Catching up with Christopher Lee, Star Awards 2025’s Best Actor and Singapore’s beloved small-screen icon

It’s been nearly three decades since Christopher Lee first appeared on our screens. And yet, he’s still drawing new applause.

At the 30th edition of the Star Awards, held at The Theatre at Mediacorp on July 6, the 54-year-old actor took home Best Actor for Kill Sera Sera, Best Programme Host for Dishing With Chris Lee 2, and the Special Achievement Award, presented to him by Minister Josephine Teo.

The evening was filled with emotion. On stage, he thanked his wife, actress Fann Wong, calling her his “inspiration and motivation,” and addressed their 11-year-old son Zed with a heartfelt message: “Thank you for being my son.” Backstage, he admitted to being surprised by the multiple wins, especially after assuming the Special Achievement Award would be the only one.

Now back to work and filming abroad, Lee took time to answer our questions via email. In this candid exchange, he shares what drew him to the morally complex character of Allan Sun, how he recovers from emotionally demanding scenes, and what keeps him excited about acting, even after all these years.

First things first... Congrats on the win! What went through your mind the moment they called your name?

Thank you! Honestly, you probably saw my first reaction on screen. I’ve been filming with Mark Lee recently, and he kept joking that no matter whose name was announced, he was going to call mine out first. So when he actually did, I wasn’t sure if he was messing with me, but I wouldn’t have minded. Awards shows can be playful like that.

I didn’t exactly expect to win, but I did stay positive. When I heard my name, I just felt grateful. This was my second win for Best Actor, and to me, it was affirmation that Allan Sun, the character I played in Kill Sera Sera, connected with people.

What drew you to the role of Allan Sun in Kill Sera Sera? And did anything about him linger with you after filming?

When the team behind Kill Sera Sera approached me, I really wanted to do it – partly because it had been so long since I last filmed in Singapore. I’d often run into fans on the street who’d ask, “When are you coming back? We miss seeing you on local TV.” That really stayed with me.

But the main draw was the script. We rarely see such dark, layered narratives in local productions, so it felt fresh. And the cast, with Jessica Hsuan, Chantalle Ng, Damien Teo, James Wen, Jesseca Liu, and Xu Bin on board, was an exciting mix.

As for Allan Sun, he’s a father in a severely dysfunctional family. Every character is emotionally warped in some way, and that made it challenging. The role was certainly memorable, but once filming wrapped, I left him behind. I don’t carry my characters with me.

You’ve mentioned how intense this character was. How did you come down from the emotional weight of the role once filming ended?

The role demanded a lot. One scene had Allan unknowingly watching a striptease video of his own daughter and pleasuring himself. That crosses so many moral boundaries. And to portray it convincingly on camera, without making the audience look away, took every ounce of focus and imagination.

But I’ve always had my own way of entering and exiting roles quite quickly. So I wasn’t worried about letting go of him.

Nearly 30 years in the business, and you’re still surprising audiences. Has your definition of a “good role” changed over time?

Not drastically. I think a good role has always been one that matches where you are in life. Naturally, the characters I seek out now are different from when I was younger. But what hasn’t changed is the need to grow – not just as an actor, but as a person.

I’m not afraid of getting older. In fact, age is a gift for an actor. It allows you to access a wider emotional range. I want to keep growing into middle-aged and elderly roles. That means adjusting my mindset, staying open to change, and embracing every chapter of life as it comes.

In a drama built on tension and silence, was there one scene that hit harder than expected?

Definitely the one with Jessica Hsuan.

Our characters are husband and wife, and the relationship is falling apart. After everything that’s happened, she finds out about the video I watched and comes at me with a knife.

The emotions were raw and explosive. It was a tough but unforgettable scene.

You’ve played everything from idol leads to complex anti-heroes. What part of acting still excites you the most today?

As long as it’s a strong role that is either something unique or something that challenges me... I’m in.

It doesn’t matter if it’s an idol character from the past or someone as morally conflicted as Allan Sun. I’m always excited to see how far I can stretch. That fire hasn’t faded. It has only grown.

What’s next for you? Or are you happy exactly where you are?

Content? Not a chance! I’m only 54. What’s there to be content about? (laughs)

Yes, I’ve won awards. But each one is just recognition for that particular performance. There’s still a long road ahead. I want to keep exploring new roles, pushing boundaries.

I see this as a lifelong mission until the day I can no longer memorise lines or physically keep up, I’ll keep going.