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No kids for me, says veteran actor Li Nanxing

SINGAPORE – Veteran actor found himself surrounded by 10 to 25 young children during the filming of his upcoming Channel 8 drama series, and he’s quite certain he still does not want his own offspring.

The cast of upcoming Channel 8 drama, My Teacher is a Thug. Photo: Faith Wong/ TODAY

The cast of upcoming Channel 8 drama, My Teacher is a Thug. Photo: Faith Wong/ TODAY

SINGAPORE – Veteran actor found himself surrounded by 10 to 25 young children during the filming of his upcoming Channel 8 drama series, and he’s quite certain he still does not want his own offspring.

This, in spite of finding them “cute and innocent”. It is too “stressful” to raise children, Li said, following a press conference for the My Teacher is a Thug series earlier this week.

In the drama, the 52 year-old actor plays an unambitious loafer, Jia Tianxiong, who ends up becoming a martial arts and acting teacher to children. When Jia was younger, he shirked his own responsibilities as a father – he has a biological daughter who is also a teacher at the school, but she does not know he is her father. Through his interactions with the young students, Jia realises the importance of family.

One of the most challenging experiences filming this series, Li said, was working with his young co-stars, aged from three to seven, who he found were at times overwhelming. “You must be also able to control and teach the children because each child has different qualities and emotions,” he said.

He also learned that he had to be “tolerant, patient and to teach them slowly” while avoiding favouritism. “You must treat them equally. If not, they will get jealous and not want to film. Some even cried,” said Li.

He recounted to TODAY an incident when he had a single sweet and gave it to a child. “After that, oh no, they all saw and said ‘Teacher, I also want one!’ When I told them I didn’t have anymore left, they were so disappointed. You can tell because they’re little kids,” said Li.

Nonetheless, Li said working with children was “refreshing”.

“When I saw the whole group, I was naturally attracted to them. They are very cute and innocent. They had no experience whatsoever but they could still give their all. It was very refreshing,” said Li in a mix of Mandarin and English.

That said though, Li felt it is tough being a child and parent in today’s world. “It can be quite stressful to raise a kid. Looking at what parents expect of a child, I think today’s parents may face even more stress than their kids,” said Li.

Starring alongside Li are Bonnie Loo as his daughter, who does not know he is her biological father and Phyllis Quek as the school’s principal, who is his love interest. Cavin Soh plays the role of Loo’s stepfather and Jeremy Chan plays the role of Loo’s loyal friend and suitor.

 

The 25-episode series will air from Aug 28 to Sept 29 on weeknights from 9pm to 10pm on Channel 8.

 

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