Rui En says she's enjoying a full life in her 40s with no husband or kids
Posted on 29 March 2023 | 11,547 views | 12 comments
Benson Ang
The Straits Times
March 28, 2023 Over the years, local actress-singer Rui En has played a gamut of roles – from tough cop to grief-stricken widow to a psychiatrist who turns evil. She was last seen on the small screen as a reformed Ah Lian in Channel 8 drama The Heartland Hero (2021). Her latest on-screen persona, however, hits especially close to home. In the upcoming Mediacorp drama, fantasy romance Oppa, Saranghae! – her first television project in two years – she plays Qi Qi, a single career woman on the cusp of 40 who consistently puts her love life on hold for work, but faces ageism in the workplace and grapples with loneliness in her life.
In a fantastical twist, she pulls her favourite K-drama leading man (Kim Jae-hoon) out of the television. Meanwhile, the heart-throb portraying this character (also played by Kim) is in Singapore and in a relationship with Qi Qi’s colleague (Tasha Low).
Oppa, Saranghae! premieres on April 12 and airs on Channel 8 at 9pm on weekdays. It is also available on demand for free on mewatch from Friday.
Rui En, 42, who is not married, told The Straits Times after a private screening session of the show at KAP Mall’s EagleWings Cinematics on Monday that she was drawn to the role as she felt it was a complex character.
She said: “For many women my age, I feel ageism is a topic that is very relatable and real.”
She can relate to how others have certain opinions of women past a certain age.
“If you are not married, you kind of do not fit into that mould – there are certain assumptions made, or conclusions arrived at, that are not actually (based on) fact.”
Rui En declined to reveal her relationship status, but added: “I have never seen value in doing things for the sake of it. So, I am not about to go out there and force something that might not be right because I am 40-something and I need to get married and have kids.”
One key difference is that Rui En, unlike Qi Qi, is not lonely.
She said: “If you have to rely on another human being to not feel lonely, I think that is a losing proposition. People are always going to let you down.
The Straits Times
March 28, 2023 Over the years, local actress-singer Rui En has played a gamut of roles – from tough cop to grief-stricken widow to a psychiatrist who turns evil. She was last seen on the small screen as a reformed Ah Lian in Channel 8 drama The Heartland Hero (2021). Her latest on-screen persona, however, hits especially close to home.
Singaporean actress Rui En plays Qi Qi (left), a career woman on the cusp of 40 who consistently puts her love life on hold for work. PHOTO: MEDIACORP
Mediacorp drama Oppa, Saranghae! stars (from left) Kim Jae-hoon, Rui En, Tasha Low and Meixin. PHOTO: LIANHE ZAOBAO
Singaporean actress Rui En stars in Oppa, Saranghae! with South Korean actor Kim Jae-hoon. PHOTO: MEDIACORP
Rui En (left) and South Korean actor Kim Jae-hoon (right) in Oppa, Saranghae! PHOTO: MEDIACORP
Source:
The Straits Times
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