TV actress manage to win the critics over with her brilliant performance in the adapted Broadway play, Butterflies Are Free?

She says, "The script and my character are well-written and crafted. Actually, I was not that confident about acting on stage because it is, after all, something new to me. I observed the Shanghai actress' interpretation and performance while I watched the play in China and improvised on the role back home.

"The Shanghainese played the role in a rather 'traditional-Chinese' way while I tried to adopt an East-meets-West style and follow the Broadway approach. I also reminded myself to exaggerate my body movements."

It definitely worked.

Life As A Mother/Wife

You can literally see the glow on Xiang Yun's face as she talks about her children.

Reveals the cheerful artiste, "It's funny how my 2 children have totally different characters. I think it has got to do with my state of mind when I was expecting them.

"My first child is very quiet and shy - probably because when I was pregnant, I was rather insecure about my career and often felt down and worried.

"But on the other hand, my second child is talkative and active - I was more relaxed and less stressed-out during my second pregnancy. She laughs and cheers you up and even 'bullies' her brother by pulling down his spectacles sometimes."

Now that she has tried almost 'everything' in her acting career, what else is there left for the versatile performer to do?

"Actually, I think motherly roles are quite suitable for me and I'm not sick of playing aunties! Of course, there are still many roles that I want to explore. As long as my producers believe in me, I'm willing to challenge myself.

"For instance, I would like to try to play the role of a single career woman."

What about singing?

"Actually, I love to sing. But I don't foresee myself releasing an album unless the listeners are willing to buy them!" jokes the humble old hand good-naturedly.

Well, you never know, that could just happen!

Join the discussion on our message board
What do you think of the casting of Tay Ping Hui, Perry Chiu, Xiang Yun and Andi Lim in the play, Butterflies Are Free?

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