Irene Ang recalls violent childhood with drug addict mum: 'You grabbed knife and chased me'
She is best known as Rosie Phua, wife of Phua Chu Kang in the local sitcom named after him.
While the show provided laughter for many, Irene Ang's own childhood with her older brother was not a joyful one.
"We grew up in an environment of violence and vulgarity, and broken bottles and plates, and a lot of anger," said the actress in a video on the Our Grandfather Story YouTube channel on July 1.
The 12-minute video featured Ang visiting her mother, Madam Tan Meng Choo, who used to be a drug addict.
"I have very bad memories of my mum," said Ang. "I have no memories of enjoying any time with her."
In the video, she recalled her mum catching her father with another woman.
Madam Tan said in Mandarin: "I would catch one and he would let her go. Then after a short while, another girl would come. He would keep getting girls and I would chase them away until I got tired. Really tired.
"At that point in time, my marriage was in shambles and I was introduced (to drugs). After taking a few puffs, I felt a giddy rush of euphoria. So that's how I got into drugs."
Ang recounted a particular harrowing incident when she was in primary school.
"Once, I came back from an exam. I think I passed, but didn't score very well. I think you were high," she told her mother in the video.
"But you grabbed a vegetable knife and chased me. You chased me from the ninth floor to the eighth floor to the seventh floor, and to the neighbouring unit.
"Our neighbours still remember this. But you don't remember anything."
Madam Tan, who is in her mid-70s, admitted: "I only have memories from when I was sober."
Ang also recalled her parents were always fighting when they were together.
"You both would throw cups and bowls - even the sofa! I wondered, why is my family like this?" said the 54-year-old.
She said that forgiving her parents was something she struggled with.
"Because I don't feel the remorse there," said Ang. "I've never been asked for forgiveness.
"Putting all this aside, I choose to forgive them, although it's very hard to forget, because forgiving them does more good for me.
"It's not about them any more. It's more about, you know, I want to move on. I want to be happy. I want to build my own life."
Madam Tan, who quit drugs at 38, said: "I've never apologised to them directly, but I've tried to be a good mother to them.
"As long as they ask, I'll do whatever they want. Whether they've forgiven me, I don't know. I hope they've forgiven me."
This was not the first time Ang has talked about her mother's drug addiction.
She shared more unhappy childhood memories in a video on May 17 for Drug Victims Remembrance Day.
Madam Tan has also talked about her drug addiction in a 2017 video by Fly Entertainment, the company her daughter founded and heads.
