Latest news with #AllThatGlitters
AsiaOne
28-04-2025
- Entertainment
- AsiaOne
'My acting wasn't going anywhere': Zhang Zetong was close to leaving showbiz before winning Star Award, Entertainment News
Winning Best Supporting Actor within five years of making your acting debut is no small feat. Malaysian actor Zhang Zetong won the accolade at Star Awards 2024 for his performance in the Mediacorp drama All That Glitters, but has now revealed that he was about to throw in the towel on his acting career even before getting the role. In a video uploaded to fellow actor Glenn Yong's YouTube channel on April 25, the 32-year-old said that he put a lot of pressure on himself to perform. Zetong entered showbiz after winning the talent show Star Search 2019, and despite never feeling that the company and production teams' expectations of him were higher, had "distracting thoughts" in his own mind. He said: "These thoughts — whether I'm enough or performing to the standards — were self-inflicted. These were the stresses I'd given myself and it really took a very long time for me to put down these thoughts." It was only after landing his All That Glitters role and taking acting classes that he could "retract [himself] from Zetong" and stay in the character for a long time. However, he treated it as his final role, and said he was "really this close" to leaving showbiz. "I was thinking of nothing but just of this show and how I was going to perform," Zetong said. "At that point of time, I really told myself, 'My acting is not going anywhere, it's looking a lot to me like a guy who can study might not be a guy who can act'. "So I'm thinking, 'This is the last good role that I'm getting, so I'll just do my best then it's goodbye'." When asked by Glenn, 28, why he was so harsh on himself, Zetong compared himself to an aspiring Olympian swimmer who knew that no matter how hard they tried, they were never going to "clock that time trial". "I felt that, as long as I put in my best effort but I can't clock it, that's fine. I've tried my best, so I can say goodbye to this, it's fine. I can take a step back," he added. "I'll leave the industry altogether." Glenn added that that "thankfully" All That Glitters turned out well for Zetong, who agreed. [embed] Despite his initial hesitations, Zetong admitted that his rapid growth and winning an acting award so soon after his debut, has been nothing short of "phenomenal". When asked by Glenn if his career has panned out how he expected since the award, Zetong said: "No way, man. "In terms of the growth... the recognition I'm getting, it's happening a lot faster than I imagined." [embed] [[nid:717226]] drimac@
The Star
21-04-2025
- Entertainment
- The Star
Actor Edwin Goh, back in SG, quit smoking, binge-drinking while living in Sydney
Spending two years away from Singapore did wonders for Edwin Goh. The local actor – who relocated to Sydney, Australia, in 2023 but moved back home on April 9 – stopped binge-drinking and quit smoking. 'Before I left Singapore, I was not in a good relationship with myself, and alcohol was my coping mechanism,' the 30-year-old says. Despite having attained recognition for his acting work, the former child star and Mediacorp artiste was struggling inside. 'I should have been happy because I was doing well, but I wasn't,' says Goh, who is now a Fly Entertainment artiste. Turning to the bottle became easy and normal. 'My inner conflicts led to some self-sabotaging behaviours. The amount I drank increased as my alcohol tolerance went up, and before I knew it, it was out of control,' adds Goh, who was convicted of drink driving in 2022. He was fined S$6,500 and disqualified from driving for three years. He eventually cut down on the boozing due to the comparatively stress-free lifestyle Down Under. Goh broke out at the age of 15 in Channel 5 drama Fighting Spiders in 2009. He subsequently found fame playing Li Nanxing's rebellious teenage son in Channel 8 crime drama On The Fringe (2011). Goh continued to be a regular face in local shows, growing up in the public eye. His last on-screen show was 2023's blockbuster series All That Glitters. Citing career burnout and a desire to start a new adventure, he dropped everything, packed his bags and relocated to Sydney with his girlfriend, Singaporean content creator Rachel Wan, in July 2023, about 10 months after they started dating. Goh recently proposed to Wan, 28, sharing the news on their Instagram accounts on April 4. Being in the new environment and a city where no one knew 'Edwin the actor' was liberating, he says. For Wan, being in a foreign land helped her overcome the grief of losing both her father – to oesophageal cancer – and best friend within two months in 2022. 