Lynn Lim and Glenn Yong on filming intimate scenes together

The Star

6 days ago

When local actress Lynn Lim and Singaporean heartthrob Glenn Yong first got their hands on the script for Astro's latest drama Step Dave , both were surprised and intrigued.
Adapted from the New Zealand series of the same name, the Malaysian remake pushes past conventional boundaries with its bold themes and number of intimate scenes rarely shown in local or Singaporean productions.
'When I first received the script, it only highlighted a few key scenes, and one of them was from the first episode when a grandma and three kids walk in on me naked.
'When I read that, I was like, 'Wow, this show is pretty lit!' I had to try it out,' Yong, 28, recalled with a laugh during an interview with StarLifestyle in Kuala Lumpur.
Lim, who also joined in the conversation, admitted that despite her decade-long acting experience, the sheer number of intimate scenes initially made her nervous.
Yong and Lim at the press conference for 'Step Dave' in Kuala Lumpur. Photo: MUHAMAD SHAHRIL ROSLI/The Star
'A lot of the stuff that happens in this show isn't common in Malaysian productions. It's quite Western in the sense there are more intimate scenes than usual.
'My mum is also a little more on the traditional side, so I had to call her to tell her it was all acting,' the 36-year-old said.
Spanning 10 episodes, Step Dave revolves around Dave (Yong), a 24-year-old hairstylist and barista whose world is turned upside down when he falls for Cara (Lim) – a single mother of three who's 15 years his senior.
While their May-December romance has sparked resistance from both Dave's peers and Cara's family, he is determined to make the relationship work.
However, things get complicated when Cara's ex-husband Steven (Henley Hii) reenters her life, hoping for a second chance.
Building trust
For Yong, one of the key challenges was preparing for the kissing scenes – a first in his acting career.
Having never filmed such moments before, it was a nerve-racking experience for the young celebrity, who made his acting debut in 2019.
'I've pecked my co-stars in previous shows, but this one is full- blown make-out and French kissing kind of stuff,' he said.
Yong and Lim took time to build trust and rapport before shooting the more intense scenes. Photo: Handout Lim chimed in: 'I still remember the two of us asking the production team who we'd be kissing, because when we first got the script, we had no idea who was playing which character!'
To ensure filming went smoothly, Yong and Lim took time to build trust and rapport before shooting the more 'intense' scenes.
Apart from chatting on set, they also made an effort to bond outside of work by grabbing dinners together.
'We were very honest with each other about our boundaries and comfort levels. Once that trust was established, it made the whole filming process so much smoother,' said Lim.
Yong agreed, adding that their off-screen connection helped him ease into the more vulnerable moments.
Despite their contrasting personalities, Yong and Lim share a lot in common. Photo: Handout 'I wasn't sure how we'd click at first as we're from different planets – I'm more uptight and serious whereas Lynn is more carefree... Like, you get different versions of her each day.
'But as we spent more time together, we realised we share many things in common,' he said.
Being in each other's company didn't just help their on-screen chemistry feel natural – it sparked personal growth too.
Describing himself as very shy, Yong said being around a social butterfly like Lim has helped him come out of his shell.
'He's become more open to showing his vulnerability, and I really appreciate that,' said Lim.
An ode to parents
Lim, who first gained recognition after finishing second in the 2008 Astro Miss Chinese International Pageant, made her acting debut in the 2015 drama Runaway Housewives .
She has since taken on various roles in productions like My Sensei Nyonya (2018), Love Delivery (2020) and Look At Me, Touch Me, Kiss Me (2023), among others.
Working on the drama has allowed Lim to learn more about the challenges that come with parenthood. Photo: Lynn Lim/Instagram Despite her experience, Step Dave marked her first time playing a mother.
'I was really stressed because I feel like I have more of a big sister vibe rather than a motherly vibe.
'But with time, I started to realise there are many different types of mums out there, so why not play a big sister kind of mum, you know?' she said.
To deepen her portrayal, Lim embraced method acting throughout the two-month shoot, staying in character even when the cameras weren't rolling.
Her commitment paid off.
Not only did her performance come across as compelling, but she also left the set with a goddaughter – actress Dada Venice Ng, who plays one of her kids in Step Dave .
Lim (right) left the set of 'Step Dave' with a goddaughter – Dada, who plays one of her children in the show. Photo: Dada Venice Ng/Instagram 'Even though I wasn't her mum, I still wondered how I could be a good godmother,' she said.
Stepping into the role of a mother also gave Lim a deeper appreciation for the struggles parents face in raising their children.
Through her character, she began to understand the emotional weight, sacrifices and constant decision-making that come with parenthood.
'I think being a parent comes with a huge responsibility. They are very courageous people because it's not easy to raise one child, let alone three.
'If I were in Cara's shoes, I'd be panicking for sure,' she added.
Loving someone unconditionally
Meanwhile, Yong kickstarted his acting career with a small role in the 2019 Singaporean Mandarin series The Good Fight .
After making his breakthrough in the hit 2022 movie Ah Girls Go Army , he continued his rise with roles in films such as The King Of Musang King (2023) and I Not Stupid 3 (2024).
In 2023, he became the first Singaporean to land a spot on TC's Candler Global list of 100 Most Handsome Faces, ranking at 75.
Sharing a similar sentiment with Lim, Yong said working on Step Dave opened his eyes to the realities of parenting.
Yong is the first Singaporean to land a spot on TC's Candler Global list of 100 Most Handsome Faces, ranking at 75. Photo: MUHAMAD SHAHRIL ROSLI/The Star 'Being a part of this show made me realise how hard it is to be a parent, so I just want to say, 'I love you mum and dad.'
'And to all the first-time parents out there, even though you may not feel like it, your kids do appreciate you for doing your part for the family, so keep going,' he added.
Stepping into Dave's world also taught Yong what unconditional love truly means.
'If you watch the show, you will notice Dave's actions aren't logical, but he perseveres anyway simply because he loves Cara. Honestly, if I were a girl, I'd date Dave myself,' he said.
When asked about his thoughts on age gap relationships, Yong laughed and said he wouldn't mind dating someone older.
'I think we shouldn't care about what other people think... If you really love someone, just go for it,' he said.
As the conversation wrapped up, both Yong and Lim expressed hope that Step Dave would offer not just entertainment, but also comfort to those navigating unconventional relationships.
'I know there are some women who are in huge age gap relationships, so I hope they feel safe and seen when they watch it,' Yong said.
'If watching this helps even one couple feel seen or understood, then I think we've done something meaningful,' Lim added.
Step Dave airs every Sunday at 9.30pm on Astro AEC (Ch 306), Astro Go, On Demand and Sooka.