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5 actors and their special-effects make-up moments

SINGAPORE — Actors who have played characters much older than their actual ages share what it’s like to wear a ton of special-effects make-up.

SINGAPORE — Actors who have played characters much older than their actual ages share what it’s like to wear a ton of special-effects make-up.

1. HONG HUI FANG (plays 100 in Good Luck). “It’s quite uncomfortable, especially when we’re filming outside and it’s hot. You can’t sweat through the latex film. It kind of bites and sometimes you get a rash when you take it off. It’s a little bit itchy. (But) once I get my make-up done, it’s like I’m possessed and an old lady immediately takes my place.”

2. KARTHIKEYAN SOMASUNDARAM (plays 90 in Annamalai). “We start at 3am and end around 10am in the morning. There’s no rest even after it’s done as the layers of make-up have to be moisturised throughout the shoot. I’ve been overwhelmed by the response from the audience. Many have said they could not recognise me and thought some old man had been cast. That was truly satisfying to know the hard work paid off.”

3. DESMOND TAN (played 50-something in The Journey: Tumultuous Times). “It’s quite a hassle to ‘age’. I usually need about half an hour for make-up but for Tumultuous Times, I needed an hour and a half. When I perspired, all the lines would go, so I needed touch-ups for almost every shot, otherwise I’d look old in the morning and young in the afternoon. Apart from the make-up, I hunched — so I had very bad backaches. It takes a lot of work to be old — and I can foresee a lot of work to be done to not look old in future!”

4. FELICIA CHIN (will play 58 in The Journey: Our Homeland). “It was quite funny when I saw myself in the mirror. I took selfies with the hair stylists and make-up artists. I like it a lot — I would be very happy if I have this much hair when I’m 58, although I probably would not have a perm! But I embrace this role because I think it’s quite rare to play a complete life cycle, from three years old to 50-plus.”

5. REBECCA LIM (will play 60 in The Journey: Our Homeland). “I didn’t wear any foundation and they added dark circles, laugh lines and wrinkles around the eyes and forehead. Initially, I didn’t look old enough, so they had to add some pigmentation. I fell asleep when they were doing my make-up. My reaction at the end was: ‘I hope my skin still stays this good when I’m 60!’ And I took pictures with my tummy sticking out, because I don’t think I’ll be as slim when I’m 60!”

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