Cynthia Koh
Born (1974-03-25) 25 March 1974[1]
Other namesXu Meizhen
EducationSaint Anthony's Canossian Secondary School
Occupations
  • Actress
  • businesswoman
Years active1992–present
AwardsStar Awards:
Chinese name
Simplified Chinese许美珍
Hanyu PinyinXǔ Měizhēn

Cynthia Koh (born 25 March 1974) is a Singaporean actress.[2] She has appeared and starred in many television series produced by MediaCorp Channel 8 and MediaCorp Channel 5.

Early life

Koh has one younger sister. Her father works in the Singapore Civil Defence Force while her mother is a housewife.[2] Koh received her education at Saint Anthony's Canossian Secondary School.[3]

Career

While still enrolled in Singapore Broadcasting Corporation's (now MediaCorp) 10th Drama Artiste Course and after a three-month Mandarin-language training stint in Taiwan, Koh started acting at the TV station at the age of 18 in May 1992.[2][4][5] After having acted in almost 46 dramas,[6] Koh went on to make her debut on stage in the critically acclaimed Men at Forty-Eight in 1997. Later, she won the Best Actress Award in Star Awards 1999 with her breakthrough performance in Stepping Out, in which she played a long-suffering woman fighting against her fate.[7][8] This role earned her a nomination in the same category at the Asian Television Awards.

Koh was also part of the cast in three of MediaCorp TV Channel 8's long-running dramas. The 3 long-running dramas include: Holland V (Year 2003, 125 episodes), Portrait of Home (Year 2005, 100 episodes), Kinship (Year 2007, 86 episodes). Koh's role as Fu Baozhu (傅宝珠), a greedy and bossy woman in Portrait of Home earned her a Best Actress nomination at the Star Awards 2005; the award ultimately went to Huang Biren. While filming Mediacorp Channel U's blockbuster drama Show Hand in December 2011, it was reported that Koh delayed an ovarian cyst operation to finish filming the series.[9] In 2012, after having not won an award for near to 15 years at the annual Star Awards, Koh made her comeback and won her second Top 10 Most Popular Female Artiste Award.

Koh has since won 3 Star Awards for Top 10 Most Popular Female Artistes, namely in 1997, 2012 and 2022.

Ventures

In 2015, Koh worked with actress-director Michelle Chong, former radio deejay Daniel Ong, and three other partners to open a 180-seater restaurant, Mischief, at Esplanade. She is also the national marketing director of the Singapore branch of World Ventures, an American company that offers bulk buy travel deals to its members. In 2016, it was reported that Koh led about 1,800 sales representatives, making her one of the highest ranked for the Singapore branch. In addition, Koh is also a certified practitioner in alternative healing, specializing in Reiki, the Bach flower remedy system and sound therapy.[10][11][12][13]

