My awkward moment: Jayley Woo

SINGAPORE — It’s always awkward when someone points out that you’ve gained weight, but for Jayley Woo, it was especially so.

In the MediaCorp TV Channel 8 drama The Caregivers, Yuan Shuai’s character gives his comatose girlfriend, played by Woo, a piggyback ride in the park, hoping that it will jolt her out of her unconscious state.

The actress quipped: “He was the one with more pressure — literally! He did tell me after the whole thing, ‘I think you put on some weight, right?’ Which was true. When we were shooting the studio scenes, everyone was so happy and Thomas (Ong) and Chris (Tong) bought a lot of food. You know, when you are stressed and cold, you tend to eat a lot more. I felt very bad. I’m the kind of person who can be 46kg on Sunday and 50kg the next Monday. But I lose weight much more slowly.”

Being hauled around on Yuan Shuai’s back was also a little awkward. “I usually don’t have so much body contact with anyone other than my father or maybe my best friend,” Woo said. “For most of the scenes with him carrying me, it was very humid and there wasn’t any wind. I remember him sweating a lot. We had a top and jacket on, and I could feel that his were wet, like, drenched with sweat.

“But I felt more pity for him than how I felt about the ickiness. It’s really quite tough, especially for guys. I know they might be a bit egotistic and say you’re ‘very light’, but I know how uncomfortable it can feel. So I tried my best to just lie there and not do anything.”

For those scoffing at how twee the scene is, Woo provided a disclaimer. “The producer did think it might be a bit far-fetched because I’m supposed to be in the hospital, or at least with facilities that help me breathe properly. But it’s a drama, so things can be a bit melodramatic. If you are a doctor and you watch it, you’ll be like, ‘Aiyah, this kind of thing won’t happen in real life’. It was for effect.”

For her, the effect was achieved. “It felt very sweet, like an idol drama.”

Catch The Caregivers on weekdays at 9pm on MediaCorp TV Channel 8.