Felicia Chin: ‘I never gave up on acting’

SINGAPORE — On Sunday, Felicia Chin made it known via social media that she would officially be returning to showbiz and that she would be using her birth name, Chen Feng Ling, instead of the stage name “Chen Jing Xuan” she adopted in 2008.

The actress, who had announced in 2010 that she would be leaving her full-time acting job in order to pursue a degree in Business Administration, told TODAY that after returning this month from a semester on exchange at Shanghai’s Fudan University, she had decided not to return to her studies.

“I didn’t want to regret what I did so I really thought it through for a while,” Chin said. “It’s not easy — people might criticise — but at least, I think I have accomplished what I wanted and I think the next step is to come back to acting full time.”

On not finishing her university course, the 28-year-old said: “I didn’t want to conform to what people want me to be, like taking the usual route of finishing your studies, then thinking of what job you want to do. I felt that I wanted to do something I want right now … I’ve given much of my time and my effort to studying and I really enjoyed it, but to me, the certificate isn’t the final route that I really must have. I’m more involved in the learning process, being in a different environment and just coping in a different situation. So I think I have done that and I have been true to myself, and now I want to do something where my passion lies.”

When she left the television industry nearly three years ago, Chin said: “I was feeling a bit like I wasn’t growing as a person and I thought that I could try something in a new environment. But I never did give up on acting.”

At the moment, she has three projects on the cards: A Toggle telemovie, a rugby-themed Channel U drama and, possibly, a Channel 8 drama in December.

As for contractual issues, she shared: “There are talks with a few parties but everything is at the elementary stage so nothing is confirmed.”

As for using her real name again, she said: “I just wanted to use the name that my dad gave me. I can’t give a very exciting reason — sorry!”

Chin’s comeback this year marks the 10th anniversary of her showbiz debut; she took the Star Search championship in 2003.

As far as she’s concerned, she’s coming back stronger than ever. “I have increased passion,” she said. “I really want to be very good in roles and I also hope that in future I can develop my career overseas.”