Think Felicia Chin and the sweet girl-next-door with long silky tresses comes to mind.

But turning 30 this year has made her say goodbye to that safe, feminine form.

Say hello to Chin, now a spunky babe with a go-get-them attitude.

The local actress, who snipped off her locks and dyed them blonde, is loving her new look.

Chin told The New Paper earlier this week: "I cut it about a month ago. Actually I always wanted to cut my hair but had to keep it a certain length due to my roles.

"I chose this hairstyle as I wanted a change. So I have a new start to my new year by starting with my hair!

"I would like to give audiences a new, fresher look, one that is also more mature, I hope."

She also hopes to take inches off her already slim physique as her next role is that of a sexy model.

In the upcoming Channel 8 drama In The Name Of Love, she stars opposite Pierre Png, whom she has been looking forward to working with again.

Channel 8 viewers will remember their sizzling on-screen chemistry back in 2005 in the blockbuster drama Portrait Of Home.

Said Chin: "This will be my first drama with him since then so I am definitely looking forward to our chemistry this time round!"

Birth name

Last year, Chin also made the decision to return to using her birth name.

Since entering showbiz in 2003, she was known by her stage name Chen Jing Xuan.

She announced in June last year that she would be using her birth name - Chen Feng Ling - when she returns from her acting hiatus.

In 2012, she had gone to Shanghai to pursue business studies, but gave it up to return to showbiz last year.

Of her "new" name, she said: "It was a simple decision, I wanted to use the name that my dad had given me.

"The reason I took a stage name when I first started out was because I met someone who gave me sound advice with regards to that and I heeded it.

"I feel bad that after getting used to my stage name, people have to change back to using my original one.

"But I find that many people still like my original name better, they even come up to me and tell me how happy they are to see me and that they like that I am using Chen Feng Ling now."

New cause

This will also mark the first year that Chin has pro-actively delved into charity work.

She started a charity group called HeartWorks with her friends a few months ago in which she works with old folks' homes and orphanages.

Her goal is to eventually help out in Third World countries. Recently, Chin said she took the children from a local orphanage to the S.E.A Aquarium at Resorts World Sentosa and played games with them.

She said: "We wanted them to realise how capable they are, but in turn, I think we learnt even more from them.

"Helping others is a big part of my life. We are all capable of doing so, simple things like saying encouraging words to others and giving a smile are the little things we can do to create a more loving, positive world."

She has extended an invitation to her friends, fans and media to join her on such trips.

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