Jeanette Aw reunites with her on-screen daughter from The Little Nyonya

Home-grown actress Jeanette Aw has nothing but praise for her on-screen daughter from the hit local series The Little Nyonya (2008 to 2009), whom she recently reunited with after 17 years.

The 45-year-old invited former child actress Christabelle Tan on her YouTube show JA Unscripted. Its latest episode was uploaded on March 23.

In the Channel 8 period drama that traces the ups and downs of a Peranakan family, Aw played the dual roles of Juxiang and her daughter Yueniang, which earned her a Best Actress nomination at the Star Awards in 2009. 

She made a cameo as Yueniang in Emerald Hill, the loose sequel to The Little Nyonya, now available on Netflix, Channel 8 and mewatch. 

Meanwhile, Tan, who was then eight, played the younger version of Yueniang, and received a Young Talent Award nomination at the same awards show.

Now 25, Tan shared on JA Unscripted that she has since graduated from law school and started working full time in 2024.

The pair said they have not met each other for 17 years, although they have kept in touch online.

They began to reconnect after Tan commented on one of Aw’s Instagram posts and called her “nya nya (mother)”.

Aw told Tan that she was her favourite child actor for taking instructions very well, adding: “Because you were, by far, the most professional, and you didn’t complain no matter how late we filmed.”

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The star recalled Tan was not overly chatty like some other children and was quiet on set.

“She memorised and nailed her lines. I don’t think I ever had to wait for her to repeat or NG (no good) many times at all,” Aw said.

About working on The Little Nyonya alongside Aw, Tan said: “I always joke that my first job was with you and with everyone whom I met on set. I’m very thankful that that was my exposure to working life.”

Aw also posted on Instagram on March 23 three old photos of the pair from The Little Nyonya and a current photo of themselves.

Aw wrote: “Juxiang, little Yueniang and Yueniang in the same frame. What a joy to have Belle play my daughter and the younger version of me. She’s truly my favourite child actor to work with.”

This article was originally published in The Straits Times.