Aileen Tan Lay Ching (born 18 October 1966) is a Singaporean actress.

Aileen Tan
Tan in July 2016
Born (1966-10-18) 18 October 1966 (age 57)
Alma materWillow Secondary School
OccupationActress
Years active1988–present
Spouse
Gerald Lee
(m. 2002)
AwardsFull list
Chinese name
Traditional Chinese陳麗貞
Simplified Chinese陈丽贞
Hanyu PinyinChén Lìzhēn

Life and career edit

Tan studied at Willow Secondary School.[1] Tan worked in sales for more than a year before becoming an office administrator at an advertising agency. [1]

Tan participated in Singapore Broadcasting Corporation's inaugural Star Search in 1988 and was placed second behind Zoe Tay.[1] She also won the award for Most Photogenic.[1]

Tan was often cast in leading roles in the first 15 years of her acting career, but has since played supporting roles in recent years.

She has been nominated multiple times in the Best Actress category at the annual Star Awards. She was nominated for the award in 1995, 1996, 1997, 2001, 2002, and 2003; she won the award once in 2001 for her role in Three Women and a Half, playing a manager in an advertising company who would make use of her looks and charms to climb up the corporate ladder. Tan took a break from television in 2005. In 2006, she appeared in two Singapore dramas, Women of Times and Measure of Man, the latter drama clinching the runner-up position in 2006's television viewership ratings.

Tan also ventured into English dramas. In 2000, she played Mae in MediaCorp Channel 5's longest-running drama series, Growing Up. Later in 2009, she played Suzanne Kong, the wife of a tycoon in the 40-episode drama Red Thread. In 2013, Tan won Best Actress in a Supporting Role at the 18th Asian Television Awards (ATA) for her role in The Day It Rained on Our Parade which consisted of four episodes.[2] On 29 May 2015, it was announced that Tan will play the lead role in Jack Neo's film, Long Long Time Ago alongside Mark Lee and Wang Lei.[3] At Star Awards 2017, Tan received the Best Supporting Actress award for the drama Hero. At Star Awards 2018, she landed her 4th nomination for Best Supporting Actress for the drama, Have a Little Faith.

Tan has won 2 Star Awards for Top 10 Most Popular Female Artistes in 1994 and 1997.

Personal life edit

Tan's parents are of Hokkien descent.

She married Hong Kong film director Gerald Lee in 2002.[4] She experienced an ectopic pregnancy in 2006, which eventually led to an abortion.[5][1]

