There is a saying in showbiz that one should never work with children or animals.

Although Rebecca Lim didn't act opposite any four-legged creatures, the former did get on her nerves.

In fact, acting with a group of children in her latest xinmsn web drama initially put her off about having some of her own in future.

The local actress stars in The Ups And Downs Of Ms Chan Poh Geok, where she plays a nerdy 1960s teacher who has to get her primary school class to memorise the Singapore pledge.

The 20-episode series, which sees Lim attempting comedy for the first time, can be watched online.

As Lim got to know the kids better, the little ones turned out to be rather charming after all.

One boy even developed a crush on her.

Lim, 25, told The New Paper: "One adorable child actor on set wrote 'Can I have your phone number?' on a piece of paper, folded it into an aeroplane and threw it towards me.

"He was really cute and that made all the other young boys laugh when he threw the plane at me.

"I told him to add me on Facebook and he said he didn't have an account."

Since Lim's last relationship, 1 1/2 years ago, she had decided to take a break from dating and to enjoy time on her own.

But she's now ready to be swept off her feet again, even though her past three Singaporean Chinese boyfriends had pointed out her "flaw" - that she just isn't romantic enough.

As for her ideal man, only clean-cut guys who are taller than her 1.67m frame need apply.

"He should preferably be a Christian and most importantly, he must be someone I can connect with.

"I like funny, humorous guys as well."

As for the number of children she wants to have, the star of Channel 5 legal drama ThePupil said: "I have always wanted four children so that none of them would have the middle child syndrome.

"So I hope that the next guy that I fall inlove with will be the one that I can settle down with."

She added: "A nice first date would be just a simple meal at a restaurant, where we can get to know each other."

Relaxation

When asked to describe a typical day of relaxation for her, the homebody admitted that she would like to spend it watching TV with her grandparents.

On weekends, the sporty babe indulges inher favourite activities, such as tennis andyoga.

Thus her ideal guy should also be able to get along with her family, play tennis and jog with her - yoga would be a plus.

Lim was candid when asked about her past three relationships.

Her first boyfriend was a 1.83m-tall basketballer whom she met when she was studying in Victoria Junior College.

What the besotted guy didn't know was that Lim hadn't found him to be "my type at all".

His ear piercings and bad-boy looks didn't earn him any extra points from the object of his affection.

Said Lim: "But one day he ordered a pizza and had it delivered to my class, and said that the pizza was on him as a treat for all my classmates and me.

"After being in all-girls primary and secondary schools, that was the first time that a guy had taken the initiative to chase me. I was like 'Oh wow'.

"What won me over was that he would take the bus home with me every day after school and then go home by bus himself, all of which took him three hours daily.

"The relationship lasted slightly longer than a year and we broke up because it was emotionally draining and he was affecting my studies.

"What I wanted actually was a good guy that I could bring home to mum."

It was in her first year of university, where she studied accounting, that she met someone whom she was smitten with at first sight.

The person in question was a medical student three years older than her, and had actually set his sights on her before she did him.

He asked a mutual friend to set up a dinner date with Lim, and when she arrived at the restaurant and saw him, it was love at first sight.

The tanned dude was 1.82m-tall, had "small eyes" and a very clean-cut look.

But Lim said that when something seems this perfect, you tend to feel less worthy of it.

"He was such a good-looking guy and very smart, so I felt like I had to do everything I could to be worthy of him.

"So I wasn't being myself and I think that was what didn't work in our relationship.

"I tried so hard to be perfect as I didn't want to appear bimbotic in front of him, but I think that made it too easy for him.

"When he broke it off, I was crushed and I ate 10 tubs of ice cream in five days. My friends came over to eat ice cream with me and watch TV the whole day."

It took her two years to get over him and when she did, she thought she had perhaps met the person that she was going to marry.

Her last relationship was in her final year in university and he was a friend's friend.

Lim admitted that at last, she didn't feel the need to be someone other than herself, so she didn't "try to please the person because you want it to work".

However, things came to a head because she, being the practical one, just wasn't "needy or romantic" enough.

Said Lim: "I remember when we just graduated and he bought me a $300 dress and I was so mad I scolded him for it.

"He was upset because he thought the gift would have made me happy, but it didn't.

"I was thinking, we were fresh out of school so we should have been saving every cent.

"At that time, many of our friends were settling down and he felt the pressure to do the same.

"Perhaps at one point in our relationship, I did think he was the one, but it became clear that our perspectives on life were vastly different and that's why we called it quits in the end."

So after giving herself 11/2-year break from dating since then, Lim is now ready to take the leap again.

And coincidentally, she's also looking for a mate for her male golden retriever, Ruffles.

Lim's beautiful and good-natured dog is seeking a female golden retriever to have many puppies with.

"Any takers?", she asked with a laugh.

This article was first published in The New Paper.