AFFABLE ADRIAN
 

I was an English Literature student in school. I am also a great fan of the cinema, theatre and television. I appreciate the acting, scriptwriting and directing behind every production. I am captivated by the world of entertainment, with its glamour, magic and excitement. When I watch a programme or movie, I am transported to a different world – I ask myself, what did the scriptwriter feel when he wrote those lines, what did the director tell the actor to do in that scene, how did the actress portray the character, what did she experience as she acted out that scene.

I have personally met few people from the entertainment industry – my school mate, Malti Lalwani, who acts in local television programmes, has entertained me with many fascinating behind-the-scenes stories when she was filming the local hospital drama series, First Touch. Another actor/compere in Vasantham Central lamented about budget problems faced by the Tamil producers. I got the opportunity to chat with Diana Ser when I was interviewed for an episode of GetRea! My fascination for Kollywood (the South Indian cinema industry) and Hollywood stars, which began during my teenage years, has yet to be satiated.

My surreal dreams of the entertainment world were brought down to earth when I met Mediacorp actor Adrian Pang. Sadly, Adrian did not have any interesting stories or gossip to spice up my day. ‘I am not a celebrity. This is my job. Every new programme is just a piece of work. It is no different from each new case you handle,’ he told me over lunch at a quiet corner of the Singapore Academy of Law Bistro. ‘It is about bringing food to the table. That’s all there is to it.’

Adrian is down-to-earth simple, very polite and humble. He rises from his seat to speak to a lady who compliments him on his work; also, when his manager joins us for lunch, he ensures that she has enough to eat. At our meeting, he spoke freely, punctuated with a lot of smiles and his funny gesticulations.

Adrian studied law in Keele University in the United Kingdom. He never practised at all. ‘I was uncomfortable with the idea of being entrusted with clients’ problems, which I am expected to solve. I could not even solve my own problems. How was I expected to solve theirs? I did not think that I could sleep
at night under the pressure of their problems.’

After completing his law education, Adrian stayed on to work for eight years in England. He was not short of work and acted in theatre productions, television programmes, radio programmes and movies. He acted in a television programme, Fragile Heart with British actor, Sir Nigel Hawthorne, and in a Hollywood production, Spygame starring Brad Pitt and Robert Redford. He also got married and had two sons, Zack and Xander.

‘When Xander was born, it was a vulnerable period for my wife and I. I was doing some soul searching when the now defunct Mediaworks invited me to return to Singapore to host their television programmes. I had done very little hosting work then.’ Still, the Pang family moved to Singapore in 2001 with the option of returning to the United Kingdom in the future.

Five years on, Adrian is very busy working for Mediacorp. He acts in television productions, made-in-Singapore movies and on stage. He is also a compere – he was master of ceremonies for the Law Society’s Dinner and Dance last year. According to him, hosting work requires you to find something within yourself to give to it.

He has no particular technique in his acting. He does voice warm-ups and concentrates on his costumes and make-up.

I must confess that I have seen very little of Adrian on local television. Except for the compering of national events, I have only seen his theatrical performance in Barefoot in the Park. Adrian is a talented actor. Many actors feel that acting funny is difficult. He does it effortlessly, at the risk of being labelled a comedian. Many would remember his natural yet comical performances in television programmes, such as Yummy King I and II and Ah Girl 2. Humour must be Adrian’s forte.

Adrian had not spoken Mandarin for 15 years. When he was cast as Dadi in the Chinese mega production, Portrait of Home (Tong Xin Yuan), he panicked. The filming of Portrait of Home I and Portrait of Home II not only took up most of Adrian’s time last year, it drained him totally. ‘I had to get the hanyu pinyin correct, understand what I was saying, memorise the lines, read the lines out and finally act.’ A very tall order! He received a Star Awards Best Actor nomination for this role last year.

‘Yes, I am a moody guy,’ he confirmed. ‘I am also very emotional and I find it very difficult to detach myself emotionally.’ He agrees with his mother that he has become quiet and eccentric. He prefers solitude and quiet time with his family.

He admits that he is a self-deprecating man. He feels that he does not deserve good things in life and is afraid to hold on to success. He does not know why he feels this way and laughs it off.

Zack and Xander are his world. His happiness shows all over his face when he mentions them. Each day at 7am, the boys wake him up by jumping on his bed. He is torn by his responsibility towards work and the boys’ need for him. Amidst all the limelight, Adrian does not lose sight of the importance of his 10-year marriage and his family life. His wife is an artistic director with the Singapore Repertory Theatre.

For the future, he looks forward to writing scripts and directing productions.

Rajan Chettiar

Rajan Chettiar & Co

E-mail: rajan@rajanchettiar.com

Adrian on …

His all-time favourite actor:

‘Robert De Niro. I would give anything to act with him in a movie.’

His future plans:

‘I have no unreal expectations in my job. I do not want too much. I value what’s important to me – my family. I do not want to grow too big for my boots.’

His role model:

‘My father. He is an architect

who has a lot of ideals.’

Whether looks matter on local television:

‘Well, all of us will only look at something that is pretty or handsome. So, looks are important for an actor on television.’

Whether he wants his sons to follow in his footsteps:

‘I am leaving their career options 
to them.’

Following in the footsteps of Zoe Tay:

‘Zoe Tay is in a league of her own. I do not think I can be like her for obvious reasons.’