Thank you for your questions to Elvin Ng. Below are his replies to selected questions.

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Hi Elvin, I am a fan of yours ever since your first drama in "A Life Of Hope"...since then I have been catching and following closely every drama of yours. Your acting has been great. Do keep it up. I realised that you & Joanne Peh are very matching in screen. It is as if Mediacorp is trying to promote you & Joanne Peh as the next Christopher Lee & Fann Wong. How do you feel about it? Which female actress do you hope to act with in your next drama and why? Do you hope to go into singing or hosting in future?

- posted by Stella on 3/5/2007 3:26:29 PM

Elvin: I would feel very honoured if indeed MediaCorp were to pair me up with any actress and promote us as the next Chris and Fann. Joanne and I share good chemistry on screen and we certainly do share some fate in working together. She was the first actress I worked with in my first drama "A Life of Hope" and then later in "Happily Ever After" in which she was my "weaving maiden". We were supposed to work together again in the drama I'm currently filming -- an 80-episode long-form drama named "The Foothold", but due to some last minute changes, it is now Jesseca Liu who is acting as my love interest. I would generally agree that Joanne and I look rather matching on screen in terms of our looks, height, disposition etc. I have been fortunate enough to have worked with most of the young actresses in MediaCorp so far. Of the "seven princesses" (so called by the media), only Felicia Chin and Fiona Xie have not acted as direct opposites to me, though we have shared some scenes together. So perhaps, I would like to act opposite them soon. My immediate plans would be to focus on acting and brush up on my acting skills and Mandarin; I hope to take up singing some time in the future but I'm not sure if I have the talent required for hosting though. Thank you for supporting me since my first show.

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Hi Elvin=] I have been your fan since your hit drama series "A life of Hope". You`ve acted really well for all your series, so keep up the great work!=] I have some questions which I hope you will be able to answer, thanks=] 1.You`ve completed an Honours Degree in English lit, and I read in some magazines that you used to give tuition, do you still give tuition? 2.How do you manage your time so well? From having fan meetings, to filming series, to spending time with your family? 3.If one were to try to go into the acting business, what advice would you give them? Thanks, and keep up the great work!=]

- posted by Natasha on 3/19/2007 7:08:16 PM

Elvin: No, I don't give tuition anymore. I'm not sure about me managing my time well but I certainly have been trying to do quite a fair bit in the past few years -- studying, tutoring, modelling, acting, time for my family, time for myself, time for sports (soccer and gym) etc. Constantly, it was a struggle and uphill battle, and I found myself trying to pull through each day as it came; at different points, I really felt like giving up one thing or the other. I guess it's about not giving up, not giving in to difficulties, about perseverance, and determination. During that period of schooling and filming, I was often worried that I might end up stranded and failing to reach both shores (as the Chinese saying goes) but one of the producers offered me some encouraging words, "Why don't you think that eventually you might reach both shores instead?" Apart from mental strength and discipline, I believe time management requires recognising your priorities and understanding that inevitably opportunity costs will be involved (that "you will win some, and you will lose some"). If one were to try to go into the acting business, my advice would be to pursue your dreams but be realistic and practical about it because fate, luck, and opportunities play a big part in entering the industry. I personally think there are too many talent-scouting competitions these days, resulting in too many teenagers/youngsters having dreams of becoming a star; this is just a general phenomenon I have observed. It might be true for some things that the more deliberately you try to search for it, the more it might elude you. On the other hand, if you know you have what it takes, go ahead by all means. Good luck to you but don't forget to study hard at the same time because you will always need your education as back-up.

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How do you feel about changing from a model to a MediaCorp artiste???

- posted by gina on 2/28/2007 9:50:58 PM

Elvin: I think it's a step forward from being a model to becoming an artiste; many model-turn-actors have made this transition. In my opinion, it is very hard for modelling in Singapore to be taken more than a part-time job (not many local models can survive full-time for a long period of time and the modelling industry in Singapore unfortunately favours the foreigners) while acting can be taken a little more seriously and as a full-time job perhaps because it is relatively more stable and concrete. Acting requires more mental activity, emotional strength, and physical energy. It is definitely a steeper learning curve but a more enriching experience, and I'm happy to be here.

