By Olivia Siong, Channel News Asia

SINGAPORE : It seems like every other drama that appears on Channel 8 these days is a ‘blockbuster’.

While it might be a tad difficult to pinpoint what exact quality is required to join the high and mighty drama club of ‘blockbusters’, one thing that does seem to help is a show’s star studded cast.

So, are good looking onscreen couple Jeanette Aw and Dai Yangtian, feeling the pressure of leading upcoming year end Channel 8 blockbuster drama, “Together”, which is touted to succeed last year’s runaway hit, “The Little Nyonya”?

“I would say that a blockbuster would be additional stress, because people will expect a lot more, but I’m all for it. I hope I’ll be able to meet expectations!” said Aw, who was also played the lead role in “The Little Nyonya”.

“I don’t feel stressed, I see it as an opportunity that I’ve been given [by MediaCorp], and I hope to make the best of it. There’s no stress,” said Dai, who was dressed in a self-professed “head turning” bright green bell-bottom suit.

Channelnewsasia.com found out what’s so different about this blast to the past drama, which tells a story of six friends in Singapore’s post-independence era.

No, Jeanette Aw’s not Yueniang again

“Actually I would think she’s a very simple girl, she’s down to earth, subsequently because of her father’s gambling debts she has to be a bar girl, to pay off all his debts and actually help him get out of trouble,” said Aw, describing her latest character, Yao Jianhong.

Sounds an awful lot like Aw’s Star Award nominated character Yueniang in “The Little Nyonya”, you say? Well, you’re not the only one.

“A lot of people actually do think that [Yueniang and Yao Jianhong sound similar], because they’re both long suffering and well, they go through a lot of hardships, but essentially they’re still quite different,” said Aw, who also revealed she’ll be putting on her waltz and cha-cha dancing shoes for this drama.

“To me this is going to be another big challenge, as you said do you think it’s going to be very similar to Yueniang? I don’t want to deliver another performance where they all say, ‘Ah! She’s just Yueninang!’

“Like for Jianhong, who is able to sacrifice everything for her family, it’s more like women of that time thinking in such a way that they would just go with the decision made by their family, whereas Yueniang would defy and fight for what she wants… I would consider her fighting for women’s rights,” continued Aw.

The 30-year-old actress who also professes to believe in “women’s rights, equality and women having a say”, revealed that her modern mindset was initially a barrier in her portraying this meek and submissive character.

In fact, Aw admitted that she “felt so sad” and cried while listening to the plight of older ladies who had lived through the 1960s to 1990s, while researching for the show.

With so much emotion and effort, will this finally be the role that gets Aw the elusive Best Actress Star Award that barely slipped through her fingers earlier this year?

“I just do my best for all my dramas, of course as an actress for whatever drama that I do, I always do my best so that there’s a chance!” giggled Aw.
Dai Yangtian is Jeannette Aw’s “hubby”?

Now, playing lovers for a third time in two years – they also starred together in “The Peranakan Ball”, a stage musical spin-off from “The Little Nyonya” – Dai who admittedly said he and Aw were slightly awkward around each other initially, have obviously come a long way.

“Our chemistry is definitely a lot better,” said Dai who also added he has now no qualms about putting his arm around the petite Aw, “We’re entering a new phase, our communication is better.”

Aw, too, even wrote in her blog that she even calls Dai “hubby” after the production crew started referring to them as husband and wife after filming had begun.

But, Aw is not the only woman in Dai’s life, at least not in the show.
Dai’s character Ling Xiaobei has two other “pretty” women, played by Eelyn Kok and newcomer Kola Zhou, falling for him.

Though Dai, 25, is quick to add that despite the “honour” of being surrounded by beautiful women, his character still only has eyes for Aw, a quality which he admires about the character, and which he adds, is similar to himself in real life.

Might Dai be referring to a certain Miss Ann Kok whom he’s rumoured to be dating?

“I don’t know whether it’s from the Chinese traditions or other factors… but whether it’s having the concentration [to focus on just one thing] for work or relationships, I think I have that,” said Dai.

With major love triangles and crazy twists and turns, will this blockbuster be a hit (a la “The Little Nyonya”), or a miss (like the overly dramatic “The Ultimatum”)? Judge for yourself, when “Together” airs on Channel 8 this November.

This post was tagged with the following: Drama > Together 当我们同在一起, Media > Channel News Asia