'Everywhere I went in Singapore somehow reminded me of either of them,' she says. The change of pace in the Australian city helped Goh overhaul his lifestyle, including finally kicking his smoking habit. 'I was addicted to nicotine for more than 10 years. I knew smoking is bad for health and tried to quit over many years, but was not successful,' he says. He adds: 'Instead of making me relaxed, nicotine became my source of anxiety.' Goh credits crocheting as a means of keeping his hands busy, so there was no urge to reach out for a cigarette. He picked up the needlecraft from Wan in November 2022, and the couple turned their hobby into a business. Their online shop Unravel &, set up in April 2023, sells handmade crocheted wares such as beanies and bags, and crochet shirt patterns designed by Goh. Now that they are back in Singapore, they plan to expand Unravel &, which will be rebranded to The Club Made in May. Apart from digital patterns, the online store will also sell yarns curated by them. Says Wan: 'Most yarn shops in Singapore carry thicker yarns meant for winter climates. It is hard to find thinner yarns, such as lace-weight yarn, suitable for our warm weather.' Working in a yarn store in Sydney also showed Goh how to run a retail business. 'I did social media marketing for them, so I learnt the backend operations, which helped us with Unravel &,' he says. Plans for The Club Made include having a bricks-and-mortar space by end-2025, where networking events can be held. 'We hope to build a community for crafters to socialise,' says Goh, who considers this his main hustle as he has no acting engagements for now. Wan, who started a thriving head-shot photography business in Sydney, may also use the space for her photography studio. The couple also have their wedding to organise, which they hope to hold in April 2026. They envision an intimate ceremony in a restaurant setting. The bride-to-be says: 'We're still at the blissful stage where we are enjoying being engaged, so we have not started making plans.' They are currently renting a condominium apartment. While they have discussed getting a Build-To-Order flat, they are not in a rush to buy a marital home. 'We are still settling down and unpacking,' says Wan. 'We still have a lot of things in Sydney that are kept in a storage space. We can bring only that much back with us, and will have to go back and sell them.' Spending quality time with their mothers has become a priority, which was a big reason for their homecoming. Goh says: 'I lost my father to a heart attack in January 2024. It was so sudden. It's good that we are back during the Qingming (tomb-sweeping) season (in April).' – The Straits Times/Asia News Network
The Guardian
13-04-2025
- Entertainment
- The Guardian
In brief: Uncommon Ground; The Pretender; All That Glitters
Patrick GalbraithWilliam Collins, £22, pp356 Nature writer Patrick Galbraith's excellent second book more than fulfils the promise that his equally fine debut In Search of One Last Song suggested. In a series of acutely observed and often very funny vignettes ('it was diverse in the sense that there were people there from almost every Oxbridge college'), Galbraith travels across rural Britain in an attempt to look beyond the usual cliches of country life. In his exploration of everything from economic turmoil to the concept of 'belonging', he proves an erudite guide. Jo HarkinBloomsbury, £18.99, pp452 'Wolf Hall meets Demon Copperhead' is an impressive billing for a first-time novelist, but The Pretender mostly justifies it. Jo Harkin veers closer to the grittiness of Dan Jones's medieval-set fiction than the visionary sweep of Hilary Mantel, but it is still an auspicious venture into fictionalised history. Loosely based on the real-life royal pretender Lambert Simnel,The Pretender explores the machinations of the wars of the roses with authority, bringing the frightening world she depicts to life. Orlando WhitfieldProfile, £10.99, pp336 (paperback) If Orlando Whitfield's readable and fascinating memoir-cum-exposé of the art world isn't turned into a big-budget film, it will be an opportunity missed. The author explores his friendship with the charismatic art dealer-cum-convicted fraudster Inigo Philbrick, detailing how he becomes increasingly successful and ever more grandiose in his ideas. All That Glitters would be a considerable accomplishment for a veteran writer, but the knowledge that it is Whitfield's debut makes it all the more impressive. To order Uncommon Ground, The Pretender or All That Glitters go to Delivery charges may apply
