Michelle Chong

Michelle Chong
Born (1977-04-22) 22 April 1977 (age 49)
Other nameZhuang Mixue
Education
Occupations
  • Actress
  • comedian
  • television host
  • film director
  • film producer
  • businesswoman
Years active1999−present
Chinese name
Traditional Chinese莊米雪
Simplified Chinese庄米雪
Hanyu PinyinZhuāng Mǐxuě

Michelle Chong (born 22 April 1977) is a Singaporean actress, comedian, host, filmmaker, digital content producer and businesswoman. She left Mediacorp in 2011 to set up the media agency Left Profile and production house Huat Films. To date, she has produced, written and directed 3 mainstream films, the first of which, Already Famous, was chosen as Singapore’s entry for Best Foreign Film at the Academy Awards in 2013. Chong is known for her versatility and comedic performances in satire shows such as The Noose and more recently for her online personas "Ah Lian", "Venus Seow" and "Emily 爱美丽", etc., from The Michelle Chong Channel on YouTube.

Early life

Chong studied in CHIJ St Nicholas Girls' School, Dunman High School and Victoria Junior College where she took drama as a subject. Her drama teacher recommended her to Bates College, a top liberal arts college in Maine, USA where she studied theatre for a year. She also subsequently studied in the National University of Singapore.

Career

Chong was voted by FHM readers as one of the world's top 30 sexiest women in 2002 and 2003.

Chong won the Elle Actress of the Year Award (2008) and the Asian Television Awards' (ATV) Best Comedy Performance (Highly Commended) Award (2008) for her portrayal of Beh Li Choo, a butcher in the popular Peranakan dramedy, Sayang Sayang.[citation needed] Chong is also known for portraying a celebrity maid, Leticia Bongnino.[citation needed]

In 2011, Chong took seven months of sabbatical leave to set up her own film company, Huat Films, and produced her first film as director, screenwriter and actress: Already Famous starred her, Taiwanese singer Alien Huang as well as other local celebrities who were cameo appearances in the film.

In 2012, Chong started artiste management agency Left Profile, which manages her, Pornsak and Lee Teng.

In 2015, Chong worked with actress Cynthia Koh, former radio deejay Daniel Ong, and three other partners to open a 180-seater restaurant, Mischief, at Esplanade.

Already Famous was selected as the Singaporean entry for the Best Foreign Language Oscar at the 85th Academy Awards, but it did not make the final shortlist.

Filmography

Variety show

Film

YearTitleRoleNotesRef
1999Eating AirAh Girl's colleague[citation needed]
2005Sitting Ducks[citation needed]
2011Already FamousAh KiaoWriter, director and actress[citation needed]
20133 Peas in a PodHotel staffWriter, producer, director and actress[citation needed]
2015Our Sister Mambo[citation needed]
2016Lulu the MovieLuluWriter, director and actress[citation needed]

Television series

YearTitleRoleNotesRef
1998Scratch[citation needed]
1999Under One Roof[citation needed]
Triple Nine[citation needed]
Growing Up[citation needed]
Phua Chu Kang Pte Ltd[citation needed]
2000Sensitive New Age Guy (新好男人)[citation needed]
It's My Life[citation needed]
School Days (七彩学堂)[citation needed]
2001School Days 2 (七彩学堂 2)[citation needed]
Robbie and the Book of Tales[citation needed]
Paradise[citation needed]
2003Crunch Time (转捩点)[citation needed]
Frontline (家在前线)[citation needed]
Together Whenever (天伦)[citation needed]
2004Timeless Gift[citation needed]
My Lucky Charm[citation needed]
2005Baby Blues[citation needed]
2006A Million Treasures[citation needed]
2007Like Father, Like Daughter[citation needed]
The Noose - Season 1[citation needed]
2008Our Rice House[citation needed]
Sayang SayangBeh Li Choo[citation needed]
CalefareGuest starring[citation needed]
Crime Busters x 2[citation needed]
The Noose - Season 2[citation needed]
2010The Noose - Season 3[citation needed]
Mrs P.I.[citation needed]
Black Rose[citation needed]
2011The Noose - Season 4[citation needed]
The Noose - Season 5[citation needed]

Theatre

Awards and nominations

YearAwardCategoryNominated workResult
2004Star Awards 2004Best Variety Show HostAll in NETSNominated
2005Star Awards 2005Top 10 Most Popular Female ArtisteN/aWon
2006Star Awards 2006Top 10 Most Popular Female ArtisteN/aNominated
2007Star Awards 2007Top 10 Most Popular Female ArtisteN/aNominated
2008Asian Television AwardsBest Comedy Actor/ActressSayang SayangCommendation
2009Star Awards 2009Top 10 Most Popular Female ArtisteN/aNominated
2010Star Awards 2010Top 10 Most Popular Female ArtisteN/aNominated
Asian Television AwardsBest Comedy PerformanceThe Noose 3Commendation
2011Star Awards 2011Top 10 Most Popular Female ArtisteN/aWon
Best Variety Show HostBlack RoseNominated
Favourite Female Character"Xie Yuyu"
(from Black Rose)
Nominated
2012Star Awards 2012Top 10 Most Popular Female ArtisteN/aNominated
2012Asian Television AwardsBest Comedy Actor / ActressThe NooseWon
2017Canada International Film FestivalBest DirectorLulu The MovieWon

References

  1. 1 2 "Lunch With Sumiko: Michelle Chong is a one-woman showstopper". The Straits Times. 18 June 2017. Retrieved 23 September 2020.
  2. ↑ "Now following: Michelle Chong". Marketing-Interactive. 21 July 2017. Retrieved 30 July 2023.
  3. ↑ "Michelle Chong's Film "Already Famous" Is Singapore's Entry Into The Oscars". Retrieved 23 September 2020.
  4. ↑ "Homegirl Michelle Chong appears as Ah Lian in the new 'Orange is the New Black' trailer". Retrieved 23 September 2020.
  5. ↑ "Prudential shoots virtual ad with fitness crazy Michelle Chong". Retrieved 23 September 2020.
  6. ↑ hermes (18 June 2017). "Lunch With Sumiko: Michelle Chong is a one-woman showstopper". The Straits Times. Retrieved 12 May 2021.
  7. 1 2 "Michelle Chong: Actress. Filmmaker. Artiste Manager?". Channel NewsAsia. Archived from the original on 18 June 2012. Retrieved 1 May 2012.
  8. ↑ Quek, Eunice (26 April 2015). "The hit and miss of celebrity restaurants". The Straits Times. Archived from the original on 28 September 2023. Retrieved 13 December 2024.
  9. ↑ "71 Countries Vie for 2012 Foreign Language Film Oscar®". 8 October 2012. Retrieved 8 October 2012.