‘明星自毁容颜 Star Disfigured?’
We know of stars gaining or losing weight to fit into new roles but to literally ‘disfigure’ the face – definitely the most important part of a star’s body? Already making massive breakthroughs from one role to another, his latest attempt will seal his status as MediaCorp’s 戏魔 (走火入‘戏’魔啰)!

陈汉玮 Chen Han Wei literally knocked off one of his front teeth for his lead role 五福 in 五福到 (debut 2010). Written by the same writer behind ‘小娘惹 The Little Nyonya’ and ‘当我们同在一起 Together’, 五福,乃:“福,寿,富,康宁,攸好德,考终命。” 五福到,谁不开心?然而,戏里这个“五福”一驾到,却会让你鸡飞狗又跳、好气兼好笑。他行事往往出乎你意料、总是搞到你大呼小叫…但,最后,如果问你要不要五福到?你还是会说:要!五福从小父母双亡,被一对渔民夫妇收养。喜欢渔村生活,选择留在渔村,性格单纯,生性开朗,热于助人,知足长乐,遇事大而化之。在渔村邂逅一神秘少女“梦”,对她念念不忘,到新加坡这大城市找寻她的踪迹,他发现三个妹妹(许美珍, 李美玲 & 许雅慧) 问题一箩筐,本着做大哥的责任,到处插一脚,希望帮三个妹妹解决烦恼,谁知却越帮越忙,搞到笑话百出。

五福到 (English title: The Best Things In Life) held its ‘lensing ceremony’ this morning at an old temple in Toa Payoh. Besides 陈汉玮 Chen Han Wei in the title role, it stars 许美珍 Cynthia Koh, 李美玲, 许雅慧 Koh Yah Hwee, 郭妃丽 Phyllis Quek as “梦”, 张耀栋 Zhang Yao Dong, 陈炯江 Desmond Tan, 曹国辉 Terence Cao, 王爱玲 Ong Ai Leng, 林明伦 Darren Tan, 潘竖卿 May Phua, 管雪梅, etc.

I was told a big portion of his front tooth was already permanently chipped off long ago and he was wearing a crown over the tooth (a costly process) all these years. In trying to craft this role to perfection, he volunteered to knock it off again (instead of relying on just temporary make-up).
Han Wei is known for perfecting and elevating every role given to him. His most recent experiments included looking like an ugly uncle in ‘企鹅爸爸Daddy At Home’ (debuts on Monday at 9pm on Channel 8). This is one role I am predicting that the next Star Awards Best Actor would be his to take home…

戏魔一出,谁与争锋… With Han Wei setting the standard higher each year, it will be a tough challenge for any other actors to match…
Filed in Daddy At Home 企鹅爸爸, The Best Things In Life 五福到 37 Comments so far
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thomas on 28 Oct 2009 at 11:37 am #
wa! well said Paul! Chen hanwei is really the xi4 mo2 lor. I am looking forwrd to househusband, hanwei really act very well from the trailers!!! He brings something new to the shows he appear in! i am really impressed.
Jacob on 28 Oct 2009 at 11:44 am #
The image of the roles CHW handled has always been rather loud and outstanding. It’s almost unbelievable to say one can’t act because subconsciously, well styled characters shouts “I can act” more than half the time.
But think about this. Can he handle LNX’s role in DAH? Can he show us his acting without the aid of loud styling? And can he not just be an actor, but a Star who can act? What’s the difference? Best actor, loud roles one after another. But magazine covers? Girls going gaga over him? Does he have any charisma remaining?
I’m not against him, but can he not always stick with loudly styled roles?
happy on 28 Oct 2009 at 11:56 am #
Very glad that to see Phyllis Quek again, kinda sick to see aunty Ann Kok in so many dramas this year.
WT on 28 Oct 2009 at 2:22 pm #
Why Cynthia not in the Leansing Ceremony?? Is she still lead actress in the show??
(Paul: She wasn’t slated for the scene at the tenmple mah…)
full on 28 Oct 2009 at 2:37 pm #
love phyllis – please engineer the plot and script such that she is the 1st female lead and lots and lots of her appearance will be a definite boost to the ratings. she is beautiful, she is outstanding. actually, cynthia koh is a tad below phyllis in terms of star appeal. eh, paul, i suddenly realised how responsive u guys at mediacorp are to our call for our favourite artiste to be screened, such as in the case of phyllis. thanks, mdc. as for chen hanwei, don’t u think he is carrying his sacrifice for acting to the extreme by literally knocking out his tooth? please put him as the next artiste to be interviewed by you, after rui en. i want to ask him, “why do you need to do that? that’s an adult tooth and not a milk tooth. if he lost it, it’s forever lost!”
