“It’s definitely the most painful thing I’ve ever done,” former Ch 8 star Apple Hong tells 8days.sg over the phone.

The “painful thing” she's talking about is pole dancing, something the 41-year-old actress had to pick up for her role in upcoming Ch 8 drama, Daybreak. Apple plays a pole dancing instructor, who happens to be married to a licensed money lender (Zhang Yaodong). The 20-ep series also stars Qi Yuwu, Ya Hui, Sheila Sim and Bryan Wong.

While the show makes the Malaysian star look like a legit pro, what happened behind-the-scenes actually involved a lot of blood, sweat and tears. Literally.

“My backside was itching to go back to acting! laughs the actress. I’ve always loved a challenge and pole dancing was something I’ve never really done before!”

And a challenge it was for Apple, who not only had to master the pole in five (!) lessons, she also needed to get her acting groove back since her last Ch 8 drama, The Queen, aired three years back.

While she gave the role her all, Apple reveals that those close to her (ahem, her husband) were quick to judge her pole dancing capabilities. But more on this later.

While we're on the topic of her husband, Apple remains tight-lipped about him despite being married for two years. All we know is that he’s a local businessman who she “met at a work event and dated for 10 years” before tying the knot in 2017.

When we tried to probe further, Apple, who left Mediacorp in 2011 to pursue an acting career in China, apologised for being secretive, adding: “My husband is a very private person and wants to keep a low-profile. Sorry! Thank you for understanding!

8 DAYS: You’re finally back after a three-year hiatus. Is it because you're bored of the tai tai life already?
APPLE HONG: (Laughs) No lah! I am not someone who can sit around and do nothing. In fact, my husband knows that I’m always finding something new to do so he also encouraged me to take up this role! Whenever there’s a challenging role like this one, I don’t mind coming back. But little did I know that pole dancing was going to be so painful...

How painful was it?
Super. My bones and muscles ached so bad. Pole dancing requires the use of muscles that you hardly use, so it’s even more painful! Besides that, you can only do this in your underwear, because being fully-clothed will just have you sliding down the pole. The less you wear, the better. It's not ‘cos I wanna be sexy but it's ‘cos I need the friction to hold on. My skin was also constantly brushing against the pole so after every lesson, I had bruises all over!

We heard that you only had five lessons.
And I was expected to look like an expert after that! (Laughs) Initially, I thought that I only had to dance in the first scene as a way to introduce my character and everything else would just involve some simple moves. But then I was told that I had to perform an entire four-minute sequence! (Gasps) It’s not simple and the training that I went through was actually for advanced students. So I think it’s quite an achievement. (Laughs) Usually, people take about 15 lessons before they attempt this but I got into it straight away. I mean, I don’t have a choice, right? We’re not in Hollywoood where the stars have months to practice. (Laughs

Was training what you expected?
Not at all! (Laughs) I’ve tried some basic moves for My School Daze 10 years ago, and I thought it was quite simple. So I was like, Aiyah, sure easy one. (Laughs) I didn’t believe how tough was it until I tried it for myself!

What were the easiest and most difficult poses to do?
The easiest would be the fireman pose. It’s like how you slide down the pole at the playground. (Laughs) The most difficult ones were poses that required me to hang upside down. I had to use my inner thigh strength to grip the pole and you know, skin there is very sensitive. (Laughs) It hurt and I can’t do it for long ‘cos I’d feel faint.

Pole dancing requires a lot of strength and balance. Was there ever a time you pushed too hard and injured yourself?
Thank God, no! I am a very kiasi person. I’d rather grip really hard onto the pole and tahan the pain than injure myself.

Did you get a dance double to help you during the shoot?
Actually, production allowed me to use a stand-in but they told me that they used all of my shots in the end. (Beams) I’m so proud of myself! This means that I’m performing up to standard! (Laughs)

What was your most memorable experience from the process?
After I finished the entire dance sequence in one take during filming, everyone applauded and said that it was impressive! (Laughs) I felt a real sense of achievement.

Now that filming is over, do you think you’ll continue to train?
Not really, ‘cos it hurts way too much. (Laughs) But even though it was physically painful with all the bruising and stuff, I really enjoyed it. My arms got significantly toned, and I felt good after dancing.

You are also close friends with Michelle Chia and you guys have a yoga group together with Jade Seah and Sheila Sim. What did they say when you first told them about the role?
The first thing they asked me was if the role’s gonna be too revealing. That was also my concern at first. I thought that I was going to be wearing a g-string and look way too sexy. But then again, it’s Ch 8. Even if I wanted to wear that, I couldn't. (Laughs)

What did your husband think of it?
I discussed it with him and it took some convincing. (Laughs) When he first asked me about my character, I hesitated and panicked for a bit because I couldn’t find a way to phrase it nicely. (Laughs) When I finally told him that I was going to be a pole dancer, he gave me the side eye. I immediately knew that he was wondering if it was going to be too sexy. I assured him that it would be more healthy, because, in a sense, I’m a fitness instructor. (Laughs) Then he relented. (Laughs) I guess he could see the burning passion I still have for acting.

You uploaded a couple of videos of yourself pole dancing. Did your husband see them?
Yes, I showed him my first video and he told me very frankly that I was bad. He was like, “Eeyer, so stiff! How to look professional like that?” (Laughs) But it’s also his words that made me push myself harder.

Did you cringe when you saw your first video?
Yes! I felt gross and so weird! I am not a flexible person to begin with, and pole dancing had my limbs all sticking out in very awkward positions. (Laughs) My facial expression while hanging upside down was also quite funny. But at least taking videos has helped me see what I looked like so I could improve.

Is your husband impressed by your newly-acquired pole dancing skills? Would you perform for him?
(Squeals) Ah! No lah! I don’t have a pole at home! (Laughs)

Would you get one?
Don’t want lah! (Giggles) Actually, I was told that I shouldn’t stop ‘cos I have the talent. But the pain is a huge deterrent. I really tip my hat off to all the instructors.

It’s been two years since you got hitched. How has married life been for you?
So far so good! We’ve known each other for many years, and what keeps our relationship strong is counselling. I know many people have the stigma that couple counselling means that there are problems in the relationship, but not for us! We even went through pre-marital counselling, so that we could iron out all our differences before settling down. After all, a marriage takes two hands to clap and through this, we can work towards a happier future together.

Who initiated going for counselling?
(Laughs) Me, lah. I am the problem, that’s why. (Laughs) ​​​​​​​My parents divorced when I was very young, so I have a phobia [that my marriage would] end up like that. I always seem like a happy-go-lucky person, but deep down, I’m scared. And counselling solved all of that.

Are you guys planning on having kids?
Because I’m not that young anymore, I think I’ll just leave it up to fate. If I get pregnant by a stroke of luck, it’s fine. But if I don't, that’s okay too. I can continue my chillaxing life! (Laughs) My husband’s okay with anything too!

PHOTOS: ALVIN TEO (additional pics taken from Apple's IG)

Daybreak debuts tomorrow Oct 21, 9pm on Ch 8. Click here to watch it first on Toggle.