Not Your Typical Ah Beng

Tenacity is a virtue that often leads to success. Shawn Thia’s journey to becoming an actor is case in point. In spite of adversity, he remains anchored in positivity. And then the plum roles start arriving

- Amos Chin

You may know Shawn Thia from the latest Titoudao series, or seen some of his chucklesome TikTok videos. While he may be enjoying exposure and recognition these days, it was not always easy for the actor. As a school dropout with minimal familial support, the he had had to trudge through a tough trajectory before becoming an actor. It was his innate optimism that toughened him to weather through adversity and rise above life’s many challenges.

His tenacity was also undergirded by his zeal for acting and penchant for risk-taking. As mentioned by the homegrown actor, ‘risking is better than regretting’.

How have you been these past months?

I’ve been extremely busy but feel very blessed. Besides a one-month break in April, my schedule has been hectic. Though, I must say, as an actor, being busy with gigs is a good thing.

You describe yourself as a “Normal Singaporean Boy” on your Instagram bio. However, acting is not a “Normal Singaporean Profession”. How do you define a “Normal Singaporean Boy”?

I used to be rebellious in my teen years. I’ve fought with my discipline master, teachers, you name it. It felt like they were all intent on picking on me for superfluous things, therefore my defiant behaviour. An “Angmoh Pai Ah Beng” is a term I would use to describe the old me (laughs). Besides that, I would consider myself a run-of-the-mill boy – even I try to be as transparent and “normal” as possible, as I want my audience to be able to relate to me on and off-screen. It’s about cultivating authenticity.

Have you always wanted to be an actor?