'It was cut so low': Xiang Yun remembers 'embarrassing' dress from Star Awards 2011

Beonson Ang
The Straits Times
July 2, 2025

Come July 6, a new batch of local actors will be celebrated at the annual Star Awards at The Theatre at Mediacorp.

But regardless of who wins, one honour will remain unchanged - Xiang Yun and Chen Hanwei are the female and male artistes who have scooped the most trophies in the ceremony's history respectively, since its inaugural edition in 1994.

Xiang Yun, 63, has received 21 Star Awards, including 11 popularity awards and 10 performance awards. Host Quan Yifeng is in second place with 20 awards (11 popularity, nine performance) and actress-host Kym Ng is third with 18 awards (11 popularity, seven performance).

Chen, 55, has won 20 Star Awards - 11 popularity awards and nine performance awards. Hot on his heels are actor Xie Shaoguang and actor-host-DJ Mark Lee, who each have 19 awards (11 popularity, eight performance).

Nominees of performance awards are determined by an expert panel, and judged by a group of industry veterans and established media practitioners. Popularity awards are qualification-based - all artistes who meet the stated criteria will be included in the race for public votes.

In separate interviews with The Straits Times on June 26, both stars said they have not kept track of their tallies, but that the awards take pride of place in their homes.

Xiang Yun showcases them in a cabinet, together with another seven Star Awards - all in the popularity category - clinched by her husband, actor and artist Edmund Chen, 64. The celebrity couple have two children - actor-artist Chen Xi, 34, and actress-influencer Chen Yixin, 25.

However, one award that has eluded her is Best Actress, famously won by fellow actresses Huang Biren five times and Zoe Tay on four occasions.

Xiang Yun has been nominated only once in this category in 2004, for playing a divorcee in the long-running drama Double Happiness. She has won Best Supporting Actress five times, and is not nominated for any award this year.

"Of course, everyone hopes to feel validated in all aspects," she said. "I sometimes look at the actors and actresses hard at work from morning to night, and ask myself if I can cope with that. But at my age, I am not sure if I am up to playing the lead character. You really have to put in a lot of time and energy."

In any case, she is thankful for her longevity in the vocation of her choice.

"If I weren't in this line, I might be a normal aunty and followed my parents to be hawkers," she said. "Being an artiste has allowed me to grow, pick up new skills like hosting and learn so much about the world. At this point in my life, I am just focused on acting well."

Among her most memorable highlights over the years was winning the Special Achievement Award in 1995. "Both Edmund and Chen Xi, who was then four years old and wearing a little coat, attended that year. The moment felt so special to me," she recalled.

"However, each win is a surprise, because it is never certain that you are the winner."

Most of Chen Hanwei's haul are displayed on his piano. Two trophies - for his Top 5 Most Popular Male Artistes wins in 1995 and 1996 - are in one of the Malaysia-born Singapore permanent resident's homes in Johor Bahru.

A 2006 photo showing the Star Awards actor Chen Hanwei has won displayed on a piano at his home. He has since won more awards.
A 2006 photo showing the Star Awards actor Chen Hanwei has won displayed on a piano at his home. He has since won more awards. PHOTO: LIANHE ZAOBAO FILE 

Of the past 29 ceremonies - Star Awards was not held in 2008 and 2020 - both Mediacorp artistes have turned up for every single one.

Xiang Yun said: "It is such a big and important event for the company. I don't want to miss any of it."

Chen added: "I don't dare to not show up. Even during the years when I was doing backstage work (in the late 1990s), I also handled outfits of the artistes attending the event."

Over the years, it has been a stress-free experience for him. The bachelor said: "Nowadays, I just style myself - in outfits that are unique and bought overseas. What is important is to wear the clothes, and not have the clothes wear you."

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Xiang Yun relishes every part of the event, from getting dolled up in her finest to walking the pre-show red carpet. Doing the latter alongside Chen Xi for the first time in 2022 was when she felt "the most comfortable, relaxed and happy".

