Sunday November 22, 2009
In for a great ride
By ELIZABETH TAI
FOR Chinese actor Qi Yuwu, playing Yueniang’s love interest Chen Xi was quite a challenge.
“I had to memorise and sing a Malay pantun. And I had to learn horse riding from scratch within a week because my character is supposed to be good at polo,” relates the 33-year-old Guangzhou-born thespian in response to written questions via e-mail.
Yueniang and her true love, Chen Xi. Despite the hard work, Qi thoroughly enjoyed partaking in 1930s Peranakan culture.
“It’s not only about the acting – it’s a journey of understanding another culture. Their costumes, antiques and furniture are fascinating.
“I think The Little Nyonya touched the audience and they learned to appreciate Peranakan culture through it. It’s very meaningful. I’ve been doing mainly movies for the past few years and it was an honour to be involved in this great production,” he says.
Furthermore, he got to visit Penang, Ipoh and Malacca, Malaysian cities he had not visited before.
Check out Qi Yuwu’s neat, slicked back hair as Chen Xi! “I really enjoyed the food and the beach!” he adds.
I ask Qi how being a part of the show has changed his life. “I don’t think it has changed my life, but it changed a lot of other people’s. Everyone was rushing home to watch the show every night!” comes the cheeky reply.
His character Chen Xi is a penniless driver with a mysterious past. He also catches the eye of a few ladies in The Little Nyonya. Perhaps the secret is in his hair, he offers. “Chen Xi has very neat, shiny and well-combed hair. No matter what he does it’s always in place! He washes his hair three to four times a day,” he says, being cheeky again.
Qi, a Singapore permanent resident, began acting in the city state after winning the “Mr Personality” title in the China round of Asian Star Search 1999, Singapore’s regional talent contest. Before becoming a MediaCorp artiste, he was a model and played a lead role in a Guangzhou TV series.
“I never thought of becoming an actor,” he says. “I studied physical education back in university in Guangzhou (in the southern Guangdong province). I was trying to be Michael Jordan back then. If I weren’t an actor, maybe I’d be dunking in the court, teaching kids to be the next Yao Ming (US-based Chinese basketball star).”
However, he’s happy to have taken a detour into acting.
“I experience a different life from the norm and get to meet different people and connect with the audience,” he says.
And life in Singapore is certainly different from that in his homeland.
“It’s unique because the East meets West here. They have laksa pasta here! For someone from China like me, this whole combination is very interesting,” he enthuses.
Related Story:
Big Little Nyonya
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