Rui En Really Wants To Know What It's Like To Date Younger Guys

“Really ah? Thank you! Thank you!” chuckles Rui En as she buries her face in her hands when we tell her that she seems so much happier now. She may have made her mark as Mediacorp's numero uno ice princess but these days, she's really a warm, welcoming Rui of sunshine.

We’re now at the imaging session for upcoming Ch 8 long-form drama, Old is Gold, where the 38-year-old actress plays a supervisor in a nursing home. Joining Rui En in the studio are Chen Liping, who plays her estranged mother, as well as Chen Hanwei, who stars as her husband. (Spoiler alert: Their marriage doesn't last long), and her onscreen brother Edwin Goh. Missing today is Xu Bin, who will romance the actress in the drama.

It’s the first time Rui En’s playing the older woman in an onscreen relationship (Xu Bin is 30), and she’s more than thrilled to play a cougar. In fact, she tells us she was the one who suggested the May-December plotline to the producers.

Rui En and Liping are now giggling over the 'family portrait' they just shot for the drama, mostly because Liping has reminded the photographer for the umpteenth time to Photoshop away her double chin. We feel you, Liping-jie!

The pair last teamed up onscreen in 2012 for Unriddle 2 and it was on the hit crime series and its original installment that Rui En really bonded with Liping. Fast forward seven years and the pair are no longer close. But it's clear, especially from their giggling fits, that the bond is still there. Rui En tells us she is “really looking forward to working” with Liping again, and that she finds it amusing how her ex partner-in-(solving) crime is now playing her mother.

Another thing the actress finds delightful is her relationship with Hanwei. “It’s quite funny that I’m married to Hanwei [in this drama] 'cos for my very, very, very first show on Ch 8 (2002's No Problem), I acted as his girlfriend! I remember my Chinese was so terrible then!”

8 DAYS: The Star Awards nominations were announced recently and because of the hiatus you took, you were not nominated for any awards. Do you have any idea if you would be attending the Awards this year?
RUI EN: Oh, I’m not sure yet... it depends on my schedule! I’m actually leaving it up to my management to decide. I haven’t been informed about anything yet.

What do you look forward to most every Star Awards?
Wah (ponders)… I guess, it's seeing my fans! You know, just being able to see them face-to-face and listening to them cheering for me. It warms my heart and it makes me happy! I’m so blessed that they really support me!

What are your fondest memories of the annual event?
Hmm… I’m not really sure… Every year goes by in a haze... But ultimately the most memorable thing is still the love from my fans lah. More so than winning any award because what’s important for me is to focus on my craft and not so much the recognition.

Your character gets romantically involved with Xu Bin after she divorces Hanwei...
(Laughs) Yes! The characters Xu Bin and I play started off not liking each other. You know, the usual quarreling, bickering, and eventually, all that changing.
What you think about getting paired up with Xu Bin?
Okay, so the age gap between Hanwei and Xu Bin is huge. (Laughs) And I thought, ‘Okay, that’s quite interesting,’ and every time something fresh happens, my eyes light up. I thought it would be interesting if my character is with someone older for the first half of the show, and then someone younger for the rest of the show. (Laughs) I felt that [getting married to Hanwei] wasn’t [realistic] ‘cos of our age gap. [Ed: Hanwei is 49.] So I brought it up to the producers at a meeting and suggested that we do a May-December romance. I think it’ll be quite refreshing for me as it’s the first time I’m acting as the older one in a relationship! I’ve always wondered what it’s like for a woman to date someone younger! (Laughs)
You seem to really enthusiastic about this 'relationship'.
I am curious to explore the kind of insecurity that comes along with being in a May-December relationship! I know it’s very common now, but from a woman’s point of view, there will be insecurities. It’s the realness of situations like that that fascinates me. Things that are not very pretty, or perfect, but things that are real. For example, Hanwei and I were initially trying for a baby. We managed to conceive after some difficulties, but I ended up with a miscarriage. I liked that [idea], because it’s very raw and relatable. For me, it’s always about the reality.

So what was your first impression of Xu Bin? Do you remember when you guys first met?
I don’t think I’ve worked with him before, but I’ve always seen him around. Everyone’s always saying that he’s the young Chew Chor Meng, that he’s so cute and handsome… But I’ve never gotten a chance to work with him at all. All of us work with the same people over and over again, so working with someone new is always very interesting.
Do you think you’ll get along with him?
Hmm… We’ll work it out. It’s all good.

What do you think of May-December romances?
People may judge, but I don’t think it’s an issue! I mean, personally I’ve never been in one lah! (Laughs) So that’s why it’s fantastic to be able to live vicariously through my roles. But, hey! No judgement, man. Happiness, joy and peace is the most important. Love is one of the most important things in life, and if you’re happy, then just go for it.

Why do you think people have more of an issue with an older woman dating a younger guy than an older guy dating a younger woman?
I don’t think it’s fair for people to think that it’s okay for an older man to date a younger woman, but not the other way round. But people nowadays are getting more open-minded and I don’t think this is much of an issue anymore. If it’s okay for a guy, then it should be okay for a girl too.

You're finally working on the same drama with Liping again after seven years. We know that the two of you used to be very close. Is it still the case?
Um… We’ve been very busy with our own projects and so we haven’t been in contact for a while. The last time we had real interaction with each other was when we were filming Unriddle. So I’m really excited about working with her 'cos it has been ages and the dynamics between the two of us have changed. We were partners-in-crime and now, she’s my mum! (Laughs)
So you're looking forward to bonding with her again?
Yeah, yeah, yeah! I'm sure we'll have a lot of time together, it is a very long drama. (Laughs)
Actually, what does it take for someone to get close to you?
After going through what I’ve been through and with the recent events, the thing I cherish the most now is somebody who makes me laugh. I do have friends in my gym and they are crazy! They just make me laugh all the time and I think it’s very important to be living life with laughter all around, because life is short.

Old Is Gold debuts May 28, weekdays, 7.30pm on Ch 8.
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PHOTOS: KEVIN LAU