11 things you should know about Zhang Zetong – the dimpled heartthrob lighting up Emerald Hill and beyond

There’s something instantly likeable about Zhang Zetong. Maybe it’s the dimpled smile, or the way he carries himself like someone raised well. Maybe it’s the quiet way he always seems grateful to be exactly where he is. Whatever it is, it lingers – and it’s helped cement his place as one of local TV’s most watchable stars today.

That charm was on full display at the Emerald Hill press conference earlier this year. The highly anticipated Mediacorp period drama – which also stars Zoe Tay, Romeo Tan, Shaun Chen, Chantalle Ng, Tasha Low and Tyler Ten – gathered some of the network’s biggest names under one roof. And yet, Zetong more than held his own. My colleagues – many meeting him for the first time – were struck by how easily he connected with everyone in the room. No showboating, no entourage, no walls. He greeted people by name, asked thoughtful questions, and answered them just as warmly. There was a calm sincerity to his presence – the sort that’s hard to fake.

That groundedness continues to define him – and has quietly become his signature as he rises through the industry.

Here are 10 things to know about the 32-year-old Malaysian-born actor and Emerald Hill lead who’s proving that nice guys don’t always finish last.

1. He’s not just a pretty face – he’s a Star Search champ

In 2019, Zhang Zetong beat out 11 other finalists to win Star Search, Mediacorp’s iconic talent competition that launched the careers of Zoe Tay, Felicia Chin and Christopher Lee. But unlike many overnight stars, Zetong wasn’t already in the limelight – he came from a corporate job at Carousell, with zero acting experience. Judges were won over by his quiet confidence, natural screen presence and boyish charm – qualities that have now become his trademarks.

2. He once bombed a DJ contest because he couldn’t stop trembling

Before he ever won anything, Zetong auditioned for YES 933’s DJ hunt in 2012. At 18 or 19 years old and still in university, he froze during the public audition, barely able to string his words together.

Despite the nerves, he managed to scrape through thanks to a news-reading segment – but was eliminated in the next round after a mock celebrity interview left him too flustered to speak coherently.

Today, he laughs about it. It was a humbling experience, and a lesson in growth – one that makes his later Star Search win even sweeter.

3. He cried uncontrollably during his Star Awards 2024 speech – and had no idea why they weren’t stopping him

When Zetong won Best Supporting Actor at Star Awards 2024 for his turn as the villainous Richard Mo in All That Glitters, emotions got the best of him. He sobbed through his entire speech – so much so that he ran way over the allocated 45 seconds and was stunned no one had ushered him off. “I don’t want to cry,” he said repeatedly, in between tears. The moment was raw, messy and deeply human – and made fans love him even more.

4. He once missed a flight… because of chilli pan mee

Zetong doesn’t just love food – he plans entire holidays around it. He once missed a flight out of Kuala Lumpur because he had to squeeze in another bowl of his favourite chilli pan mee from Madam Chiam Curry Noodle House. It was so good that he and his friends couldn’t leave without having it one last time, he shared with CNA. Zetong also scouts food recommendations using TikTok, Instagram, and Xiaohongshu like a pro – and his Penang and KL makan guides are one to watch.

5. He almost passed away from having ginseng chicken

Or so he thought. After having a particularly herbal bowl of ginseng chicken at a Korean restaurant, Zetong suddenly felt dizzy and weak – and feared he was having a stroke. He rushed to Thomson Medical to get checked out, where a junior doctor ran stroke tests and ruled it out. The real diagnosis? Sleep deprivation and stress. “I genuinely thought I was going to pass away… from ginseng chicken,” he joked with 8Days. Just another reminder that beneath the glowing exterior is a workhorse who needs a break now and then.

 6. He’s still figuring out his niche online – but he’s having fun while at it

Zetong doesn’t chase virality – but he navigates his social media with curiosity. He’s tried food vlogs, gadget reviews, and even considered becoming a finance content creator (“finfluencer”). At one point, he seriously explored topics like credit cards and investments, but later decided it was too niche – and too risky. For now, he prefers sharing snippets of his life through Instagram and a Telegram channel for fans, posting behind-the-scenes moments and honest reflections. “I want to find what sticks – but I also want to enjoy myself.”

7. He’s fulfilling his mother’s dream – not just his own

When he joined Star Search, it wasn’t just for himself. His mother once dreamt of becoming an actress too, but never got the chance – she married young, and opportunities were few. When Zetong took the stage and eventually won, she was sitting in the front row… crying. He later said: “Maybe what I’m doing now is fulfilling her dream on her behalf.” It’s moments like this that show why fans see him as more than just another handsome face.

8 He’s got brains behind that boyish grin

Zetong’s boy-next-door charm belies an impressive academic journey. He studied at Marsiling Primary School, Bukit Panjang Government High, and Anglo-Chinese Junior College, before earning a business degree from NUS. Before fame came knocking, he was a customer relationship manager at Carousell.

9. He’s not afraid to go deep – or weird

While promoting the time-travel drama Once Upon a New Year’s Eve, Zetong revealed that if he could travel through time, he’d skip the past and head straight to the end of humanity. “I want to see how far humans drive ourselves into the grave,” he said. Morbid? Maybe. But it’s also a glimpse into a deeply curious mind, always searching for meaning – or at the very least, a good plot twist.

10. He commuted daily from JB to Singapore for school – for 10 years

Every morning, Zetong woke at 4am to cross the Causeway for school in Singapore. His parents – who made the same sacrifices for his two sisters – once joked they could’ve bought a Ferrari with the money spent on their education. What they got instead is a thoughtful, hardworking, and camera-ready son.

11. He once nervously bowed to Jeanette Aw – now he plays her son

Back in 2021, Zetong was visibly starstruck while interviewing Jeanette Aw on the entertainment series Just Swipe Lah — bowing nervously and admitting on camera that he was feeling jittery. Fast forward to Emerald Hill, and he’s now playing her son, Huang Zuye.

Though initially intimidated, a private character session with Jeanette changed everything. She was warm, encouraging, and left him with a piece of advice he now holds close: “A long-lasting role is one that is the hardest to interpret.”

Bonus: Zetong’s favourite Peranakan kueh is...

His favourite Peranakan kueh is the ondeh-ondeh, the chewy coconut-coated morsel that bursts with molten gula melaka at first bite.