Filmography edit

Television series edit

Year Title Role Notes Ref.
1988 My Fair Ladies (窈窕淑女) Ye Shuilian
1989 The Fortune Hunters (钻石人生) Li Qiumei Cameo
Good Morning, Sir! (早安老师) Zhu Peiqi
Turn of the Tide (浮沉) Li Meifang
1990 The Finishing Line (出人头地) Xia Miaoran
Journey's End (生命街车) Qi Guigui
Happy World (多多富贵多多情) Zhen Meili
1991 The Darkest Hour (烈血青春) Pang Lixue
Black Phoenix (黑凤凰) Xiao Yunhong
1992 Love Is in the Air (爱在女儿乡) Xia Ni
Mystery II (迷离夜II 之《问我是谁》) Huang Shuzhen
1993 Angel of Vengeance (暴雨狂花) Defence attorney Special appearance
Battle of Justice (人海孤鸿) Leiyin
1994 Bond of Love (情网) Luo Qingyi
Scorned Angel (冷太阳) Jiang Hailun
Dr Justice (法医故事) Yang Xiaofan
1995 Deep Within My Heart (爱在心处) Li Qimei
Dr. Justice II (法医故事II) Yang Xiaofan
The Blazing Trail [1]
1996 River of Love (风雨柴船头) Sun Yunfang
New Brave World (新阿郎) Ye Ling
1997 Crimes & Tribulations (狮城奇案录 之 第一个上绞台的女人) Jian Mimi
My Wife, Your Wife, Their Wives (101老婆 之 赌神背后的女人)
1998 My Little Angels (我家小豆豆) Zheng Minghui
The Scam (豪门奇骗) Yang Wenqian
The New Adventures of Wisely Bei Mengdan
1999 P.I. Blues (乌龙档案) Qiu Xiaoyu
2000 My Home Affairs (家事) Hong Liqing
Adam's Company (亚当周记) Angel
2000–2001 Growing Up Mae [1]
2001 Three Women and a Half Huang Tianli (Jane) [1]
The Hotel Yang Ruizhen Cameo
2002 Beautiful Connection Fan Keli
2003 Health Matters 2 (一切由慎开始 2 之《天职》) Huang Aiqin
Romance De Amour Kang Li
2004 Crime Hunters (心网追凶) Fang Jiesi
When The Time Comes (一线之间) Wang Wenxuan
Double Happiness Luo Jiayu
Double Happiness II Luo Jiayu
2005 Love Concierge (爱的掌门人) Producer Xu
2006 Women of Times Cynthia Jia Zengyue
Measure of Man Patricia
2007 Mars vs Venus Li Yulian
The Greatest Love of All Mo Lihua
2008 Our Rice House Li Ying
Nanny Daddy Sophia Feng
Love Blossoms II Daisy Ma
2009 Red Thread (红色线) Suzanne
My Buddy Ye Peiyi
Together Liu Maomao
2011 Prosperity Tang Aili
C.L.I.F. Situ Yan
Devotion Wu Aihao
Love Thy Neighbour Lucy
2012 The Day It Rained on Our Parade Fei-ma
The Enchanted Huang Songli
2013 C.L.I.F. 2 Situ Yan
Mata Mata Yoke Lien Channel 5 series
The Enchanted Huang Songli
2014 Entangled Lin Yueqin
World at Your Feet Ye Laixiang
Mata Mata 2 Yoke Lien Channel 5 series
2015 Life Is Beautiful Chen Miaoyu
The Journey: Our Homeland Yang Lihua
Life - Fear Not Zhuang Daomei
2016 The Dream Job Wang Bizhi [1]
Eat Already? Aunt Ah Shun [6]
Hero Huang Lili [1]
2017 Happy Can Already! Yankee
Dream Coder He Xiuxiang
Eat Already? 2 Ah Shun-Sao
Have A Little Faith Zhuang Kelian
2018 Life Less Ordinary Liew Xiuqin
Fifty & Fabulous (五零高手) Liang Meimei
You Can Be An Angel 3 (你也可以是天使 3) Zhou Lilian
2019 If Only (离归) Hong Jie Directional debut project
Hello Ms Driver (下一站,遇见) Zheng Xueqin
I See You (看见看不见的你) Peng Meifen
2020 Happy Prince (快乐王子) Sonia
All Around You (回路网) Cai Yufeng
2021 My Star Bride Tang Liyin
321 Action! (凶手的自白) Wang Yaci
The Peculiar Pawnbroker (人心鉴定师) Lin Meimei
2022 I Want to be a Tow Kay (亲家冤家做头家) Lucy Leow
Twisted Strings (良辰吉时) Xiao Yu HBO series
When Duty Calls 2 (卫国先锋2) Cai Xiuling
Dark Angel (黑天使) Alex
2023 Fix My Life Ling Jie [7]
Shero Chen Meihua [8]
I Do, Do I?

Film edit

Year Title Role Notes Ref.
1994 The Blazing Trail (兰桂坊血案) Li Shali Telemovie
A Chance of Life (一线生机) Fang Suwen
1995 The Ultimate Truth (惊魂恋) Zhou Jing
1996 Ace Cops (妙警点38) Yao Jingjing
1997 Grandpa's Bak Kut Teh (阿公肉骨茶) A-Yu
2002 Angel Heart (天使心) Feature film
2015 Ah Boys to Men 3: Frogmen Lobang's mother
2016 Long Long Time Ago Lim Zhao Di
Long Long Time Ago 2
2018 Wonderful! Liang Xi Mei Mrs Lu Feature film [9]
2020 The Diam Diam Era Lim Zhaodi Feature film [10]
2022 The Betrothal Ceremony Ryan's mother Short film

