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The Star
14-07-2025
- Entertainment
- The Star
Lynn Lim and Glenn Yong on filming intimate scenes together
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.
The Star
05-07-2025
- Entertainment
- The Star
Park Sung-hoon says it was fun to film Squid Game & Queen Of Tears at same time
Hyun-ju (right) or Player 120 is a highly trained ex-Special Forces soldier. Photo: Handout Park Sung-hoon recalls that, for a while, he was viewed unfavourably by the public. That's because he had just come off playing two particularly unlikeable characters – first in The Glory (2022), then in Queen Of Tears (2024). In both dramas, the characters he played made life miserable for the leading ladies. 'I played two villains back-to-back, and whenever I went out to eat, some people would actually be mad at me for those roles,' the 40-year-old actor tells StarLifestyle with a laugh over Zoom. Fortunately, things began to change when the second season of Squid Game premiered at the end of 2024. In it, Park portrays Hyun-ju, also known as Player 120 – a highly trained ex-Special Forces soldier who was discharged after coming out as a trans woman. She enters the deadly competition to win the cash prize in order to foot her transition surgery. 'I'm really happy that I have played Hyun-Ju, who is such a cool character. She kind of turned everything around for me and made people like me,' says Park fondly of his character. 'Actually, I was shooting Squid Game and Queen Of Tears almost simultaneously, and it was really fun for me, going back and forth between two totally opposite characters,' he adds. Hyun-ju quickly became a fan-favourite thanks to her courage and always trying to do the right thing, even in dangerous situations. Park Sung-hoon says his character in 'Squid Game' is a cool person. Photo: Handout However, when the series premiered, there were criticisms about casting a male actor instead of a transgender actor for the role of Hyun-ju. Series creator-director Hwang Dong-hyuk told an American outlet that he did anticipate that this matter would crop up. 'In the beginning we were doing our research, and I was thinking of doing an authentic casting of a trans actor... When we researched in Korea, there are close to no actors that are openly trans,' he explained to Entertainment Weekly . Nonetheless, Hyun-ju stands out among the players in Squid Game especially in the scenes where she's interacting with Geum-ja (Player 149, played by Kang Ae-sim) and Jun-hee (Player 222, played by Jo Yu-ri). According to Park, the camaraderie among cast members helped strengthen their on-screen chemistry, even though they were always filming intense, emotionally charged scenes. 'We often talked about our performances, and about life in general. After wrapping for the day, we'd sometimes go for drinks just to relax and chat,' he says. 'I think the bond formed really naturally. Since most scenes were shot in chronological order, we didn't have to force the chemistry – it built up on its own, with emotions stacking scene by scene. 'So even though some scenes were emotionally draining, the connection made it all feel easier.' South Korean stars Kang Ae-sim (lef) and Park Sung-hoon bonded while making the show. Photo: AFP Next up for Park is a new drama opposite Han Ji-min, set to premiere in 2026, an entertainment portal reported. Only earlier this year, he was dropped from another K-drama, The Tyrant's Chef , after receiving backlash for uploading on social media an image of a porn video parodying Squid Game . Reflecting on the Squid Game experience, Park says: 'Over the past few months, I've been doing promotions overseas and met so many people – it's been fascinating to see how many of them already know me and welcome me so warmly. 'It still hasn't fully sunk in, especially since I look a bit different now with a new hairstyle, but people still recognise me instantly. 'It's been such a cool experience. And I really hope it opens up more opportunities for me to be part of global projects in the future.' Squid Game is available on Netflix.
