SINGAPORE — Marriage is hard work and sometimes, it’s a challenge to keep it from falling apart.

And then there is the doomed union of Melanie (Ann Kok) and Derek (Chris Lee), in the upcoming Toggle Originals series Trapped Minds. The couple is desperately trying to keep their love alive through counselling, but instead of filing divorce papers, Derek turns to something far more sinister: kidnapping and murder.

Unwilling to get his hands — and reputation — dirty, Derek hires a psychopath to do the job for him, so all he has to do is sit back, relax and brood. While that sounds simple enough from an actor’s point of view, this dark moping around was something Lee, who is back in Singapore from his native Taiwan for about a year, found to be one of the most difficult things to do for the role.

“Derek is a very deep character whose actions cannot be too loud, whether he’s crying or laughing, so I had to be very subtle with my portrayal of him and I found that to be the biggest challenge,” said Lee during an interview with TOGGLE.

The demands of Kok’s part were far more physical, as her character is seen hogtied, bloodied and bruised on a tiled floor in one disturbing scene. “After so many years in showbiz, this is the first time I’ve ever looked so maimed on screen,” she shared. “Having my hands and feet tied behind my back, with my stomach on the ground, made me feel like I was getting a good workout — it was so tough!”

Another tough-to-watch part in the series involves Derek forcing himself on Melanie in their kitchen. Asked if he felt stressed about sharing the provocative scene with Kok, whom he is working with for the first time on this show, he said that the veteran actress made him feel at ease the first time they met — by telling a joke.

“She quipped that we should eat garlic before (our intimate scene),” Lee recalled. “It’s this light-heartedness that made me feel very comfortable; it didn’t feel like there was a ‘distance’ between us.”

Q: Did you go through any special preparation for your role in Trapped Minds?

Lee: I was told not to eat too much, even over the Chinese New Year period, because I would have a topless shower scene. The crew even prepared special meals for me on set, such as salad. It was really tough controlling my diet!

Q: What’s the furthest you would go when it comes to nude or intimate scenes?

Lee: Actually I’m not afraid of much. The only thing I’m worried about is not looking good on camera, such as having flabby skin or being too pale, or anything that would make the audience uncomfortable to watch me.

Q: Tell us about your kidnap scene in Trapped Minds.

Kok: It’s a very important scene in the show, and it is also the one that was the most difficult because I was beaten and tied up in a yoga-like position. It might not have been as uncomfortable if I regularly practise yoga, but I don’t, so it was quite strenuous.

Q: What was it like working with Lee?

Kok: He’s like a little brother to me. It’s our first time working together, but because he is a very easygoing person who takes initiative to talk to you and jokes around, it creates a very happy atmosphere, but at the same time, he knows how to be professional and get into the right mood when it’s time to work. TOGGLE