What's On
28-01-2025
- Entertainment
- What's On
6 unmissable chapters from the Emirates Lit Fest 2025
Sponsored: Bookmark these now… The Emirates Airline Festival of Literature, also known by it's nom de plume 'Emirates LitFest' is the Middle East's biggest and most enchanting celebration of books, stories, and novel (in both senses of the word) ideas. This year will be the 17th edition of the event, packed as always with a blockbusting index of author conversations, panel discussions, writing workshops, poetry and spoken word performances, book signings, meet-and-greets and more. It's all taking place between Wednesday, January 29 and Sunday, February 2 with the majority of its narrative unfolding around the InterContinental Dubai Festival City, with a few select events taking place at the Theatre of Digital Arts and Caravanserai. There are more than 100 international, regional and locally-based authors headed for the festival in 2025 – and to help you leaf through this tome of talent, and pick your preferred pensmiths – we've bookmarked some of our favourites. This our top pick of the Emirates LitFest 2025. All That Glitters It's a good job Doctor WhatsOn is in the house because *leans closer* there's been a murder. Not really of course, this is the LitFest's glamourous murder mystery dinner hosted by a scheming team of actor ne'er-do-wells. Your job is to eliminate the impossible, concentrate on the improbable, discover the elementary truth and cast a finger of judgment against the culprit. And if the detective career doesn't pan out, at least you still have a delightful multi-course dinner to investigate. Megan Hess: Fashion In Colour Colour: the thread weaving emotion, harmony, and self-expression into fashion's story. Iconic illustrator Megan Hess joins moderator Hafsa Lodi for a chic exploration of Fashion in Colour , where hues shape Vogue's history and her spellbinding illustrations bring it to life. A vibrant ode to the art of dressing, vividly told. History Lessons What do you get if you combine inspiring, enquiring minds of historical fiction, Abraham Verghese ( The Covenant of Water ) and Pip Williams ( The Dictionary of Lost Words , The Bookbinder of Jericho ) on a panel discussion hosted by Julia Wheeler? Answer: A deep dive into bygone eras, a dissection of the marginalisation of certain voices, and an insight into how writing about forgotten chapters of the past can help us with very real issues of the present. Diary Of A Wimpy Kid: Hot Mess One of the world's best-known and dearly-loved children's authors, Jeff Kinney is in town to serve up summer holiday lols with Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Hot Mess! Titular character, Greg Heffley's latest adventure is a summer storm of family chaos, mystery, and meatballs. Dive into hilarity with Kinney as he dishes on the book and brings fans on stage for fun and games. Ages 6+. Children under the age of 12 must be accompanied by a ticket-holding adult. Meet Lemony Snicket! By the clicking of our thumbs, something Snickety this way comes. A rare treat awaits as Lemony Snicket's less unfortunate alter ego, Daniel Handler graces the LitFest stage. Join the mysterious mind behind A Series of Unfortunate Events for a delightfully dreadful chat with Jack Meggitt Phillips (author of The Beast and the Bethany , whose fans will be glad to learn has his own show at the Fest). Curious fic fans, proceed cautiously. Misery loves company, after all. Recommended for ages 10+ Children under the age of 12 must be accompanied by a ticket-holding adult. Free fest Whilst many of the events at LitFest do come with an entry fee, the organisers are committed to ensuring storytelling is available for all, with free events like the Discovery Talks series. Think TED Talks, but with added literary flair—exploring Jane Austen's 250-year legacy, the curse of overthinking, and the secrets of gut health. It's an eclectic feast for the curious, promising to engage curiosities and inspire creativity. For the full line up of events, and to get your hands on those tickets, visit the website now. Images: Provided > Sign up for FREE to get exclusive updates that you are interested in