Every year, she also anticipates the outfits her stylists prepare for her. Her most memorable get-up was a cleavage-baring black dress she donned in 2011, when she was presented with the All-Time Favourite Artiste award by then Singapore president S R Nathan.

Xiang Yun (right) receiving the All-Time Favourite Artiste award by then Singapore president S R Nathan in 2011.
Xiang Yun (right) receiving the All-Time Favourite Artiste award by then Singapore president S R Nathan in 2011. PHOTO: LIANHE ZAOBAO FILE 

She recalled: "It was cut so low, and part of me did not dare to walk out wearing that. It was a bit embarrassing, but thankfully, it had a piece of skin-coloured mesh material in front."

Xiang Yun with her Star Award for All-Time Favourite Artiste in 2011.
Xiang Yun with her Star Award for All-Time Favourite Artiste in 2011. PHOTO: SHIN MIN DAILY NEWS FILE 

And although Chen is a seven-time Best Actor recipient, he feels he is still growing from strength to strength. In 2025, he is up for Best Supporting Actor for his role as a former convict in the crime drama Unforgivable (2024). He has won in this category twice before, in 2015 and 2018.

One skill he has picked up in his long career is hosting, such as for the travelogue Away With My BFF (2018) and reality show House Everything? (2018, 2022 and 2024). He even hosted 2022's Star Awards, and picked up the Best Actor accolade that year.

He recalled: "That night, I felt very stressed because it was the first time I was hosting a full live show."

Chen Hanwei (far right) hosting the Star Awards in 2022, seen here with the nominees of the Best Programme Host (Entertainment & Infotainment) category (from right) Ke Le, Desmond Ng, Quan Yifeng, Guo Liang and Kym Ng.
Chen Hanwei (far right) hosting the Star Awards in 2022, seen here with the nominees of the Best Programme Host (Entertainment & Infotainment) category (from right) Ke Le, Desmond Ng, Quan Yifeng, Guo Liang and Kym Ng. PHOTO: MEDIACORP 

Another recent challenge was delivering most of his lines in Hokkien in the dialect drama Whatever Will Be, Will Be (2023), despite not knowing how to speak it. He said: "I relied very heavily on the dialect coaches. One of them, fellow actor Richard Low, recorded the script line by line for me, and I memorised the lines like crazy."

In addition, Chen has mentored younger actors, such as Tyler Ten, 29, who played a gangster in the period drama Emerald Hill - The Little Nyonya Story (2025).

Chen said: "Even before Tyler got the part, a few other actors and I were trying to help him develop his take on it. We really want the next generation to succeed.

"And when they do, the pride we feel as their mentors is priceless."

Xiang Yun's Star Awards:

Singaporean actress Xiang Yun at the Mediacorp Campus on June 26.
Singaporean actress Xiang Yun at the Mediacorp Campus on June 26. ST PHOTO: BRIAN TEO 

1 Special Achievement Award (1995)

5 Best Supporting Actress Awards

- 1998 for Around People's Park

Xiang Yun winning Best Supporting Actress in 1998 for the drama Around People's Park.
Xiang Yun winning Best Supporting Actress in 1998 for the drama Around People's Park. PHOTO: ST FILE 

- 2000 for My Home Affairs

Xiang Yun winning Best Supporting Actress in 2000 for the drama My Home Affairs.
Xiang Yun winning Best Supporting Actress in 2000 for the drama My Home Affairs. PHOTO: PROJECT EYEBALL FILE 

- 2001 for The Challenge

- 2009 for The Little Nyonya

Xiang Yun winning Best Supporting Actress in 2009 for the drama The Little Nyonya.
Xiang Yun winning Best Supporting Actress in 2009 for the drama The Little Nyonya. PHOTO: LIANHE ZAOBAO FILE 

- 2023 for Your World In Mine

4 Best Evergreen Artiste Awards (2017, 2019, 2022, 2023)

Xiang Yun winning Best Evergreen Artiste in 2023.
Xiang Yun winning Best Evergreen Artiste in 2023. PHOTO: MEDIACORP 