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Among all the roles tt u had played, all the way back from the kind-hearted gangster liangyi to the recent tianying. which was your most fav character role? and why? Which kinda roles wld you wish to act in the near future? If u must really make a choice, wld you choose to go on with ur love life or stay at the peak of your career?

- posted by Audrey on 2/16/2007 11:51:29 PM

Elvin: Actually, I like every role that I have played so far because each of them brought out different aspects of my character. I don't have a favourite role but I think the most successful one should be She Weixiang in "Love at Zero Degrees". His "prince charming" image, "idol" romance, selfless love, willingness to do everything for the one he loves but not asking for anything in return, as well as eventual touching and winning over of his beloved's heart make the character role a well-liked and endearing one. I would like to play a villain some day in the distant future, although I think that the simplest, most normal roles (like the typical good guy) are perhaps the hardest to act because there is nothing for the actor to "act" out. If I must really make a choice, I will work hard to make the best of both worlds (love and career) and risk losing both; I believe love and career can go hand-in-hand, compliment, and reinforce each other, and having one does not mean having to compromise the other.

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Hi ELVIN! How was your day? I`m one of your biggest fan even though I don`t have your fan site. Wanna ask you, ever since you became an actor, how do you manage to find time for your family and friends? What do you see in a girl as your girlfriend? Sorry, for asking you this question but i hope that you can answer. Being an actor can be tough and have tight schedule, so what made you be an actor? How do you cope with the stress and pressure? In MediaCorp, you admire any of your female actress? Sorry, for asking you silly question but hope that you can answer. Hope to hear from you soon. I`ll be waiting. Take Care Loads of Love Tash

- posted by Tash on 3/3/2007 5:17:46 PM

Elvin: Well, if you wish to, just search "Elvinology" on Yahoo search and you will find my website. No matter how busy we are, I believe we will always be able to find some time for our loved ones if we try hard enough. Sometimes, it's more about the amount of quality time we spend with them; we treasure the times we have together more because we have so little time together. I look for innocence, sincerity, and simplicity in a girl. I admire many of my female colleagues for their professionalism and diligence. Becoming an actor had never crossed my mind before this but ever since I became one, I realised that it's a very challenging and different job from many others. There is a lot for me to pick up here in terms of experience, maturity, and dealing with people. About coping with stress and pressure, I have learned to take things in my stride and I also understand that some form of stress/pressure propels one forward. Sorry to have kept you waiting. =)

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Hey Elvin, 2 thumbs up on your achievements so far! No easy feat :) People say the entertainment circle depletes one`s innocence. I know you`ll remain the same Elvin that chased chickens in the kampung or the lil imp that terrorised those Jurong shophouses :) So, what is your fondest childhood memory? What were your dreams and aspirations? Who are the people who inspire u?

- posted by huishi on 3/1/2007 11:38:58 PM

Elvin: Can't speak of achievements but doing my best, so thank you for the encouragement! Well, people also say growing up depletes one's innocence… and then the entertainment circle escalates it further right? Essentially, I think it depends on the individual to maintain a core of innocence and be as unaffected by the external world as possible. Yes, I would like to "stay the same" too, the "kampung kid", the "lil imp". My fondest childhood memory has to be terrorising those Jurong shophouses with my little sister and brother in our little BMX bicycles. I had different dreams and aspirations at different stages of my life; some of them were to become a lawyer, pilot, sailor, lecturer, to build a hotel, own a small island… My mother inspires me to be a man with strong values, a very dedicated primary school teacher inspired me to be determined to study hard, characters in and writers of my Literature books and texts inspire me to fight in the face of adversity ( the Hunchback of Notre Dame, Frida Kahlo, some Asian and African writers etc.)…

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You are lucky to be intelligent and handsome in this life =). Which one will you choose to be for your next life: Handsome with IQ 90 or Ugly with IQ 120?