Disparaging on 28 Oct 2009 at 2:48 pm #
Paul,
Wonder if it is necessary to give such roles to Hanwei? i mean those roles who take home the best actor award, dun have to go to the same actor. Some newbies could try. 715 or Wenyong can do this role. Give chances to those actors who are already good/experienced. i dun see Huang Wenyong win the BSA or BA award. BA awards went to Xie Shaoguang, Nanxing, Hanwei, Chris (only one) and lucky Geping.
This applies to the same as for BS actress category.
that’s why i respect Nanxing for his altruistic act coz he gave up after 3wins. for XIe Shaoguang, 5 wins. For hanwei, 3 wins.
:% on 28 Oct 2009 at 2:49 pm #
Hi Paul, good afternoon. Glad to see this entries after having my yummy lunch, anyway a few question. Hope you could answer them. Thanks
1) 李美玲? Is it the one that is last seen as Wu Yuehua in Romantic Delicacies? Which is SS 07 contestant? (Paul: Yes)
2) Now that Phyllis played CHW dreamlove gf, does that mean she is the 1st Leading Actress now instead of Cynthia? (Paul: Special Guest Star)
3) Is Xie Minyang the producer of this show? (Paul: You Hong)
4) Will we see a Cyn+Darren pairing again? Or maybe Cyn+May? (last seen in Love Blossom as couple), or should match and see which one paired better with Darren? Haha. (Paul: Maybe…)
5) Why was Cynthia not seen in any of the pictures? She didn’t attend the lensing ceremony? (Paul: No, not in the opening scene)
Hope you answer them! thanks.
:% on 28 Oct 2009 at 3:05 pm #
I forgot to add one question to my 1st question, 李美玲 is signed by Mediacorp already? (Paul: Yes bah…not 100% sure)
So Cynthia is the 1st leading actress? (Paul: Yes)
Phyllis doesn’t appear much, just appear a few scene to match CHW character? (Paul: Yah)
Oh? Youhong? Guess she must be having a nice time working with Cynthia and Hanwei for Daddy At Home, which make her cast both of them in her new show.
Hmm, paul care to enlighten on the “not in opening scene?” (Paul: Lensing ceremony refers to the 1st shoot of the entire shooting schedule and it could be any scene in between)
Thanks.
This is something we can look forward in 2010!
WT on 28 Oct 2009 at 3:15 pm #
So this the opening scene of the show??
What role does May Phua Act?? She look so young here..
(paul: Not necessary, 1st shot of the shoot schedule more appropriate)
justmoi on 28 Oct 2009 at 4:19 pm #
han wei sooo kewt without front tooth.. lolz
i love the preview for the drama.. especially the animation where they were in penguin outfits, hi-fivin to each other, battin their big eyes =DDD *VERY ENTERTAINING!!!*
^____________^V ♪♫¸¸.•*´`*take care of ya!*´*•.¸¸♫.♪
:% on 28 Oct 2009 at 4:36 pm #
he did not mind to chip off his teeth! that is…
however, why did the scriptwriter do that?
i mean why the scriptwriter creates such a charcacter with a teeth being chipped off or sth like that?
Pathetic…
(no offense)
(Paul: the writer did not write a character with tooth chipped off…Han Wei created it…as he always does with each role he is playing…he pushes the limit beyond the writer’s imagination)
Genie on 28 Oct 2009 at 4:56 pm #
Happy
You’ve got my vote.
Glad to see Phyllis.
Ms her!
Yes, agree, aunty Ann Kok is overly-exposed.
:) on 28 Oct 2009 at 5:11 pm #
Oh..
Hey, Paul, who is so far the best scriptwriter in Mediacorp and who’s the 2nd?
Meanwhile, I hope that you can psot the viewership of each drama on this blog
(Paul: No comments as they won’t like me to say it out and same with viewership)
:) on 28 Oct 2009 at 5:15 pm #
Why so? Forget about the scriptwriters, but what about the viewership?
(Paul: Only for those blockbuster that break TLN’s record…otherwise, forget it)
Jope on 28 Oct 2009 at 5:49 pm #
Paul
I watched Lee Min Ho’s clip at xin.sg last night. Suddenly, had this strange thought, when would a Mediacorp star receive this kind of welcome(疯狂) from their overseas fans? May be TLN Road Show last year was the closest to this scenario.
