Michelle Chong (born 22 April 1977) is a Singaporean actress, comedian, host, filmmaker, digital content producer and businesswoman. She left Mediacorp in 2011 to set up the media agency Left Profile and production house Huat Films.[1] To date, she has produced, written and directed 3 mainstream films,[2] the first of which, Already Famous, was chosen as Singapore’s entry for Best Foreign Film at the Academy Awards in 2013.[3] Chong is known for her versatility and comedic performances in satire shows such as The Noose and more recently for her online personas "Ah Lian",[4] "Venus Seow"[5] and "Emily 爱美丽", etc., from The Michelle Chong Channel on YouTube.[1]
Michelle Chong | |
|---|---|
| Born | 22 April 1977 |
| Other names | Zhuang Mixue |
| Education | |
| Alma mater | |
| Occupations |
|
| Years active | 1999−present |
| Chinese name | |
| Traditional Chinese | 莊米雪 |
| Simplified Chinese | 庄米雪 |
| Hanyu Pinyin | Zhuāng Mǐxuě |
Early life
Chong studied in CHIJ St Nicholas Girls' School, Dunman High School and Victoria Junior College where she took drama as a subject.[6] Her drama teacher recommended her to Bates College, a top liberal arts college in Maine, USA where she studied theatre for a year. She also subsequently studied in the National University of Singapore.
Career
She was voted by FHM readers as one of the world's top 30 sexiest women in 2002 and 2003.
Chong won the Elle Actress of the Year Award (2008) and the Asian Television Awards' (ATV) Best Comedy Performance (Highly Commended) Award (2008) for her portrayal of Beh Li Choo, a butcher in the popular Peranakan dramedy, Sayang Sayang.[citation needed] Chong is also known for portraying a celebrity maid, Leticia Bongnino.[citation needed]
In 2011, Chong took seven months of sabbatical leave to set up her own film company, Huat Films, and produced her first film as director, screenwriter and actress:[7] Already Famous starred her, Taiwanese singer Alien Huang as well as other local celebrities who were cameo appearances in the film.
In 2012, Chong started artiste management agency Left Profile, which manages her, Pornsak and Lee Teng.[7]
Already Famous was selected as the Singaporean entry for the Best Foreign Language Oscar at the 85th Academy Awards, but it did not make the final shortlist.[8]
Filmography
Variety show
- 1999
- 1999 High-Revs
- 2000
- 2000 Crimewatch
- 2002
- Happy Rules 开心就好
- Mars Vs Venus 男人女人 Oh Yeah
- Open Sesame 芝麻开门客人来
- 2003
- Bon Voyage 一路风光
- Oooh! 元气大搜查
- XXXtraordinary 少见多怪
- Mission Possible 地球无界限
- 2004
- Miss Singapore Universe 2004 Finals 新加坡环球小姐选美大决赛 2004
- All In NETS NETS 有钱坤
- New City Beat 品味动感辣辣辣
- Carlsberg World of Friends 好友满天下
- President’s Star Charity 2004
- Eye For A Guy
- 2005
- Fortune Festival at Giant 爱上Giant过肥年
- Lunar New Year Show
- Life Scent 花花都市
- Be A Giant Star 2005 Giant点星光 2005
- Star Choice 街头美食星
- Made In Singapore 出奇制胜
- The Cancer Charity Show 2005 癌过有晴天 2005
- Wish You Were Here
- The Sky Symphony Countdown 2006
- 2006
- PSC Night 普威之夜
- Battle of The Best 5 强中自有强中手5
- My Star Guide 我的导游是明星 (season 1)
- Trivio Trove 2 不说你不知 2
- Life Scent 2 花花都市 2
- Seoul Far Seoul Good
- Rated:E
- She's The One 亮丽俏佳人
- 2007
- ChongQing Discovery 麻辣重庆
- Sweets for my Sweet
- Adonis Beauty Charter Box ADONIS 美丽论谈
- Welcome to Taiwan 铁定台湾
- PSC Night 2007 赢万金游万里 2007