- posted by Esther Yeo on 3/8/2007 11:05:25 AM

Elvin: Handsome with IQ 90. If I'm not wrong, there's not too much difference between IQ 90 and IQ 120. And I believe EQ will be much more valuable than IQ in future because by then computers could possibly have taken over our IQ systems completely! And it's a sad fact that ours is still going to be a superficial world where looks do play a part and I think plastic surgery makes one look less natural.

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Hello Elvin! Your performance in Happily Ever After was really great! There is a huge improvement after since your debut performance in A Life of Hope! Anyway, wads your first reaction when the producers approach you for the Liang-yi role? Were you shocked? And also, you have worked with so many up rising actress, such as Joanne Peh, Rui En, Jeanette Aw, Dawn Yeoh, Felicia, and later on with Jesseca Liu in All in the Family. Which actress do u like working best? And why? Next, u have studied English Lit in Uni right? Will u think that is quite wasteful as there is no chance possessing this skills in showbiz? Thats all! I wish you all the best in showbiz abd good luck for your upcoming drama, All i the Family! Hope you win Top 10 again! And hopefully a Best Actor nomination! Haha!!!

- posted by Le on 2/28/2007 10:41:38 AM

Elvin: Thank you for your encouragement and support! Yes, it was definitely a big shock when the producers first approached me for the Liangyi role in "A Life of Hope". I was very tentative about taking up the offer initially because: firstly, I never thought about becoming an actor and I was rather introverted; secondly, it was quite a major role and I had to play an "ah beng" so I had no confidence at all if I could pull it off; and thirdly, I was still busy with school, modelling, and giving tuition at that time so taking up the offer would represent a very drastic change in my life. With hindsight, it's just as well that I decided "nothing ventured, nothing gained" and went for it. I'm very fortunate to have worked with many of the uprising young actresses. Working with each of them is a unique experience on its own each producing its own different "feel" or park and allowing me th opportunity to learn different things. I share a good chemistry with Joanne. Jesseca is a simple and easy-going girl with no airs. Felicia is sweet, friendly, and diligent. Fiona is a pleasant and imaginative girl. Dawn is a likeable "little sister". Jeanette is photogenic and sweet. Rui En is independent and professional. I don't think it's a waste that I took English Literature in Uni and then entered showbiz. In fact, it has helped me in the processes of analysing my roles and reading my scripts. And anyway, education is something that stays with you and cannot be measured in tangible terms. Thank you for all your well wishes!

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Dear Elvin Ng, I would like to ask the following: 1)May I know what is yr favourite dish? 2)Do you like chinese food or western food? 3)Which sports do you like? 4)Do you have email address?

- posted by Tommy Ng on 3/3/2007 2:53:31 PM

Elvin: 1 & 2) I like Italian and Japanese food -- pasta, pizza, sushi etc. I love cakes, pastries, and bread too. 3) Soccer ranks first. I like swimming too. I force myself to workout at the gym and jog. I enjoy most ball games (badminton, tennis etc.) because I'm lucky to have a bit of ball sense. 4) I have an email address but I haven't been able to reply to individual mails due to my work schedule and it has been flooded for some time now (400+ mails). If you wish to post messages to me, you can search "Elvinology" on Yahoo search and join my website. I read all the members' messages over there and post my own messages from time to time.

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On the show `Love at 0° C`, you portrayed a romantic lovely guy, one in which females will go weak in their knees for. So, in real life, do you think you are romantic?

- posted by Jackson on 2/20/2007 11:42:35 PM

Elvin: I don't think of myself as romantic, definitely not if compared to She Weixiang in "Love at Zero Degress". I'm a bit more practical and realistic. I studied Literature but I'm more into novels rather than poems. However, I enjoy war epics and tragic romances in books and movies precisely because we probably won't get to experience them in real life. So I wonder if that makes me a little more imaginative and romantic? =)