Filmography

Television series

YearTitleRoleNotes Ref.
1991 Romance of the Season (恋曲 1991)Xue Ling's friend
1992 The Dating Game (爱情乒乓球)Lin Meifang
Terms of Endearment (戏剧人生)Song Wentian
Love is in the Air (爱在女儿乡)Judy
1993 Endless Love (未了缘)Xiao Xi
The Wilful Siblings (斗气姐妹)Yang Xixi
Happy Reunion (年年有鱼)Ma Yuxiang
1994 Those Were The Days (生命擂台)Luo Xueqi
The Challenger (勇者无惧)Pan Jingyi
1995 Dream Hunters (追心一族)
Over the Horizons (展翅高飞)Xiong Haiyun
1996 Tofu StreetLiang Simei
Royal Battle of Wit (妙师爷三斗毒太监)Chen Wanmei
Tales of the Third Kind II (第三类剧场II 之《墙里幽魂》)Sandy
Give Me A Break (老板放轻松)Ye Liang / Ah Moon
1997 Crimes and Tribulations (狮城奇案录 之《蝶印》)Mei Xiaoyu
Sword and Honour (铁血男儿)Wan'er
Gong Sunyan
1998 Around People's Park (珍珠街坊)Wang Lijuan
Myths and Legends of Singapore (石叻坡传说 之《一代狮王》)He Jinyu
Season of LoveXu Liwen
1999 Stepping OutHongdou
2000 Hainan Kopi TalesHuang Liuyue
Growing Up Season 5Tracy
@Moulmein HighFrancine Ooi
Looking For StarsCai Feifei
2001 Through Thick and Thin (阿灿正传)Kailing
@Moulmein High IIFrancine Ooi
The HotelXu Yizhen
2002 The Wing of Desire (天使的诱惑)Li Wanping
@Moulmein High IIIFrancine Ooi
2003 Holland VMo Yanyan
2004 Spice SiblingsDing Zhenzhu
The Ties that Bind (家财万贯)Xu Minmin
2005 Portrait of HomeFu Baozhu
Portrait of Home II
2006 Family MattersGuan Ji'er
House of JoyZheng Shuangxi
2007 Kinship IZheng Jinsha
Kinship II
2008 The Little NyonyaHuang Xiujuan
Her Many FacesZheng Jiawen
2009 My School DazeTao Guijuan
The UltimatumChen Xiaobao
Daddy at HomeChen Meihui
2010 Happy FamilyJian Mei'e / Fatty Mei
The Best Things in LifeChen Jiaxin
Precious BabesKatie Ong
Mrs P.I.Yun Feixue
2011 The In-LawsYan Qiuhua
A Song to RememberShe-Sao
2012 Show Hand (注定)Wu Meifang
The Day It Rained on Our ParadeLulu
2013 96°C CafeAnn
Gonna Make ItMonica
2014 Zero CallingJulie
Mata Mata 2: A New EraNancy Ang
2015 Life Is BeautifulFang Jie
Zero Calling 2Julie
CrescendoWang Yafang
2016 The GentlemenZou Huimin
2017 The LeadChen Qiulian
Life Less OrdinaryZhang Ruoyun
2018 A Lonely Fish (寂寞鱼·听见)Ann
Say CheesePan Zeguo [14]
Magic Chef (料理人生)Amy
Heart To Heart (心点心)Li Peizhen
2019 How Are You?Pan Meiruo
Playground (游乐场)Jen Lin Cuifen
Hello From The Other Side - Its Time (阴错阳差 — 时辰到)Margaret
C.L.I.F. 5Li Xiaoying [15]
After The Stars (攻星计)Zhen Mei
2020 A Quest to HealLi Shaotong [14]
How Are You? 2 (好世谋2)Pan Meiruo
2021 My Star BrideZhong Peipei
Mind Jumper (触心罪探)Wiranto
The Peculiar Pawnbroker (人心鉴定师)Ye Jingting
Leave No Soul Behind (21点灵)Wu Yuwei
2023 Fix My LifeMa Lulu
VeilBrenda
Oppa, Saranghae!Lee Soo-jung[16]
SheroGina CheeCameo[17]
I Do, Do I?Pan Anyu
2024 Kill Sera SeraCameo

Film

Year Title Role Notes Ref.
1994 Love Dowry (爱情定金) Wang Huiling Telemovie
Romance in the Seventh Month Qiu Qing Telemovie
1996 Legend of Da Bo Gong (大伯公传奇) Chen Yuzhen / Lei Xiaochun Telemovie
2000 2000 A.D. Theresa Feature film [18]
2011 Already Famous Herself Cameo
2022 My Star Bride - Hi, Mai Phương ThảoZhong PeipeiTelemovie[19]
2023 The Fourth Man (第四个男人)Fang LiwenShort film[20]
ConfinementAh QingFeature film

Theatre

YearTitleNotes
1997Men at Forty-Eight

Discography

Compilation albums

Year Title Ref
2012MediaCorp Music Lunar New Year Album 12 (新传媒群星金龙接财神)
2013MediaCorp Music Lunar New Year Album 13 (新传媒群星金蛇献祥和)
2016MediaCorp Music Lunar New Year Album 16 (新传媒群星金猴添喜庆)
2017MediaCorp Music Lunar New Year Album 17 (新传媒群星咕鸡咕鸡庆丰年)

