Star Search can either make stars or break stars (as in the case of most Top 3 stars, but I aint going into that, not even on the poor soul who tried to smuggle coccaine)... but these few celebs who were present at Bishan J8 on Saturday still got what it takes to be a celebrity. Just look at Ivy and Yvonne, who have won Best Actress/Supporting Actress awards... not to forget Felicia Chin, who's undoubtedly the hottest rising young actress today (with many magazine accolades under her name).
IVY LEE JING MEI
The then-19 year old was signed on by Mediacorp (known as SBC back in the early 90s) after winning the bi-annual Star Search in 1993. Ivy has acted in many shows and is loved by her fans, though her popularity dropped a little, thus she has not received a popularity award for 4 consecutive years, up till now. Her personality leads her into mostly motherly roles but her flexibility allowed her to succeed in portraying other characters as well. Ivy was the second Mediacorp actress to win 3 Best Actress awards in 2000, 2004 and 2006. That was a feat only matched by fellow actress Huang Biren. She is happily married to a rich Hongkong businessman since 1997, with whom she has a daughter and twin sons.
IX SHEN JING SHAN
Ix Shen was the male winner of Star Search 1995 and was immediately signed on by the then TCS (but it was Christopher Lee who became more successful than Ix). Ix’s laid back charms and rugged good looks soon got him many drama roles, of which his leading role in drama As You Like It as a carefree and sporty beach bum got audiences’ attention. Another lead role as a crime-fighting officer in Frontline added credibility to his acting career. From his tanned, lean and fit body, it is easy to tell that Ix loved outdoor activities. He excels in most sports from the beach volleyball to dare-devil parachute diving.
Prior to joining the entertainment industry, he was a professional photographer. Ix is still very much into photography, often capturing the images around him into beautiful memories.
Prior to joining the entertainment industry, he was a professional photographer. Ix is still very much into photography, often capturing the images around him into beautiful memories.
CAROLE LIN SHAO PEI
Carole was a flight stewardess prior to her quest for stardom. This tall and lanky Star Search '95 finalist exudes poise and confidence, which distinguishes her among her peers. Beneath the frail and vulnerable façade, the then 21-yr old Carole's fiesty acting skills shone through during the contest and had impressed the panel of judges and the audience. Her portrayal of a maid in the semi-finals stole the limelight, making her a hot favourite for the finals (though she didnt win a place in the Top 3). Carole then made her small screen debut in Tofu Street, a nostalgic drama set in the 1940s, as a strong-willed young woman who leads a harsh life and finally sacrificing herself for her loved ones.
Carole's acting skill was confirmed when she swept the Best Actress Award in Star Awards '97 with her realistic portrayal in Price Of Peace. Since her award-winning night, Carole has been offered more challenging roles ranging from a modern career woman in Roses, Complete With Thorns to a strict counsellor in In A Piece Of Sky.
Carole's acting skill was confirmed when she swept the Best Actress Award in Star Awards '97 with her realistic portrayal in Price Of Peace. Since her award-winning night, Carole has been offered more challenging roles ranging from a modern career woman in Roses, Complete With Thorns to a strict counsellor in In A Piece Of Sky.
Off camera, this bilingual actress who has a heart of compassion is often involved in fund-raising charity events and community service.
BRANDON WONG JIONG YAO
Brandon was first initiated into his entertainment career when he joined Star Search in 1995 at the age of 23. After beating thousands of candidates to get into the finals, his talents did not go unnoticed and he was soon courted by MediaCorp with a contract.
While he is often cast as a baddie, Brandon has a comedic flair too. His superb acting skills often surfaced, such as his convincing portrayal of a struggling comedian (the late great Wang Sa) in the drama Wok Of Life which was set in the 70s. The role made the audience sit up and take note of him and even earned him a nomination for Best Supporting Actor at the Star Awards.
The versatile Brandon not only acts but is also brainy, having graduated from the Technological University of Malaysia. He goes through a great deal of preparation for his roles and is so committed, he even lost a lot of weight once, so as to fit the character he was playing.
While he is often cast as a baddie, Brandon has a comedic flair too. His superb acting skills often surfaced, such as his convincing portrayal of a struggling comedian (the late great Wang Sa) in the drama Wok Of Life which was set in the 70s. The role made the audience sit up and take note of him and even earned him a nomination for Best Supporting Actor at the Star Awards.
The versatile Brandon not only acts but is also brainy, having graduated from the Technological University of Malaysia. He goes through a great deal of preparation for his roles and is so committed, he even lost a lot of weight once, so as to fit the character he was playing.
YVONNE LIM XIANG PING
Yvonne was the first runner-up in the Singapore Polytechnic Beauty Quest and a finalist with Go Magazine's Cover Girl Contest before she joined Star Search in 1997 at the age of 20. She was offered a full-time artiste contract with MediaCorp Studios and was given the lead role in her debut TV drama, Starting Point, where she played a young entrepreneur, which won a lasting impression in every audience's heart.
With a natural flair for acting, Yvonne plays every character with such ease, winning raves from critics and audiences alike. Her versatility is also shown in various blockbuster drama serials ranging from the period drama Return Of The Condor Heroes to the award winning Stepping Out. Her performances have all received favourable comments and she was voted one of the Top 10 Most Popular Female Artistes in Star Awards '98. Her hard work paid off when she was awarded the Best Supporting Actress award for her role as a schizophrenic in "Portrait Of Home" in the 2005 Star Awards.
