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.[1] To date, she has produced, written and directed 3 mainstream films,[2] the first of which, Already Famous, was chosen as Singapore’s entry for Best Foreign Film at the Academy Awards in 2013.[3] 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",[4] "Venus Seow"[5] and "Emily 爱美丽" etc from The Michelle Chong Channel on YouTube.[1]
Michelle Chong | |
---|---|
Born | |
Other names | Zhuang Mixue |
Education | |
Alma mater | |
Occupations |
|
Years active | 1999−present |
Chinese name | |
Traditional Chinese | 莊米雪 |
Simplified Chinese | 庄米雪 |
Hanyu Pinyin | Zhuāng Mǐxuě |
Chong studied in CHIJ St Nicholas Girls' School, Dunman High School and Victoria Junior College where she took drama as a subject.[6] 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.
She 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:[7] 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.[7]
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.[8]
Year | Title | Role | Notes | Ref |
---|---|---|---|---|
1999 | Eating Air | Ah Girl's colleague | [citation needed] | |
2005 | Sitting Ducks | [citation needed] | ||
2011 | Already Famous | Ah Kiao | Writer, director and actress | [citation needed] |
2013 | 3 Peas in a Pod | Hotel staff | Writer, producer, director and actress | [citation needed] |
2015 | Our Sister Mambo | [citation needed] | ||
2016 | Lulu the Movie | Lulu | Writer, director and actress | [citation needed] |
Year | Title | Role | Notes | Ref |
---|---|---|---|---|
1998 | Scratch | [citation needed] | ||
1999 | Under One Roof | [citation needed] | ||
Triple Nine | [citation needed] | |||
Growing Up | [citation needed] | |||
Phua Chu Kang Pte Ltd | [citation needed] | |||
2000 | Sensitive New Age Guy (新好男人) | [citation needed] | ||
It's My Life | [citation needed] | |||
School Days (七彩学堂) | [citation needed] | |||
2001 | School Days 2 (七彩学堂 2) | [citation needed] | ||
Robbie and the Book of Tales | [citation needed] | |||
Paradise | [citation needed] | |||
2003 | Crunch Time (转捩点) | [citation needed] | ||
Frontline (家在前线) | [citation needed] | |||
Together Whenever (天伦) | [citation needed] | |||
2004 | Timeless Gift | [citation needed] | ||
My Lucky Charm | [citation needed] | |||
2005 | Baby Blues | [citation needed] | ||
2006 | A Million Treasures | [citation needed] | ||
2007 | Like Father, Like Daughter | [citation needed] | ||
The Noose - Season 1 | [citation needed] | |||
2008 | Our Rice House | [citation needed] | ||
Sayang Sayang | Beh Li Choo | [citation needed] | ||
Calefare | Guest starring | [citation needed] | ||
Crime Busters x 2 | [citation needed] | |||
The Noose - Season 2 | [citation needed] | |||
2010 | The Noose - Season 3 | [citation needed] | ||
Mrs P.I. | [citation needed] | |||
Black Rose | [citation needed] | |||
2011 | The Noose - Season 4 | [citation needed] | ||
The Noose - Season 5 | [citation needed] |
Year | Award | Category | Nominated work | Result |
---|---|---|---|---|
2004 | Star Awards 2004 | Best Variety Show Host | All in NETS | Nominated |
2005 | Star Awards 2005 | Top 10 Most Popular Female Artiste | — | Won |
2006 | Star Awards 2006 | Top 10 Most Popular Female Artiste | — | Nominated |
2007 | Star Awards 2007 | Top 10 Most Popular Female Artiste | — | Nominated |
2008 | Asian Television Awards | Best Comedy Actor/Actress | Sayang Sayang | Commendation |
2009 | Star Awards 2009 | Top 10 Most Popular Female Artiste | — | Nominated |
2010 | Star Awards 2010 | Top 10 Most Popular Female Artiste | — | Nominated |
Asian Television Awards | Best Comedy Performance | The Noose 3 | Commendation | |
2011 | Star Awards 2011 | Top 10 Most Popular Female Artiste | — | Won |
Best Variety Show Host | Black Rose | Nominated | ||
Favourite Female Character | "Xie Yuyu" (from Black Rose) |
Nominated | ||
2012 | Star Awards 2012 | Top 10 Most Popular Female Artiste | — | Nominated |
2012 | Asian Television Awards | Best Comedy Actor / Actress | The Noose | Won |
2017 | Canada International Film Festival | Best Director | Lulu The Movie | Won |