Awards and nominations

YearCeremonyCategoryNominated workResultRef
1995 Star Awards Top 10 Most Popular Female Artistes Top 20
1996 Star Awards Best ActressTofu Street (as Liang Simei)Nominated
Star Awards Top 10 Most Popular Female Artistes Top 20
1997 Star Awards Top 10 Most Popular Female Artistes Top 10
1998 Star Awards Top 10 Most Popular Female Artistes Top 20
1999 Star Awards Best ActressStepping Out (as Hong Dou)Won
Star Awards Top 10 Most Popular Female Artistes Top 20
Asian Television Awards Best Actress in a Supporting Role Stepping Out (as Hong Dou)Nominated
2000 Star Awards Top 10 Most Popular Female Artistes Top 20
2001 Star Awards Top 10 Most Popular Female Artistes Top 20
2002 Star Awards Top 10 Most Popular Female Artistes Top 20
2004 Star Awards Top 10 Most Popular Female Artistes Top 20
2005 Star Awards Best ActressPortrait of Home (as Fu Baozhu)Nominated
2011 Star Awards Best Supporting ActressHappy Family (as Jiang Mei'e)Nominated
Top 10 Most Popular Female Artistes Top 20
Favourite Onscreen Couple Nominated
2012 Star Awards Top 10 Most Popular Female Artistes Top 10
2013 Star Awards Best ActressShow Hand (as Wu Meifang)Nominated
2014 Star Awards Perfect Curves Award Won
Most Popular Regional Artiste (Cambodia) Nominated
2015 Star Awards Most Popular Regional Artiste (Cambodia) Nominated
2019 Star Awards Best Supporting ActressSay Cheese (as Pan Zeguo)Nominated [14]
Top 10 Most Popular Female Artistes Top 20
Asian Academy Creative Awards Best Supporting Actress - National Winner (Singapore) Say Cheese (as Pan Zeguo)Won [21]
2021 Star Awards Best Supporting ActressAfter the Stars (as Zhen Mei)Nominated
Asian Academy Creative Awards Best Supporting Actress - National Winner (Singapore) My Star Bride (as Chung Pei Pei)Won [22]
2022Star Awards Best Supporting ActressMy Star Bride (as Chung Pei Pei) Nominated
Top 10 Most Popular Female ArtistesTop 10 [23]
2023 Star Awards Best Supporting Actress Leave No Soul Behind (as Wu Yuwei) Nominated

References

  1. "These 6 facts about our forever-pretty Cynthia Koh will gain more fans for her". 11 November 2015.
  2. 1 2 3 Suzanne Sng (12 September 1999). "I'm just 30% Miss Right". The Straits Times. p. SP20.
  3. Hong Xinyi (11 July 2004). "Star track". The Sunday Times.
  4. Guan Libing (31 October 1993). "Enjoy it while it lasts". The Straits Times. p. SP9.
  5. Rachel Lim (16 July 2006). "Mandarin high". The Sunday Times.
  6. "Cynthia Koh". Fly Entertainment. Archived from the original on 10 April 2007. Retrieved 30 April 2007.
  7. "Stepping Out sweeps 5 awards". The Straits Times. 20 December 1999. p. 4.
  8. Tee Hun Ching (23 December 1999). "I was in shock". The Straits Times. p. L3.
  9. "Cynthia Koh delays ovarian cyst op to complete filming". AsiaOne. 27 February 2011.
  10. "Actress Cynthia Koh with her tips for embracing change, Women News - AsiaOne". 6 April 2023. Archived from the original on 6 April 2023. Retrieved 6 April 2023.
  11. "Cynthia Koh on Being Alone, Social Media Fame and Negativity". 6 April 2023. Archived from the original on 6 April 2023. Retrieved 6 April 2023.
  12. "Instagram". Archived from the original on 3 July 2023. Retrieved 3 July 2023.
  13. "'My new baby has finally landed': Cynthia Koh one of the first monochord sound healers in Singapore — what is it?". AsiaOne. 26 May 2023. Retrieved 3 July 2023.
  14. 1 2 3 "Cynthia Koh: Being acknowledged by viewers is a bigger reward than winning awards". 8 Days. Retrieved 22 April 2022.
  15. "Cynthia Koh Doesn't Know What C.L.I.F Stands For, And Here's Her Excuse". 8 Days. Retrieved 19 October 2021.
  16. Khoo, Yi-Hang (27 April 2023). "'It probably sounded very bad to a Korean': Cynthia Koh attempts long scolding scene entirely in Korean". AsiaOne. Retrieved 28 April 2023.
  17. "得用连串韩语吵架 许美珍接角色后慌了 | 早报". www.zaobao.com.sg (in Simplified Chinese). Retrieved 7 May 2023.
  18. "2000 AD at chinesemov.com".
  19. Lim, Ruey Yan (23 November 2021). "TV series My Star Bride gets telemovie sequel, Shane Pow joins cast". The Straits Times. ISSN 0585-3923. Retrieved 30 October 2023.
  20. "华流短片展:文学短片集 – 人生的过程 Chinese Shorts Showcase: Singapore Short Stories | Singapore Chinese Film Festival". 7 May 2023. Archived from the original on 7 May 2023. Retrieved 7 May 2023.
  21. "2019 NATIONAL WINNERS". Asian Academy Creative Awards. Retrieved 22 April 2022.
  22. "NATIONAL WINNERS 2021" (PDF). p. 4. Archived from the original (PDF) on 18 November 2021. Retrieved 22 April 2022.
  23. Ang, Benson (24 April 2022). "Star Awards 2022 host Chen Hanwei clinches Best Actor award | The Straits Times". www.straitstimes.com. Retrieved 26 April 2022.
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