This talented actress also recorded and released a solo Mandarin album in the year 2000. In 2002, she teamed up with Hong Kong ATV station in a 30-part courtroom drama Innocently Guilty, holding court with Hong Kong stars like Anita Yuen, Kent Cheng and Wong Yat Wah.
With a natural flair for acting, Yvonne plays every character with such ease, winning raves from critics and audiences alike. Her versatility is also shown in various blockbuster drama serials ranging from the period drama Return Of The Condor Heroes to the award winning Stepping Out. Her performances have all received favourable comments and she was voted one of the Top 10 Most Popular Female Artistes in Star Awards '98. Her hard work paid off when she was awarded the Best Supporting Actress award for her role as a schizophrenic in "Portrait Of Home" in the 2005 Star Awards.
This talented actress also recorded and released a solo Mandarin album in the year 2000. In 2002, she teamed up with Hong Kong ATV station in a 30-part courtroom drama Innocently Guilty, holding court with Hong Kong stars like Anita Yuen, Kent Cheng and Wong Yat Wah.
JOEY SWEE (XU QI)
Joey entered the entertainment circle after joining Star Search 1997 as a semi-finalist. Her angelic face and bubbly personality caught the audience's attention and she was immediately signed on. Joey has done a variety of roles that sees her stretching her comedic talent in The Right Frequency to that of a caring counsellor in You Light Up My Life.
This effervensce girl with endless energy also hosted City Network, an infotainment programme targetted at working adults. She also crossed over to guest-host on the whacky but hugely popular variety programme, City Beat.
Joey's efforts did not go unnoticed by audience when she started getting favuorable comments from audience for her roles in The Reunion and The Vagrant. With her versatility and gung ho attitude, Joey is an artiste who never fails to seize the opportunity whenever it is given to her. She is married to an Indonesian tycoon and bore a son in November 2006.
This effervensce girl with endless energy also hosted City Network, an infotainment programme targetted at working adults. She also crossed over to guest-host on the whacky but hugely popular variety programme, City Beat.
Joey's efforts did not go unnoticed by audience when she started getting favuorable comments from audience for her roles in The Reunion and The Vagrant. With her versatility and gung ho attitude, Joey is an artiste who never fails to seize the opportunity whenever it is given to her. She is married to an Indonesian tycoon and bore a son in November 2006.
VIVIAN LAI YILING
Put a crown of long luscious hair, ravishing looks and eloquence together, and you get the double-champion of All-Asian Star Search '99, Vivian Lai. Bearing an positive outlook on life, the charismatic Vivian was a student prior to joining MediaCorp Studios at the age of 22 With her tender, captivating presence on screen, Vivian is blossoming beyond the testerone-laden core audience.
Her debut in Knotty Liaisons won a lasting impression in everyone's minds, and this was followed instantly by a sitcom Adam's Company which, too, garnered excellent reviews. Having proven her versatility, Vivian managed to build a reputation for herself and has bypassed the traditional struggle most wannabe actors encounter with her strong confidence from day one. She won the Top 10 Most Popular Female Artiste award in 2001, 2003 and 2004.
Her debut in Knotty Liaisons won a lasting impression in everyone's minds, and this was followed instantly by a sitcom Adam's Company which, too, garnered excellent reviews. Having proven her versatility, Vivian managed to build a reputation for herself and has bypassed the traditional struggle most wannabe actors encounter with her strong confidence from day one. She won the Top 10 Most Popular Female Artiste award in 2001, 2003 and 2004.
An intellectual with country-girl charm, Vivian is set to become a hot entity and make everyone sit up in awe, all in her own steam. She is happily married to a banker for 3 years and has a young daughter.
FELICIA CHIN FOONG LING
Felicia Chin beat her Malaysian and China counterparts in Star Search 2003, becoming the first PURE Singaporean champion ever since the contest went regional in 1997. Both talented and exuberant, Felicia nabbed the subsidiary award for Miss Vibrant as well as Best Acting Potential.
At a tender age of 19, one cannot help but notice her ability to handle camera, lights and action with a reassuring confidence and utmost perserverance. Playing the role of Mo Wan Wan (an obese and loud-mouthed nasi lemak seller originally played by veteran actress Chen Liping) in the Star Search finals, Felicia portrayed the character with such aplomb that one may think that she hails from a drama background. Some may call this an inborne talent, while others may want to accord it to her experience as a zoo presenter, or perhaps her title as prom queen back in high school. Felicia was then cast in the blockbuster new drama series, Always on My Mind, opposite Fann Wong and Tay Ping Hui. With her radiant and efferverscent disposition, Felicia exudes an angelic charm that has won the hearts of many.
Felicia started out with mainly supporting roles until 2007 when she finally received her first leading role in the idol drama Let It Shine. Felicia is also the brand ambassador for Vitagen, a health beverage. She is said to have been chosen ahead of other actresses due to her healthy image and her immense popularity among all age groups. She also starred in many commercials such as Wisma Atria, Silky Girl and Whisper Ads.