Frankly, if ‘Boys over Flowers’ isn’t that popular, I don’t think Lee Min Ho would have become so popular. Guess it’s the hardware & software kind of thing.
Now that Mediacorp already has a very good software, I just hope the stories (hardware) will be attractive enough to drum up viewership.
加油! 新传媒!Hope one fine day, this scenario will happen overseas for Mediacorp stars too. Then, we can all go celebrate!
(Paul: Yes, we must work hard lor…remember I blogged to solicit your comments on the genres to watch in the next 3 years…that’s smomething we are taking very seriously…)
:% on 28 Oct 2009 at 6:10 pm #
Oh, my identity is stole because the :% that commented on CHW front tooth is not me. Haha.
To full: Yes, Phyllis may have star appeal because she is more known as sa star, especially when she used to criticise for her actings, even a movie director say so. But Phyllis have blossom into a actress but still she is a star. So it between a star and actress.
And fyi, this is a drama not some beauty competition to see who have more star appeal. So if the producer/writer think Cynthia is a better choice, then just go according to ther wish. At least they are confident that the person they choose can play the role well.
No offence, I personally like Phyllis too.
Anyway Paul, still very weird that the lensing ceremony don’t even have the female lead at all leh. Lol.
(Paul: Not weird lah….she ahs to complete her shoot with Rui En in Happy family this week before she can jump into another shoot)
Tammy on 28 Oct 2009 at 6:40 pm #
Looking forward to all of Hanwei’s shows! He really brings out the character very well (: May I know why he is always the one taking up those unusual roles and chances not given to others? Its also good to see others trying out these roles! (:
(Paul: The roles were as usual. It was Han Wei who made them unusual – the sign of a brilliant actor lor)
cheeky on 28 Oct 2009 at 7:55 pm #
Paul, now you are literally the reason I hate CHW.
Well, I guess most people will feel the same.
Selling him so hard like this makes me think what relationship CHW and you are in.
Well, if you don’t dare to publish my comment, then I know my guess is exactly right.
(Paul: Haha…only the best of the bests deserves my highest form of praise loh…)
Candi on 28 Oct 2009 at 9:05 pm #
To be frank, don’t know why so good of Aunty Ann Kok, suddenly so many drama in hand? MCS don’t have other actress??
Glad to see more actress whom has not seen them for some time to act again?
Phyllis actin is getting mature too.
Ron on 28 Oct 2009 at 9:20 pm #
at the rate things are moving, in terms of potential to be shot to further stardom and preference for more screening into 2010 will likely be something like dat:
- chen hanwei, christopher lee, tay ping hui, elvin ng, dai yang tian, huang wen yong, zhang zhen huan, joshua ang, zzen chang, jerry yeo (li nanxing is a preferred choice for key milestone roles)
the ladies:
- jeannette aw, jesseca liu, cynthia koh, ann kok, eelyn kok, rui en, paige chua, koh yah hwee, apple hong, yvonne lim, pei xuan and tifanny (as sisters – they really look alike); (fann, chen liping, xiang yun, lin meijiao, zoe tay, ivy lee, should all be “promoted” to “senior” roles) This progression will ensure proper succession.
did a mental evualation. decided to give my top choices of the 5 ladies to succeed xiang yun, fann, zoe, chen liping, ivy lee. These are chosen based on their maturity in thinking and acting, actresses who do not “overact” nor “try to hard” to grab attention and they are respectively:
- ann kok to succeed xiang yun,
- jeannette aw to succeed fann wong
- rui en to succeed zoe tay
- eelyn kok to succeed chen liping
- jesseca liu to succeed ivy lee.
The 5 successors appeared matured in the way they carry themselves and possess star appeal with very good voice, clear diction and pronounciation. it’s irritating to hear poor pronounciation.
(eg there is an actress in the 9pm baby bonus who always mispronounce her “shi” as “si” – very bad pronounciation – this will immediately throw her out of the list) as a viewer, i tend to expect the highest standard as we in Singapore have only one tv station and it has to produce the best quality work to outdo our overseas/international counterparts.
alongside the concept of quality, covering the aspect retribution, which paul time and again blast the person (viewer) who blast one actress. the rationale is very simple why this viewer is doing what she is doing. she is doing the right thing. in fact, the person who deserves a retribution is the one local actress who come out with comments about having period will enlarge her breast, this is doing injustice to young viewers. this cannot be swept under the carpet. it would have been better that she kept her mouth shut than to mention something so ridiculous. Singapore will become a laughing stock to promote such an actress. misleading the impressionable teens can have very negative impact. can this hideous act of this actress qualify for retribution towards herself? paul, don’t delete this. do justice, don’t do injustice. it’s not worth going against your own conscience and soul for this one actress. by protecting and promoting her, u are only allowing evilness to manipulate you.
