She is 38, sexy, and thinks that local actor Christopher Lee is the perfect man.

It is something you might expect Taiwanese actress Tian Xin to say of her co-star Lee, 42, who acts as her loving husband in their new drama, A Good Wife.

But her enthusiasm was infectious.

In a phone interview from Taiwan, Tian - who is single - gushed about Lee endlessly, saying in Mandarin: "I was so smitten with him. He is very charming, very mature and very caring on set. In short, he is the perfect man."

Referring to him affectionately as "Ah Shun Zai", a play on his Chinese name Lee Meng Soon, she added: "His acting is very good, and he makes me feel comfortable around him. I think every woman would fall for him after knowing him."

In A Good Wife, Tian acts as dutiful and meticulous wife Yi Zhen, who has been in a loving marriage with hubby Lee Shao Wen (Lee) for seven years. The monotonous relationship takes its toll and Yi Zhen leaves Shao Wen for another man.

The show is airing on E City (StarHub TV Channel 111/825) every Tuesday to Thursday at 10pm.

When The New Paper contacted Lee yesterday, he was pleasantly surprised with Tian's praises.

"I am very honoured and happy to hear this. We spent quite a lot of time working together in the drama, and we had a great time," he said.

"We have similar working styles and we are both quite straightforward, so we click. The atmosphere on set was very fun and lively."

As much as Tian is charmed by Lee, she said she would not make any moves on the married MediaCorp Ah Ge (Mandarin for big brother).

She said: "I will never go for someone who is already taken, it's wrong."

The affable actress recalled how Lee made efforts to communicate daily with his wife, local actress Fann Wong, 42, who remained here while he was filming the drama in Taiwan.

"Chris would talk to Fann via Skype on the way back to the hotel after filming, and he would finish their chats in the hotel lobby before going up to his room, as he did not want the signal to be cut off when he is taking the lift. It's a small thing but it's so sweet," Tian said.

"I can only watch and sigh in envy. I wish I have a boyfriend like him."

Tian, famous for her award-winning role as a top plastic surgeon in idol drama Who's The One (2011), also learnt a lot about relationships and love from Lee after working together.

He told her the key to a successful marriage is proper communication, she said.

COUPLES MUST TALK

She said: "Chris told me that a couple must talk to each other daily, even if it means talking about very mundane day-to-day stuff. A relationship is not just about one person. Both parties must listen and communicate."

Tian, who had previously been linked to Taiwanese actor Leroy Young, 33, reportedly broke up with him in July after a three-year relationship as she did not want to settle down.

"For me, there is no pressure to get married. Of course, I want to have a lifelong partner, I am sure everyone does," she said.

"However, we cannot rush such things. I will get married only when I find the right one for me."

Asked if she will follow the footsteps of Taiwan-based actress Charlie Young, 39, and Taiwanese star Vivian Hsu, 38, who are both seeing Singaporean men, Tian exclaimed: "Oh! They are so lucky! I love Singapore and I want to go to Singapore more often. It's too bad that no Singaporean man is chasing me now."

Get The New Paper for more stories.