AN AUGUST WOMAN

Celebrating International Women's Day, Augustman speaks to Tan Kheng Hua, a celebrated regional actress who has "made it in Hollywood" but nevertheless does not buy into the concept of "making it"

- JONATHAN HO

WHEN ONE THINKS OF celebrated theatre and film actresses, you don’t usually think about individuals who are magna cum laude graduates in public and environmental affairs. “I worked in public affairs for CK Tang for a long time, during the glory days of retail. I organised shoots and we travelled all the time, we went to Jordan, we went to Spain, New York, we went everywhere,” recalls Tan Kheng Hua as she shares that her interest in performing was something that began as a theatrical elective at Indiana University, where she studied Bachelor of Science. Shuttling between Singapore and North America, the 60-year-old exudes an energy that is not only infectious but outright inspirational. In her, I could still see my Phua Chu Kang crush; lithe, light and full of effervescent life.

Proudly Singaporean, Tan takes great joy in identifying according to her nationality even though for many young and aspiring actors, the benchmark of success probably includes some level of “making it” in Hollywood. “I’m glad you asked this of me,” as she smacks her lips evenly applying the lipstick. “Many young actors DM (direct message) me with a lot of misperceptions of working in North America. I always say I am Singaporean, I have a Singaporean passport and Singapore is my home. I am merely based wherever good work takes me.”