Junior on 28 Oct 2009 at 9:45 pm #
CHW again? MediaCorp should really explore others ….cannot be always the same person …yawn. Give others a chance – I am sure Darren Lim or even Yao Wen Long can probably do as well for this role… thou I am not doubting CHW’s acting skills.
As for sacrificing his body ‘part’…well, most of us, if given the opportunity to act a lead role, will do ….if you ask some aspiring actors to strip naked for a show, i am sure they will go for it, why NOT? haha….me will do so too (if it is not an eyesore)
(Paul: Not me for sure…haha…as if pple want to see me naked…haha)
:/ on 28 Oct 2009 at 10:24 pm #
(Paul: Yes, we must work hard lor…remember I blogged to solicit your comments on the genres to watch in the next 3 years…that’s smomething we are taking very seriously…)
Then is it tabulated but not shared or neither tabulated nor shared?
(Paul No need to share the tabulation lah…you can read from the blog post’s comment section…but we did internally)
; on 28 Oct 2009 at 10:40 pm #
Paul, you are wrong. Pat would love to see you naked. hehe.
Anyway paul, you see so many complain Ann over-expose and yet you say she is viewership gurantee and very popular in newspaper.
Firstly, Housewives Holidays got xiangyun, which is auntie-mama fav and she won Top 10 yearly. So she herself can hold the drama, how can say ann is viewership gurantee leh?
My School Daze, rui en could have done it herself given her fanbase.
:/ on 28 Oct 2009 at 11:03 pm #
(Paul No need to share the tabulation lah…you can read from the blog post’s comment section…but we did internally)
shirley. on 28 Oct 2009 at 11:49 pm #
I note a lot of sour grapes comments here on chen hanwei and even slamming of Paul the blogger for praising him . It is not just Paul praising him but many including reporters from SPH, the rival company. His acting skills is 公认 (regconised by many) and that ability stretches way back to his earlier years for roles such as Fang Lao Shi and Wenqiang in “Cupid Love”.
Don’t say he depend on image to win best actor. He is just putting his knowledge of image styling to good use.
Zoe's Fan on 29 Oct 2009 at 10:20 am #
Hi Paul, can you pls arrange to repeat Zoe Tay’s 三面夏娃?
Thank you very much.
:% on 29 Oct 2009 at 10:30 am #
One curious question, how did CHW get his front tooth knock out? He asked somebody punch it? Or go to the dentist and get it removed?
Anyway although the front tooth can’t be grown back, but CHW can go to the dentist and get it done. My friend went to done it before, if replace with a fake tooth is $100+, give the tooth that is drop and get the dentist to put up is abt $500+. If I am not wrong.
Recently there one I heard is farming the tooth, just go to the dentist and then the dentist will apply something to it and the teeth will be grown back healthily. But heard this is about few hundred plus and not very cheap.
(Paul: he spent 3 hours at the dental clinic to remove the tooth which was fused with his nerves)
to :% on 29 Oct 2009 at 11:02 am #
chw will probably have to pull out the whole tooth subsequently and replace with a new tooth using implantation (as in breast implants). but in this case, instead of inserting silicone/saline bags into the breast via the nipple or armpit, a metal stent is drilled and fixated into the root of the tooth and covered with a tooth permanently. the whole procedure if done by a facial and maxillofacial surgeon cost up to at least $3,000.
Da on 29 Oct 2009 at 11:34 am #
Han Wei is good , no doubt.
But to me, this kind of “changing image” role is beginning to make me boring.
This kind of role looks like 90% will go to Han Wei.
Why not others?
I dont mind Han Wei play in many dramas in a year, but please not always have to change his total image.
For example at Daddy’s at Home, if you exchange the role and dress up Nan Xing as auntie’s, nahhh that one is surprising and refreshing to our eyes.
Even with casual and normal dress and image, I believe Han Wei still could deliver his role very well.
“Something which is unusual but is repeated a number of times in similar pattern, will become very common and not interested anymore”
Yeah that’s my opinion as one of the loyal channel 8’s viewer,
:% on 29 Oct 2009 at 4:39 pm #
Paul, CHW also in Happy Family?
Quote from Ch8
Hanwei will next play a compulsive gambler in Happy Family. We asked Hanwei if he is afraid that viewers might be turned off by his one-too-many uglified roles on television.