10 Top 10 Most Popular Female Artistes (2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2010)

(From left) Xiang Yun winning Top 10 Most Popular Female Artistes in 2002, 2003, 2009 and 2010.
(From left) Xiang Yun winning Top 10 Most Popular Female Artistes in 2002, 2003, 2009 and 2010. PHOTO: LIANHE ZAOBAO FILE, ST FILE, SHIN MIN DAILY NEWS FILE 

1 All-Time Favourite Artiste (2011)

Chen Hanwei's Star Awards:

Malaysian actor Chen, who is a Singapore permanent resident, at the Mediacorp Campus on June 26.
Malaysian actor Chen, who is a Singapore permanent resident, at the Mediacorp Campus on June 26. ST PHOTO: BRIAN TEO 

7 Best Actor Awards:

- 2001 for Love Me, Love Me Not

Chen winning Best Actor in 2001 for the drama Love Me, Love Me Not.
Chen winning Best Actor in 2001 for the drama Love Me, Love Me Not. PHOTO: LIANHE ZAOBAO FILE 

- 2005 for A Life Of Hope

Chen winning Best Actor in 2005 for the drama A Life Of Hope.
Chen winning Best Actor in 2005 for the drama A Life Of Hope. PHOTO: LIANHE ZAOBAO FILE 

- 2009 for By My Side

Chen winning Best Actor in 2009 for the drama By My Side.
Chen winning Best Actor in 2009 for the drama By My Side. PHOTO: LIANHE ZAOBAO FILE 

- 2010 for Daddy At Home

Chen winning Best Actor in 2010 for the drama Daddy At Home.
Chen winning Best Actor in 2010 for the drama Daddy At Home. PHOTO: LIANHE ZAOBAO FILE 

- 2017 for The Gentlemen

Chen (left) winning Best Actor in 2017, next to the award's presenter, Hong Kong actor Bowie Lam (right).
Chen (left) winning Best Actor in 2017, next to the award's presenter, Hong Kong actor Bowie Lam (right). PHOTO: LIANHE ZAOBAO FILE 

- 2019 for A Million Dollar Dream

- 2022 for Recipe Of Life

Chen winning Best Actor in 2022 for the drama Recipe Of Life.
Chen winning Best Actor in 2022 for the drama Recipe Of Life. PHOTO: MEDIACORP 

2 Best Supporting Actor Awards

- 2015 for The Journey: Tumultuous Times

Chen winning Best Supporting Actor in 2015 for the drama The Journey: Tumultuous Times.
Chen winning Best Supporting Actor in 2015 for the drama The Journey: Tumultuous Times. PHOTO: SHIN MIN DAILY NEWS 

- 2018 for The Lead

2 Top 5 Most Popular Male Artistes Awards (1995, 1996)

8 Top 10 Most Popular Male Artistes (2000, 2001, 2005, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013)

(From left) Chen winning Top 10 Most Popular Male Artistes in 2000, 2011, 2012 and 2013.
(From left) Chen winning Top 10 Most Popular Male Artistes in 2000, 2011, 2012 and 2013. PHOTOS: LIANHE ZAOBAO FILE 

1 All-Time Favourite Artiste (2014)

Chen (right) winning All-Time Favourite Artiste in 2014, together with fellow artiste Bryan Wong (left).
Chen (right) winning All-Time Favourite Artiste in 2014, together with fellow artiste Bryan Wong (left). PHOTO: LIANHE ZAOBAO 
  • Star Awards 2025 will be shown on July 6 on Channel 8, Channel U, mewatch and the Mediacorp Entertainment YouTube Channel from 7 to 10pm. There will be a red carpet pre-show from 5 to 6.30pm. The Backstage Live behind-the-scenes live stream will take place from 3.30 to 10pm, and a Post-Awards Party from 10 to 10.30pm. Both will be showing on mewatch and the Mediacorp Entertainment YouTube Channel.

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