From The Straits Times    |

Ya Hui is quite possibly one of the humblest celebrities on Caldecott Hill. Despite nursing a flu, she didn’t complain once during our photo shoot, even though she had to go through several outfit changes at two separate locations.

“It’s simple, really. I believe in giving my heart and soul in everything that I do,” says the affable actress, who recently added Channel 8 drama serials 118 and Life is Beautiful to her already extensive resume. It seems that hard work, coupled with a determination to stay real, lies at the root of her success.

KEEP CALM AND CONTINUE LEARNING

The 28-year-old has been in show business for seven years, appearing in a string of television dramaS and comedy shows since she won the Miss Telegenic Award at Star Search 2007. In 118, she plays the role of a wanton mee seller, while in Life is Beautiful, she put on weight to play a fat property agent.

But Ya Hui feels she still has much to learn, so she constantly looks to industry veterans. “I am very close to fellow actress Chen Liping, who has given me plenty of advice about acting. For instance, she told me that it’s important to just relax while acting and let my emotions do the talking, instead of stressing about the scene,” she shares.

She knows she can’t please everyone though, and has learned to take criticism in her stride. “For example, when I see comments on social media criticising my acting performance, I don’t feel sorry for myself. Instead, I reflect on how I can improve,” she says. “However, if I’m playing the role of a villain and I get people lambasting my character, that’s when I know that I’ve done a good job!” she adds cheekily.

Hoping to get bigger and better roles in future, Ya Hui says she doesn’t mind putting in long hours. “I thrive on a busy schedule, so it’s good that I’ll have my hands full filming 118 till September. In fact, I tend to fall sick whenever I have my days off – it’s almost as though my body isn’t used to taking breaks,” she laughs.

FANS, FRIENDS AND FAMILY

The modest actress, who has amassed more than 85,000 followers on Instagram and 9,000 on Facebook,
is quick to credit her success to her supporters. “I am massively thankful for my fans. I try not to establish an idol-fan dichotomy with them; rather, I treat them like my siblings. We even meet up regularly to do charity work!”

“I feel like my fans validate the work that I do,” she continues. “It takes so much effort for them to attend my events; yet, their support never wavers. For instance, when I couldn’t attend a recent press conference for the Star Awards 2015, my fans still turned up, screaming my name. When I found out, I was so touched that I cried!”

Ya Hui’s parents and friends also function as her other pillars of support. “It’s so important to have people whom you can trust and talk to. Acting is tiring enough. With my loved ones, I don’t have to put up a facade. I can just be myself,” she adds.

BOTH FEET ON THE GROUND

Remarkably, Ya Hui is very down to earth: she eschews branded goods, hates dressing up and isn’t a fan of makeup. “To most people, I’m living the dream as a celebrity. But I don’t see the need to act all atas (high-class),” she says earnestly.

She also downplays her own achievements as an actress, saying that she wouldn’t yet call herself successful. “This is only the beginning of my acting career, and I have a long road ahead of me. I believe it’s important not to set limits on what I can achieve,” she says thoughtfully. We’re definitely expecting great things from this star in the years to come.

This article was originally published in Simply Her May 2015.