Surprise Best Actress Winner Zoe Tay: “You Saw My Stunned Face Or Not?”

Before Zoe Tay won Best Actress in 2017, she was on a 21-year dry spell after winning her first trophy in that category for Golden Pillow in 1996. Her win was considered a major triumph.

Then, she won again in 2019 . And then again today (April 18). To put things in perspective, Ah Jie has been named Best Actress three times in the past four Star Awards, which basically makes her the Roger Federer of the category, right?

And no one was more surprised by this year’s win than Ah Jie herself. “It caught me by surprise, you know! You saw my stunned face or not?” was the first thing Zoe, 53, said to us when 8days.sg spoke to her over the phone shortly after her win.

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While she is stunned by her victory, she is, however, very proud of her performance as a snooty socialite who falls from grace in My Guardian Angels. “I knew that the other nominees had very outstanding performances too and I knew that my chances of winning were not high, but I was still confident in my performance. I do think it was really good,” she said.

Still, having won three times in the past four Star Awards, is there a part of her that feels paiseh about going on stage?

“No lah.. I didn’t feel paiseh. You won’t feel that way. I feel very happy… And the Awards were held at the airport, you know. An occasion like this will never come by again. I thought to myself, ‘Wah if I really win an award this year…' It’s really the icing on the cake.”

Now, which makes her more nervous? Waiting to find out about her sons’ PSLE results or waiting for the presenter to announce who wins Best Actress?

“(Laughs) To me, I approach such things calmly, said Zoe. For PSLE… If you don’t do well in your studies normally, you won’t be able to do well in your exams. And I know the abilities of my sons. I know who can do okay and that’s it… but you better don’t fail lah (laughs). As for Best Actress this year… [I wouldn’t say I was nervous] ’cos you know, I wasn’t even a dark horse. In fact, I wasn’t any kind of horse! I was actually very happy to just get nominated!”

So how would Zoe, who now has the most Best Actress wins in Star Awards history, describe her winning streak?

“The feeling is very shiok lor (laughs).”

Photos: Mediacorp/ Photo Unit

Catch up on the Star Awards 2021 on meWATCH here.