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Tue, Mar 11, 2014
The Straits Times
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Local actress Constance Song lands a lead role in HBO drama
by Yip Wai Yee

When home-grown actress Constance Song went to a meeting to discuss a role for HBO Asia's new original series, Grace, she thought it would just be for one tiny scene.

Instead, she ended up going through a proper audition and snagged the female lead role in the show that starts shooting here on Monday.

Speaking to Life! over the telephone, the 36-year-old recalls: "They gave me 15 minutes to prepare three to four pages of lines, and even though I was not ready at all, I just thought I'd go through with it since I was already there. After that, they called me up to tell me I would get a role with much bigger involvement."

In the upcoming four-part series, which will have dialogue in English and Mandarin, she plays Angela Chan, the wife of cheating husband Roy, who will be played by American actor Russell Wong (The Joy Luck Club, 1993). The story, which looks at themes of family, vengeance and sacrifice, follows an influential Asian family who suffers the consequences of the father's sins.

Song, who has worked primarily on Channel 8 shows, adds that the series will be "a little creepy, with ghosts involved".

She met co-star Wong only hours before this interview yesterday, but already, she is "excited" to work with him.

"I didn't really know him, but I read up about him on Wikipedia and he has done some really good stuff," she says with a chuckle.

She is more familiar with the show's other co-star, actress Pamelyn Chee, 31, whom she worked with on Channel 8 drama The Quarters (2012). Chee will play Roy's young mistress.

Two other home-grown actresses, Jean Toh and Vivienne Tseng, will play the two elder daughters in the family, while Taiwanese actress Teresa Daley will take on the role of the youngest daughter.

The show is HBO Asia's second series, following its debut series last year, Serangoon Road, starring Joan Chen, Don Hany and Chin Han.

This article was first run in The Straits Times newspaper on March 8, 2014. For similar stories, go to sph.straitstimes.com/premium/singapore. You will not be able to access the Premium section of The Straits Times website unless you are already a subscriber.

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