- The Noose season 1
- 2008
- Lets Party With Food 5 食福满人间V
- Sweets for My Sweet 2
- The Noose Season 2
- Energy Savers 省电家族
- Haircare 101 草药护发101
- Haircare 101 2 草药护发101 II
- F&B Heroes 餐饮英雄榜
- National Day Parade 2008
- New Foreigner in Town
Film
| Year | Title | Role | Notes | Ref |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1999 | Eating Air | Ah Girl's colleague | [citation needed] | |
| 2005 | Sitting Ducks | [citation needed] | ||
| 2011 | Already Famous | Ah Kiao | Writer, director and actress | [citation needed] |
| 2013 | 3 Peas in a Pod | Hotel staff | Writer, producer, director and actress | [citation needed] |
| 2015 | Our Sister Mambo | [citation needed] | ||
| 2016 | Lulu the Movie | Lulu | Writer, director and actress | [citation needed] |
Television series
Theatre
- 1995
- The Bald Soprano
- 1996
- The Blue Hibiscus
- 1999
- Love is Not Puttu Mayam
- Joy Luck Club
- PIE
- Ah Kong’s Birthday Party
- 2000
- Midsummer Night’s Dream 仲夏夜之梦
- Travelling Light
- Is This Our Stop?
- Oleanna
- The Theory of Everything
- 2001
- Oleanna
- The Theory of Everything
Awards and nominations
| Year | Award | Category | Nominated work | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2004 | Star Awards 2004 | Best Variety Show Host | All in NETS | Nominated |
| 2005 | Star Awards 2005 | Top 10 Most Popular Female Artiste | — | Won |
| 2006 | Star Awards 2006 | Top 10 Most Popular Female Artiste | — | Nominated |
| 2007 | Star Awards 2007 | Top 10 Most Popular Female Artiste | — | Nominated |
| 2008 | Asian Television Awards | Best Comedy Actor/Actress | Sayang Sayang | Commendation |
| 2009 | Star Awards 2009 | Top 10 Most Popular Female Artiste | — | Nominated |
| 2010 | Star Awards 2010 | Top 10 Most Popular Female Artiste | — | Nominated |
| Asian Television Awards | Best Comedy Performance | The Noose 3 | Commendation | |
| 2011 | Star Awards 2011 | Top 10 Most Popular Female Artiste | — | Won |
| Best Variety Show Host | Black Rose | Nominated | ||
| Favourite Female Character | "Xie Yuyu" (from Black Rose) |
Nominated | ||
| 2012 | Star Awards 2012 | Top 10 Most Popular Female Artiste | — | Nominated |
| 2012 | Asian Television Awards | Best Comedy Actor / Actress | The Noose | Won |
| 2017 | Canada International Film Festival | Best Director | Lulu The Movie | Won |
References
- ^ a b "Lunch With Sumiko: Michelle Chong is a one-woman showstopper". The Straits Times. 18 June 2017. Retrieved 23 September 2020.
- ^ "Now following: Michelle Chong". Marketing-Interactive. 21 July 2017. Retrieved 30 July 2023.
- ^ "Michelle Chong's Film "Already Famous" Is Singapore's Entry Into The Oscars". Retrieved 23 September 2020.
- ^ "Homegirl Michelle Chong appears as Ah Lian in the new 'Orange is the New Black' trailer". Retrieved 23 September 2020.
- ^ "Prudential shoots virtual ad with fitness crazy Michelle Chong". Retrieved 23 September 2020.
- ^ hermes (18 June 2017). "Lunch With Sumiko: Michelle Chong is a one-woman showstopper". The Straits Times. Retrieved 12 May 2021.
- ^ a b "Michelle Chong: Actress. Filmmaker. Artiste Manager?". Channel NewsAsia. Archived from the original on 18 June 2012. Retrieved 1 May 2012.
- ^ "71 Countries Vie for 2012 Foreign Language Film Oscar®". 8 October 2012. Retrieved 8 October 2012.
External links
- Michelle Chong at IMDb
- Profile on xinmsn