What dreams May Come

Life as an actress can be an emotional roller coaster. Crazy Rich Asians star CONSTANCE LAU shares the highs, the lows, and everything else in between.

- JASMINE ALIMIN

Ever since I was a child, I’ve dreamt of being in a Hollywood film. I remember watching movies and thinking, “One day, I’m going to be up there!” Acting always felt magical to me—a way to step into someone else’s shoes, explore different lives, and tell meaningful stories. But it wasn’t until theatre school in Nanyang Academy of Fine Arts that the dream began to feel real.

As part of my final-year project, I had to write and perform a solo piece, playing five distinct characters. It was one of the hardest things I’ve ever done, but being on that stage, fully immersed in those characters, made me realise: This was it. Acting wasn’t just a dream—it was my calling.

My first steps into the industry were humbling. Auditioning gave me my first real glimpse into the industry’s reality—it’s tough, competitive, and unpredictable. I vividly recall one particular audition where the waiting area was filled with actors, intensely focused on their scripts, waiting to be called. The atmosphere was so quiet and tense, it only heightened my nerves, making the experience even more daunting before I even stepped in.

Dealing with rejection was one of the biggest challenges for me. Even a stellar audition doesn’t guarantee the role— you can pour your heart into it, but there are always factors beyond your control. In Singapore’s smaller film industry, opportunities are even more limited, making it feel like an uphill battle with no clear path forward. You often compete with the same pool of actors, and there’s a tendency to be typecast, especially for women. For five years, I juggled selling insurance with auditions, questioning if I should pursue a more stable career where the path seemed clearer.