To say that Mediacorp artiste Carrie Wong is primed for legendary acting status in Singapore would not be an understatement. In the past nine years, she has won herself a place in the Star Awards’ Top 10 Most Popular Female Artistes category nine consecutive times. If she were to win it once again next year, it would place her in the same ranks as Zoe Tay, Fann Wong, Xiang Yun, Rui En and Rebecca Lim—the only other five actresses who have managed to accomplish this feat. It certainly is something to brag about, especially considering the tough competition she faced at the recent competition: There were a total of 46 female nominees this year, which is more than twice the 20 names usually presented at Star Awards.
When ELLE Singapore spoke to her about her latest win, Wong admitted to feeling a touch more emotional than she did in previous years. “I can still remember very vividly the first year I placed Top 10 in the female artiste category,” says the 30-year-old actress. “I was so happy to hear my name called. The awards gave me drive and motivation to push forward and do better. These days, I feel more reflective, more sentimental, more humbled.”
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LOOKING BACK
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As she shares, it hasn’t always been a smooth ride and there have been moments in her career where she thought about giving it all up. But then she remembers the people who never gave up on her, not to mention her dedicated and loyal group of fans. “They juggle work and school, but they still stay up all night to vote for me. Sometimes I wonder if I deserve this; for them to sacrifice their sleep and time the way they do. I get so emotional when I’m thanking them in my speeches,” she says. “I’m a very soft-hearted person, but I don't really present that [side of myself] to people. So, I just really want to thank them all for sticking by me through thick and thin. I do love all of them and hope they continue to stay with me.”
Talent-scouted while still a Hospitality and Tourism Management student at Nanyang Polytechnic, Wong never imagined she would end up being an actress. She initially had her sights on working in the events industry. It was Mediacorp host Ben Yeo who plucked her from obscurity and entered her into “Hey, Gorgeous”, an on-campus reality TV competition in 2013. As she recalls: “I didn’t win the show, but I became a finalist and was offered a contract to work for Mediacorp. At first, my dad was against it because he wanted me to complete my studies first. But I struck a deal with him that if I didn’t succeed after two years, I would go back and do my degree. I’m not very academically inclined, so luckily, things kind of worked out for me!”
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LOOKING AT NOW
Wong shares that her next big project is the Channel 8 drama, Artificial Kin (or 爱不虚拟 in Chinese), which will air in the second half of this year. Filmed completely in Kuala Lumpur, the show revolves around her protagonist character, who endures a life full of struggles. It is a character that has left a deep impression on her. “This character went through a lot of mishaps in life. While I played her, I felt so much pain and agony. What really impressed me about this character is that despite all the pitfalls in her life, she remains extremely optimistic.” Without giving away too much, Wong assures us that the story will have a happy ending. “Through filming this show, I learned that regardless of what happens to you, as long as you’re alive, everything will work out,” she adds.
When the shoot for our digital cover is over, Wong finally tucks into her much-delayed lunch without a word of complaint; she is just happy to sit and chill with the crew whom she has already won over (she ordered Starbucks for everyone without anyone asking). And that’s when we find out some other interesting facts about her: She loves spicy food, she has an uncanny ability to mimic accents (her Korean is thoroughly convincing) and her favourite pieces of jewellery are rings.
LOOKING AHEAD
“Buccellati rings look really good on me!” she exclaims, waving her slender fingers around to show off the hand-finished rings. “Their designs have a traditional yet modern feel that I think is very beautiful.”
Here, Wong shares her fashion and beauty tips and plans for the future.
You consistently serve looks on and off the red carpet. Who or what are your biggest style inspirations?
I get inspiration from everywhere. I love to just walk into shops and see what’s trending. I also enjoy reading fashion magazines to see what the Chinese and Korean stars are wearing. I’m really open to exploring new styles.
How would you describe your personal style?
I’m a bit of a fashion chameleon. I like to mix and match looks as long as they are feminine and sexy. My favourite go-to outfit is always high-waisted trousers and a crop top that shows a little bit of skin. I also love flare- or straight-cut jeans, but because I’m 1.76m tall, it’s very hard to find ones that fit. So far, Saint Laurent jeans fit me really well. And I love blazers with shoulder pads. I think I can pull off the look nicely because I have broad shoulders. I’m also a sneaker girl for life.
What’s the one fashion rule you love to break?
I like to mix colours that people wouldn't typically pair together. I’m usually very boring when it comes to colours—most of my wardrobe is either black, white or earthy tones. But once in a while, I love adding a splash of colour like bright red, bright yellow or bright green to my outfit. I find that quite interesting.
What is a beauty secret you’ve learnt from working with make-up artists?
They taught me that you can heat your eyelash curler with a lighter. The heat can really curl your lashes more effectively and helps them stay curled all day. Another useful tip is applying a little bit of highlighter on the cheeks for a radiant glow.
What are some of your surprising hobbies or skills that people might not know about?
I pick up languages and accents quite fast. I watch a lot of Korean dramas and variety shows and can imitate their accents quite well.
Do you have a personal life goal?
I want to be able to say that I’ve travelled to every part of the world. My dream is to also be a mum one day. I might be very single right now but I still want to experience all the wonderful milestones in a woman’s life. I saw my cover photo for ELLE which was shot eight years ago when I was 22. I just turned 30 this year and it hit me how much I’ve grown this past decade. My wish is that in another 10 years, I have a family of my own and I’ll be teaching my children all the things I’ve learned in life.
How do you picture your dream partner?
My inner circle of friends will tell you that I’m a hyper-sensitive person. I wear my heart on my sleeve and may have emotional outbursts for no reason. Being around me when I’m in one of my moods can be quite draining. The person I’m with needs to be very understanding and patient, and to love me regardless of the state I’m in while teaching me right from wrong.
What advice would you give your younger self?
Sit tight, put on your seat belt, brace yourself … things are going to get crazy. But don’t forget to breathe. Rest assured that everything is going to be okay.
Photographed by REUBEN FOONG
Styled by SHARON TULASIDAS
Producer: NAVIN PILLAY
Makeup: YANG RICK / ARTISTRY STUDIOS using CHANEL BEAUTY
Hair: DEXTER NG using KEVIN MURPHY
Photographer's Assistants: MCDOUGLAS LIM and DANIEL OLIVER WEST
Stylist's Assistant: JOSEPHINE ANG