Awards and nominations edit

Year Ceremony Category Nominated work Result Ref
1994 Star Awards Top 5 Most Popular Female Artistes Won
1995 Star Awards Top 5 Most Popular Female Artistes Nominated
Best Actress The Blazing Trail (as Li Shali) Nominated
1996 Star Awards Top 10 Most Popular Female Artistes Nominated
Best Actress Ace Cops (as Yao Jingjing) Nominated
1997 Star Awards Best Actress Agong Bak Kut Teh (as Yu) Nominated
Top 10 Most Popular Female Artistes Top 10
1998 Star Awards Top 10 Most Popular Female Artistes Top 20
2001 Star Awards Best Actress Three Women and a Half (as Jane) Won
Top 10 Most Popular Female Artistes Top 20
2002 Asian Television Awards Best Actress in a Leading Role Three Women and a Half (as Jane) Nominated
Star Awards Best Actress Beautiful Connection (as Fang Keli) Nominated
Top 10 Most Popular Female Artistes Top 20
2003 Star Awards Best Actress Romance De Amour (as Kang Li) Nominated
Top 10 Most Popular Female Artistes Top 20
2010 Star Awards Best Supporting Actress Together (as Liu Mao Mao) Nominated
2012 Star Awards Top 10 Most Popular Female Artistes Top 20
2013 Asian Television Awards Best Actress in a Supporting Role The Day It Rained on Our Parade (as Fei-Ma) Won
2014 Star Awards Best Supporting Actress C.L.I.F. 2 (as Seetoh Yan) Nominated
2016 Star Awards Top 10 Most Popular Female Artistes Top 20
2017 Star Awards Best Evergreen Artiste Hero (as Huang Lili) Nominated [1]
Best Supporting Actress Won [1]
Top 10 Most Popular Female Artistes Top 20
2018 Star Awards Best Supporting Actress Have A Little Faith (as Zhuang Kelian) Nominated
Top 10 Most Popular Female Artistes Top 20
Best Theme Song Life Less Ordinary ("小人物向前冲") Nominated
2019 Star Awards Best Supporting Actress You Can Be An Angel 3 (as Zhou Lilian) Nominated
Best Evergreen Artiste Nominated
Top 10 Most Popular Female Artistes Top 20
2021 Star Awards Best Supporting Actress Hello Miss Driver (as Zheng Xueqin) Nominated
Top 10 Most Popular Female Artistes Top 30
2022 Star Awards Top 10 Most Popular Female Artistes Top 20 [11]
2023 Star Awards Best Supporting Actress Dark Angel (as Alex) Nominated
Best Evergreen Artiste Nominated
Top 10 Most Popular Female Artistes Top 20

References edit

  1. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l Yip, Wai Yee (13 March 2017). "The Life Interview with actress Aileen Tan: From sexy to auntie". The Straits Times. ISSN 0585-3923. Retrieved 28 September 2023.
  2. ^ "Award Winning Antics: 18th Asian Television Awards". The New Paper. 13 December 2013. Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 31 May 2015.
  3. ^ "Jack Neo's new movie Long Long Time Ago stars Aileen Tan, Mark Lee, Wang Lei - and Hokkien". The Straits Times. 29 May 2015.
  4. ^ "Singapore actress Aileen Tan says she cried every night after having an abortion". Her World Singapore. 10 February 2016. Retrieved 25 March 2022.
  5. ^ Yun, Tan Kee (9 February 2016). "Aileen Tan plays pregnant mum in new film, almost 10 years after abortion". The New Paper. Retrieved 31 December 2020.
  6. ^ Low, Tracy (2 September 2016). "Filming of dialect TV drama had to be kept a secret". The New Paper. Retrieved 25 March 2022.
  7. ^ "Madeline Chu, Sean Say, John Hung: 1991 ad of top 20 popular artistes stirs nostalgia". AsiaOne. 6 April 2023. Retrieved 10 April 2023.
  8. ^ "笑谈21年婚姻 陈丽贞当年因摔伤才结婚 | 早报". www.zaobao.com.sg (in Simplified Chinese). Retrieved 7 May 2023.
  9. ^ "COMMENT: Jack Neo may be becoming Singapore's Adam Sandler". sg.style.yahoo.com. 2 March 2018. Retrieved 30 November 2023.
  10. ^ "'Siang ka pager?' What can Jack Neo and the cast of The Diam Diam Era share about these 1980s items?". AsiaOne. 24 November 2020. Retrieved 30 November 2023.
  11. ^ "Star Awards Top 40 Most Popular Artistes revealed; Brandon Wong gets first nomination". sg.style.yahoo.com. Retrieved 25 April 2022.

External links edit