Jeannette Aw’s dramatic turn at Star Awards Show 1

“Your arms are going to be sore tonight,” we overheard someone say to Jeanette Aw’s personal assistant backstage at the MediaCorp TV Theatre during Star Awards 2015 Show 1. Indeed, she would have had her hands full helping Aw cart home the half-dozen trophies the actress picked up at the awards ceremony on Sunday night.

Far and away the big winner of the night, Aw earned the Social Media Award, the Favourite Female Character award and the Favourite Onscreen Couple award (together with Zhang Zhen Huan). She won three more Regional Most Popular Artiste awards for being well-liked in Cambodia, Malaysia and Indonesia.

“This is something I really didn’t expect. I would not have overestimated myself and thought I was going to bag all the awards,” she said. “Today counts as a good harvest for me and also a perfect report card.”

NO MORE AWARDS, PLEASE

But the Favourite Female Character award, which was determined by online voting, was shadowed somewhat by Aw’s acceptance speech, in which she said she hopes not to win any more online voting awards because of fans who wrote in saying they had thought about ending their lives when she fell behind in the weeks leading up to the show. During a post-show interview, Aw said she plans to ask to be excluded from the online voting categories.

“Every year, it’s always quite a stressful thing for my fans, especially this year — when I started to lag behind in the past few weeks, I had fans emailing and saying they wanted to end their lives. I don’t want this award to be the reason that anything should happen to them,” she explained. “I really just want them to be happy and enjoy my shows and share my happiness, instead of worrying about whether I lose or win, because that, ultimately, is not what really matters. The important thing is the support they show me.”

The star added: “I think they worked extra hard this time because this year, I’m getting the All-Time Favourite Artiste award, so they want to give me the best of everything. They just feel that they want to do something for me, and if they can’t, they blame themselves. They feel disappointed and upset, and wonder why they didn’t work harder. I can’t deny their support for me.”

Although she has yet to bag a Best Actress award, this is Aw’s third time being named Favourite Female Character after the award was introduced in 2010. Since then, it has been a neck-and-neck race between Aw and Rui En — who also has three of these awards to her name, but left Show 1 empty-handed.

When asked about her reaction to Aw’s acceptance speech, Rui En said: “Such a fan wouldn’t be my fan. Don’t take acting as real life. I know my fans will be very disappointed, but I hope they can pick themselves up and just move on. And maybe try better next year, you know what I mean?”

SIGNS OF THINGS TO COME?

The night’s other multiple award-winner was Aw’s Favourite Onscreen Couple collaborator Zhang Zhen Huan, who also took Favourite Male Character. “Good things come in pairs,” he said, brandishing a trophy in each hand. “To me, these awards signify that career-wise, the rain has stopped and the sun is coming out for me.”

Why didn’t he look happier, then? “I’m too stunned. It feels like I’m living in a dream. I am happy but there is a greater measure of not daring to believe it’s true,” said the actor. “I’m also touched and grateful. I hope these awards will change my career for the better. People have said my luck has never been good. But I think today, it has been good. And I hope it will improve.”

He may have been referring specifically to next week’s show: Although he was left out of the running for Top 10 Most Popular Male Artistes, he earned himself a Best Supporting Actor nomination for his work in Against The Tide. Perhaps his luck will improve as long as he continues to wear those Converse sneakers he was sporting, paired with a casual all-black Dior ensemble.

“I don’t know if it was the shoes that brought me luck,” he laughed. “I think they help me stand out because everyone else is wearing black leather shoes.”

The show was peppered with performances: Stars such as Quan Yi Fong, Priscelia Chan, Lina Ng and Kym Ng did a skit lampooning the Seven Princesses; singers Alfred Sim and Bonnie Loo performed the theme songs to various Channel 8 drama series; Dennis Chew led his fellow stars in a K-pop parody performance as BIGBANK; and Chen Tian Wen performed Unbelievable — the music video he released online that went viral.

Meanwhile, other winners included Damien Teo Zhi Hao, who took home the Young Talent Award for his role in The Journey: Tumultous Times; and taking home the Rocket Award for the most improved performance was Shaun Chen, who earned rave reviews in the past year for his work in the dramas, Blessings and The Journey: Tumultuous Times.

“You want me to ‘rocket’ at this age? Younger people should be getting this award,” said the slightly sheepish 36-year-old. Still, he isn’t complaining. “This is my first award in a 13-year career,” Chen said, adding with a laugh: “Thirteen years is neither long nor short. This award has come at just the right time.”

In the true spirit of the Rocket Award, he said: “I hope to be able to win this award every year.”

But was he worried that he was given this award as a consolation prize instead of the Best Actor award, which he’s up for at Show 2? “Yes, I’m a little worried!” he confessed. “I hope this won’t be my only award.”

We will find out in the fullness of time (that is, next week), when the winners for awards such as Best Actor and Actress, Best Supporting Actor and Actress and Top 10 Most Popular Male and Female Artistes will be announced.

Catch Star Awards 2015 Show 2 on April 26 at 7pm (Walk Of Fame at 5pm) live on MediaCorp TV Channel 8. Catch the repeat telecast of Show 1 on May 3 at 3.30pm on MediaCorp TV Channel 8.

Who won what: Star Awards 2015 Show 1 winners

• Favourite Male Character: Zhang Zhen Huan (Gao Guo Tian in World At Your Feet)

• Favourite Female Character: Jeanette Aw (Hong Ming Hui in The Journey: Tumultuous Times)

• Favourite Onscreen Couple (Drama): Zhang Zhen Huan and Jeanette Aw (World At Your Feet)

• Regional Most Popular MediaCorp Artiste (Cambodia): Jeanette Aw

• Regional Most Popular MediaCorp Artiste (China): Christopher Lee

• Regional Most Popular MediaCorp Artiste (Indonesia): Jeanette Aw

• Regional Most Popular MediaCorp Artiste (Malaysia): Jeanette Aw

• Best Director: Loh Woon Woon (Against The Tide)

• Best Screenplay: Tang Yeow, Cheong Yan Peng (Blessings)

• Best Variety Producer: Kang Lay See (Finding 8)

• Best Variety Research Writer: Lim Kar Yee (The Joy Truck 2)

• Best Programme Promo: Kee Chee Wee (Against The Tide)

• Best Cameraman (Drama): Ang Soon Bee (Against The Tide)

• Best Costume & Image Design: Annie Chua Yi Jun (Lunar New Year’s Eve Special 2014)

• Best Music & Sound Design: Gao Jun Wei, Zheng Kai Hua (C.L.I.F. 3)

• Best Theme Song: The Journey (The Journey: Tumultuous Times)

• Young Talent Award: Damien Teo Zhi Hao (The Journey: Tumultuous Times)

• Social Media Award: Jeanette Aw

• Rocket Award: Shaun Chen