Friday, 4 May 2012
Why Emma Yong was never a TV star
Actress Emma Yong has died of stomach cancer at the young age of 37.
I've auditioned her for a TV show a few years ago at MediaCorp. I don't remember what the show was.
I had expected her to be lively like her Dim Sum Dollies character, but she was surprisingly quiet and shy when I met her.
Although Emma had guest roles on TV, I don't think she was ever a regular on any Channel 5 series.
Fellow Dolly Selena Tan was a regular in Under One Roof and Daddy's Girls (for which she won two Asian TV Awards) while the third Dolly, Pam Oei, was in Ah Girl and Tiramisu (with Sharon Au).
I had suggested casting Emma as a regular for a show because everyone knew she was a capable actress.
But after the screen test, the consensus was - even though she could look pretty good in photos - on TV, her face looked... well... she just wasn't very telegenic.
But who needs TV, right?
Her passing is a major loss for Singapore theatre. And MRT videos.
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