Yeo Yann Yann initially reluctant to star in sex comedy

SINGAPORE – When local film-maker Han Yew Kwang first approached Yeo Yann Yann with the idea of starring a sex comedy, the Malaysian actress said she thought it was “not for me”.

But she was eventually moved by the director’s sincerity to make the movie that eventually became Rubbers, which premiered last year at the Singapore International Film Festival, and also stars Alaric Tay, Marcus Chin, Oon Shu An, Julian Hee and Catherine Sng.

“I had just given birth,” Yeo said. “I told him I didn’t think I was in good shape, and I felt very, very tired. But I had been working with him for a long time, and I knew he wanted to explore different things. So, despite my tiredness and my sickness, I said okay, let me try my best.”

(Yeo’s voice gave out towards the end of filming and she had to return to do dialogue replacement during post-production.) Yeo’s co-star, Oon Shu An, said she also had her reservations about the movie. “You know what I was worried about? It wasn’t so much about the acting – it was about what everyone would think,” said the actress, who plays a Japanese porn star. “So to prepare (for my role), I just had to stop thinking about (what people will think). That was the toughest part, because the acting was quite a breeze.”

But, like Yeo, Oon eventually warmed up to the idea of working with Han and Tay. “I think one of the things I’ve realised over the past couple of years is that people know me from different angles,” she said. “Some people know me as a theatre actor; some people know me from Tried And Tested; and some people know me as a film actor.

She continued: “I’ve realised everyone has a version of you that they want you to be. I am a bit afraid that they will see (me) differently, but those who want to see you for you are will choose to see you. They will look past all of that and understand how it fits into a larger framework.”

Rubbers will open in cinemas here on April 30.