The Star
02-07-2025
- Entertainment
- The Star
Sean Lau says his perspective on fatherhood changed after starring in 'Papa'
Despite having no children of his own, Hong Kong actor Sean Lau Ching-wan delivers one of his most emotionally gripping performances yet as a father in the true crime film Papa . Directed by Philip Yung, the movie – which premiered at the 37th Tokyo International Film Festival in October 2024 – is based on a 2010 murder case in Tsuen Wan, where a mentally unstable teenager stabbed his mother and younger sister before turning himself in. But unlike the typical murder drama, Papa – now screening at cinemas nationwide – doesn't dwell on the horrific crime. 'It focuses more on the emotional wreckage left behind rather than the crime itself. 'It's not a murder tale but a story about emotional survival,' the 46-year-old told StarLifestyle in a recent roundtable interview alongside Lau on Zoom. Having previously directed Port Of Call (2015), another movie based on a real-life murder, Yung was careful to avoid sensationalism. Instead, he spent over 10 years developing the script and even met with the real father at the centre of the case to understand the emotional layers behind the tragedy. 'He has now moved on from the case. I don't know if he watched the movie. 'I learned about his emotions, his late wife and daughter, as well as his mentally ill son. 'Sadness doesn't have to be loud... The father cares for his son but he keeps his grief internal and his emotions well-hidden – that's what makes it more heartbreaking,' he said. A role that demands heart In Papa , Lau plays Nin – a humble cafe owner wrestling with intense survivor's guilt after his son Ming (Dylan So) murders his own mother (Jo Koo) and sister Grace (Lainey Hung). After being diagnosed with schizophrenia, Ming is sentenced to indefinite psychiatric care. Still, Nin continues to visit him twice a month, carrying his grief silently. In the film, Lau (right) plays Nin, a father struggling with survivor's guilt after his son murders his mother and his sister. For Lau, 61, the role marked a turn from the stoic personas he's often portrayed, pushing him to delve into a more emotionally raw and vulnerable territory. To embody Nin, he immersed himself fully in the character's quiet turmoil. 'I believe no man is born knowing how to be a father. 'You learn through life experiences – getting married, having kids and growing with them. 'I carried that mindset while filming and learned how to be a father along the way,' he said. That approach paid off as Lau's performance struck a chord with both audiences and critics, earning him his fourth Best Actor win at the 43rd Hong Kong Film Awards earlier in April. Lau was named Best Actor at the 43rd Hong Kong Film Awards on April 27, 2025, for his performance in 'Papa' . Photo: AP He had previously taken home the honour for Detective Vs Sleuths (2022), Overheard 3 (2014) and My Name Is Fame (2006). 'It's rare for my movies to have such a strong emotional impact on others. 'I was shocked because it wasn't impactful to just movie- goers – even friends who watched the film connected deeply with it. 'It made me realise my profession carries more weight than expected,' added the actor, who's married to former Miss Hong Kong winner Amy Kwok. Shifting perspective Yung praised Lau's performance, revealing that the latter had always been his first choice for the role of Nin. 'Kids feel close to him. I wanted the father in Papa to be loving, wise and grounded... Sean brought that out with great realism,' he said. Lau shared that prior to filming Papa , his understanding of fatherhood was fairly simple as he didn't share a close bond with his father and has no children of his own. However, his perspective has since shifted. 'It feels like I've gained some insight on fatherhood after filming, but at the same time, I feel like I haven't fully understood it. 'It's strange how something so simple carries so much weight,' he said. As for whether he had ever considered reaching out to the real father behind the case once more to personally thank him, Lau replied that he didn't want to disturb the man or risk reopening old wounds. 'I don't think we should pry too much into the father's life. I'm grateful for his tolerance. It was his patience that allowed us to complete this story.'
The Star
30-06-2025
- Entertainment
- The Star
Jo Yu-ri says she didn't expect her 'Squid Game' role to be this difficult
Jun-hee has to be extra careful in the game due to her condition. Photos: Handout Actress Jo Yu-ri, who plays Kim Jun-hee or Player 222, confesses she was a huge fan of the Squid Game when the first season was released in September 2021. 'I remember watching S1 with my family and thinking to myself, 'I really, really want to be part of a show like this',' recalls the 23-year-old to StarLifestyle in this exclusive Zoom interview to talk about the series' third season. 'What felt so fresh to me was the concept of turning innocent childhood games into something deadly. It was something I had never seen before – shocking, yet incredibly original," she adds. Hence, when she got the chance to audition for S2, she jumped at it. However, Jo says that she had no idea what was in store for her character who turns up at the game, very much pregnant. 'The audition script I received was a dialogue between Jun-hee and Myung-gi (Player 333 portrayed by Im Si-wan). Im Si-wan (left) and Jo Yu-ri play former lovers in the show. Photo: AP 'I knew the role would be challenging, but I didn't expect it to be this difficult,' she shares, smiling at the memory. The level of difficulty she faced is especially impressive considering Jo made her acting debut in 2022's Mimicus and had appeared in just one episode of another K-drama, Work Later, Drink Now 2 (2023), ahead of Squid Game. Prior to acting, she was best known as a member of the South Korean-Japanese girl group Iz*One. While she says there were many challenges as Jun-hee, her biggest concern was playing a pregnant woman convincingly. 'I kept wondering – what if real mothers feel my performance isn't believable, that it lacks authenticity? 'That thought weighed heavily on me. "But thanks to support from my co-star Kang Ae-Shim (who plays Jang Geum-Ja or Player 149), as well as friends and mothers I spoke with, I was able to overcome those fears and carry the part successfully.'