End Of Quote
Source: http://www.mediacorptv.sg/en/buzzdetail/EDC091029-0000147
(Paul: No)
Pearlynn on 29 Oct 2009 at 9:24 pm #
Happy to see Phyllis’s comeback with a role in 2010. Hope to see more of her in 2010! Thanks mcs for bringing such a wonderful actress back onscreen. Is Phyllis’s role considered as supporting/lead or a guest star?
Also would like to ask if her role has alot or little scenes as compared to the other female leads?
One more question please
May I know if Phyllis is back in MCS? Like she resign her contract or just back for some small roles?
Thankssss!
(Paul: She is the myserious ‘Dream’ – an impt guest star)
Irritating cynthiafan on 29 Oct 2009 at 9:29 pm #
halo paul e stupid cynthia fan back again>kinda irritating sia kept mass spamming n can mcs stop using cynthia darren>both lousy actor actress>wats so gd abt them?nt against her bt her acting is very kua zhang
Irritating cynthiafan on 29 Oct 2009 at 9:33 pm #
halo paul e stupid cynthia fan back again>kinda irritating sia kept mass spamming n can mcs stop using cynthia darren>both lousy actor actress>wats so gd abt them?nt against her bt her acting is very kua zhang>btwn baby bonus tsk esp apple
dainty on 29 Oct 2009 at 10:27 pm #
Hanwei didn’t purposely pull out the tooth. It was broken already. This can happen during a fall. My friend broke his front tooth when he fell and hit his face against a rock during cycling. Putting a crown will not last forever, a tooth implant can be done. So, he wasn’t exactly sacrificing himself. Whatever it is, having image is one thing but whether able to act is another. He has both to make the character even more convincing. Christopher Lee has played a role quite similar to Wu Fu called Yu Fu but didn’t win Best Actor and few remember. Don’t say all good roles go to Hanwei. It is how the actor will make the role more memorable.
Mg on 31 Oct 2009 at 11:44 am #
Gosh.. chen han wei again? I feel a bit sick man. Yes, his acting is good, but his acting skill is like almost the same for many dramas. The only difference is that he is always lucky to get a distinct role…. to win the award may be? so i rather switch my channel.
(Paul: Same? He was never the same person in every drama…open eye big big ah…luckily heaven got grow eyes…)
jerry on 02 Nov 2009 at 4:42 pm #
HAHA, I AGREED WITH CHEEKY, THAT’S WHAT I AM THINKING TOO, WHAT RELATIONSHIP HAS CHW WITH PAUL? OR ANY OF THE MANAGEMENT STAFF TO ALSO GET THIS TYPE OF HIGH PROFILE PROMOTION AND GIVEN THE MOST EXTRAORDINARY ROLE SO THAT HE CAN WIN BEST ACTOR EVERY YEAR, DEPRIVING OTHER GOOD ACTORS TO TAKE IT UP AND WIN BEST ACTOR! I PITY OTHER GOOD ACTOR LIKE HUANG WENYONG, RAYSON TAN, ZHU HAOREN, WHO ARE JUST AS GOOD, OR IF NOT EVEN BETTER THAN THIS CHW.
(Paul: CHW made ordinary roles ‘extraordinary’, many others would have simply played those roles and well…making ordinary roles ordinary lor…)
Carmen on 02 Nov 2009 at 6:00 pm #
i really like chw, because he’s very versatile, but i do feel strongly that mediacorp should give more of such roles to other actors. for the past dunno-how-many drastic roles, they’ve all been given to chw (with the exception of tph’s role in baby bonus). i’m sure other actors will be able to become just as versatile as chw if given the chance. the problem is, they aren’t given chances. mediacorp shouldn’t just groom one actor; they should try to groom all their actors if they don’t want people to look down on local dramas anymore. having one very good actor in the middle of all the other average actors will not look very good in our talent base. i’m quite sure he’ll win best actor during star awards 2010, because he’ll be nominated for this role and his role in daddy at home, but will he feel like he really really deserved it? i’m sure he does, but with fairer competition, it would make him more deserving of the award. (of course it’s not his fault that he’s given all these roles, so i’m still going to support him (: i just think that mediacorp should review they role-allocations. they also shouldn’t over-tax a single actor.)
paul, what’s your response?
(Paul: Of course he does deserve it…all roles were ‘ordinary’ until CHW made them ‘extraordinary’. Give similar roles to anyone and that anyone would possibly make it less than ‘extraordianry’)