SINGAPORE — Celebrities are getting ready for the biggest night of the year — the annual Star Awards ceremony, which takes place this Sunday (April 16).

It is a time when the brightest stars in the local celebrity galaxy come out to shine. No designer black ties are spared, and no precious stones are left unturned on this hotly anticipated red carpet event.

But how does one shine stronger and more brightly than the rest? According to four of this year’s nominees in the acting categories — Andie Chen, Rebecca Lim, Paige Chua and Shaun Chen — the secret has more to do with being acknowledged for your work, and less to do with how popular you are or how glamorous you look.

ANDIE CHEN

This Sunday, all eyes will be on triple-nominated Andie Chen: He is up for the Best Actor (If Only I Could), Best Supporting Actor (Hero), and Top 10 Most Popular Male Artistes awards.

This is his tenth year in acting, and the 32-year-old has yet to win a coveted Star Award despite several past nominations, although he did win the talent show, Star Search, in 2007.

“This year, the odds are higher and everybody is like, ‘Get your speech ready’,” he said of being one of the frontrunners for the awards.

But “I have been through enough of these (shows) to know not to have expectations,” he said. “If I do get an award, or two or three, I will celebrate and enjoy my victories. And if I do not, then I will just be very disappointed, suck it up and continue working.”

When asked what it means to be a star, he said: “I am a working actor. I assume a star is someone who appears somewhere and gets paid a lot of money. And I do not get that, so I am not a star.”

His working style is to build good relationships with the people he deals with, and to pay attention to his craft.

He is realistic enough to know that this does not always pay off: “The Best Actor award goes to the person who can act the best, right? But I have realised that is not true. Audiences have to like you. And weirdly, I think it does translate — if you are a nice person (it comes across), even on screen.”

“I was not always a nice person. I was quite an a**hole,” he quipped. “I started working on (fixing) that three or four years ago, and I think it is slowly paying off.”

REBECCA LIM

She has a Best Actress trophy, a Best Supporting actress award and five Top 10 trophies on her shelf. This year, she is in the running for yet another Best Actress award — but Rebecca Lim, 30, always remembers the long road she had to walk to get to the top.

Getting the award for You Can Be An Angel 2, her “most challenging role to date”, would be “a sign that all the hard work was worth it”.

“This production is very special and meaningful because while I was playing a nurse, saving lives and all that, a family member of mine was hospitalised. That was quite a trying period,” she shared.

Still, she is tempering her expectations of winning because “I am up against all my seniors ... they are very good at what they do”.

Already, she is thinking of the people she would thank if she did win because “I would not be where I am today if it were not for the people who helped me along the way, oftentimes when I was a nobody”.

So, does she think she is a star?

“I have some Star Awards wins (to my name), but that does not mean I am a star. I am a lot more comfortable with ‘actress’,” she said. “The term ‘star’ is very all-encompassing — I do not think I am there yet. You literally have to shine in all areas — your work ethic, exposure and commercial value. I am uncomfortable with that, and I kind of wish that I will continue to be uncomfortable with that because I think it is dangerous if you think that you are a star,” 
she said.

And whether one takes home a trophy or not, that humility is what would make a difference in her own life, she said.

“Every year, a Best Actor award and a Best Actress award are given out, but it does not mean you are the best forever. I do not think anybody can name the Best Actress from four years ago. It takes good productions and a confident mentality to be (in the limelight).”

PAIGE CHUA

Having been nominated four times in the Best Supporting Actress category, Paige Chua “would like ... a change” and take home her first acting award for playing a shrewish character in Hero.

“My chances, I would say, are slightly higher than in previous years because this character was out of the box for me, and I received a lot of positive feedback for it,” said Chua, 35. And even though “I have not watched it because I think I would cringe”, “I gave all I had during the process of filming”.

On the night of the awards, she hopes that “instead of telling you my feelings about not getting it, I will be able to say, ‘I’ve got it — what’s next?’”

The other award she really hopes to win is the Rocket Award, which is handed to the artiste who shows the most improvement in their performance, she said.

What, in her opinion, does it take to be a star?

“It sounds very cliche, but just be yourself. Everyone is unique. Once you are very comfortable in your own skin, something special will shine through,” she said.

And, “if you find that you are in a situation where your values are being compromised, raise your voice”, she said.

One thing that sets Chua apart is that she gets so intensely into her roles that “honestly, I love my characters more than myself”.

“I hope my work can speak for itself. Of course, in terms of performance awards, I am definitely keen to have one and have people recognise my work,” she said.

SHAUN CHEN

Active on the showbiz circuit since 2003, Shaun Chen’s star rose high in 2015 when he swept the Best Actor, Rocket, and Top 10 awards. Since then, he has been nominated annually for Best Actor. This year, he is up for that award for his lead role in Hero, in which he played a gregarious heartlander.

“I can only say that my luck was good, and that I landed a role that was (different and stood out),” he said, adding that he was also lucky in that those who make the decisions in awards matters thought his performance was good enough to be worthy of an award.

At 39, he is one of a small pool of actors who have the gravitas — and looks — to carry blockbuster shows such as Hero on his shoulders. But, he thinks there is still room for him to go further.

Asked about what makes a person a star, and he said: “It is hard to put your finger on it. Some people just have a (certain) charisma.”

“That quality, on top of hard work and good acting skills, makes for a superstar. Take, for example, Tony Leung — I think he has a certain charm. And Takeshi Kaneshiro, who is so good looking. Actors who are more mature can be called stars. Give me some time — I think I should be able to get there!”

If he does take home the win on Sunday, he said “it does not necessarily mean that if I get the award, I am better than the others”.

“That said, if you don’t have ambition, then don’t be an actor,” he said.

The Star Awards 2017 begins with the red carpet Walk of Fame at 5.30pm on Sunday. The main event is on at 7pm on Mediacorp TV Channel 8. Stay tuned to TODAY’s entertainment Facebook page (www.facebook.com/todayonlineT) for updates and behind-the-scenes action.

CREDITS

Photography: Chua Hong Yin

PAIGE CHUA: Makeup: Shaun Lee using Sulwhasoo; Hair: Vanessa Choo, Duo Salon, using Kevin Murphy; Styling: Keith Png assisted by Guiying. On Paige: Metal eyelets gown, Herve Leger; ring and earrings, Carat London. 

REBECCA LIM: Makeup: Shaun Lee using SKII skincare and Dior Beauty; Hair: Vanessa Choo, Duo Salon, using Kevin Murphy; Styling: JingNi Oh / SUPREME+. On Rebecca: Red off-shoulder gown, Alisha & Lace.

ANDIE CHEN: Makeup: Joanna Ang, Sono Bello (96953772); Hair: Junz Loke, Passion Hair Salon; Styling: Keith Png assisted by Guiying. On Andie: Outfit and shoes, Boss.

SHAUN CHEN: Makeup: Joanna Ang, Sono Bello (96953772); Hair: You, Arx Salon
Styling: Keith Png assisted by Guiying; On Shaun: Wool windowpane check suit, Paul Smith; classic-fit white cotton and linen-blend short-sleeved shirt, PS by Paul Smith; leather loafers, Bally.