The Star
27-06-2025
- Entertainment
- The Star
Squid Game S3 pulls out all the stops as Player 456 faces off with the Front Man
Actor Lee Byung-hun says his character in Squid Game – known as Front Man – has 'zero hope' in the current state of the world and especially in humanity. 'He believes in the utter loss of humanity,' Lee tells StarLifestyle in an exclusive Zoom interview. 'That's why he keeps pushing Gi-hun (Player 456, portrayed by Lee Jung-jae) to give up on humanity and to fail in his attempt to break the system.' Lee is dialling in from Seoul, South Korea, to talk to the Asian press about the hit series' third and final season, streaming on Netflix. Season 3 picks up exactly where Season 2 left off – with Gi-hun's rebellion failing disastrously and many of the players who followed him dead, including his best friend. Meanwhile, the Front Man – who infiltrated the game as Player 001 in the second season – is now back behind the mask to meddle in the surviving players' choices as each round results in gruesome deaths. All the while, keeping a close watch on how Gi-hun is reacting to what's happened. Byung-hun, 54, explains why the Front Man is so fixated on Gi-hun: 'On the one hand, the Front Man is trying to break Gi-hun's spirit and have him, you know, fall apart. 'On the other hand, I think he strangely has this underlying envy or jealousy towards him that he is doing something that he himself couldn't do in the past... 'The Front Man sees himself in Gi-hun. That's why he's so invested.' The Front Man has zero empathy, says actor Lee Byung-hun. At the start of the new season, Gi-hun – the sole survivor and previous winner – discovers that nothing he's done so far has brought an ounce of change in his bid to stop the deadly competition forever. Worse, the game that pits financially strapped, desperate people continues as before, with the players either killing each other or getting killed in order to win large amounts of cash. At a press conference held in Seoul and live-streamed to Malaysian and Singaporean media, Jung-jae shares what's in store for his character in the final season. 'Witnessing the death of his friend, as well as failing to save a lot of the players in the game, Gi-hun is overwhelmed by guilt and despair,' the Emmy-nominated actor says. But with the game still in play, the 52-year-old actor adds: 'Gi-hun must decide what he really needs to do. You'll see his character evolve from there'. As Gi-hun makes his next move, the Front Man – who's watching him closely – comes up with a counterplan. Byung-hun, describing S3 as 'extremely dramatic and intense' at the press conference, adds: 'If you see S2 and S3 as one continuous storyline, I believe the true climax lies in S3. 'In many ways, it's the ultimate showdown between these two characters.' Gi-hun is overwhelmed by despair at the start of S3. Of course, Squid Game wouldn't be what it is without its 'twisted and fatal' versions of childhood games. As seen in the Season 2 post-credit scene and trailers for the third season, one of the featured games is a deadly jump rope challenge involving fan-favourite doll Young-hee and a new deadly doll, Cheol-su. Director-writer Hwang Dong-hyuk, 54, hints further as to what new challenges are in S3. 'As you may have seen in the main trailer, there's a game involving a rotating jump rope that's suspended high above the ground, and there's a bridge. Some players fall when the rope reaches them. 'There's also a maze-like space where players wear blue and red vests, playing what resembles a game of hide-and-seek. "There may be other types of games happening within that space as well,' he lets on. Of course, once again, Hwang uses these childhood games as metaphors for modern capitalist society and its underlying conflicts. He also reveals why he introduced Cheol-su this time around: 'Young-hee and Cheol-su are always paired together in our elementary school textbooks – they are best friends. 'So if we were going to have another season, I wanted both of them to appear, especially in a game. 'I wanted the global audience to know that it's not just Young-hee; there's also a boy character named Cheol-su. That's why I added him to Squid Game S3.' Mechanical doll Young-hee is singing a different tune in S3 and has a new friend too. Hwang confirms there are no current plans for another season of Squid Game, stating the final chapter will feel complete. That said, he's open to exploring more stories within the Squid Game universe if such an opportunity arises. 'Sometimes, as I'm writing, I get curious – what were these characters up to over the years? What were their lives like outside the game? 'That curiosity makes me want to explore more, which is why I've thought about doing spin-offs,' Hwang says of the series that premiered in 2021 and quickly became a global phenomenon. The first season of Squid Game remains as one of Netflix's most popular shows, garnering 265 million views. Its second season, which was released in December 2024, made it to the streamer's global Most Popular Non-English TV list in just three days and has had 193 million views. Calling the Squid Game journey as 'a miracle', Hwang says: 'Everyone wants to have a successful career and a project, but nobody would have expected this much success from one project. "Over the past five years, I've had many meaningful experiences – going overseas, winning awards, meeting fans – but what I cherish most is the time spent on set with these incredible actors. "Working with them helped me grow both as a person and a creator," surmises Hwang. Director Hwang Hwang Dong-hyuk (centre) calls his 'Squid Game' journey as a miracle as it allowed him to grow creatively. Both Jung-jae and Byung-hun agree they're proud to be part of a layered show that tackles humanity, capitalism and social inequality, while delivering rich characters. 'Whenever I meet fans – whether in Korea or abroad – they each have their own personal reason for loving the show. "And they root for different characters based on who they connect with, which often depends on their personal circumstances,' says Jung-jae. Byung-hun adds: "I think Squid Game resonates globally because, even though it's rooted in Korean elements – like the childhood games we all grew up with – it deals with universal themes. 'It's about conflict, competition and, most of all, the absence of humanity. No matter where you're from, those ideas hit close to home. 'It makes you think about the world we live in, and how we can make it better." Squid Game Season Three premieres on Netflix on June 27.
