Fiona Xie was one of the main leading actresses (Jeanette Aw is the other lead) specially chosen for the year end 台庆剧 2009’s Anniversary drama ‘Together 当我们同在一起’ . Filming is due to start  (lensing ceremony at 10am), Fiona had already read the scripts and done up her imaging with a new set of clothes specially tailor-made for her (she has the most number of fashionable wears in the drama) but…

“With regrets, Fiona Xie has to pull out of this blockbuster to attend to some urgent personal matters,” says the official reply from her manager.

Fiona was given the role of Huang Jing Hao – someone who is beautiful, sexy and materialistic. This is the favorite role of our dear writer Ang Eng Tee (who wrote ”The Little Nyonya’). It is one of those roles that will leave a strong impression and probably get the artiste a nomination for Best Actress in Star Awards 2010 (if played well). It is a difficult and challenging role as the actress must be able to win over the audience’s sympathy at the end and not end up becoming a subject of much hatred.

With her sudden withdrawal, the production team has jumped into an emergency mode to look for a worthy replacement. Within such a short time, this replacement must be credible enough to lead the drama, digest the entire 35 episodes of scripts faster than any other existing artistes in the show (who started reading the scripts more than 3 weeks ago) and tailor-make a whole new set of wardrobe. I understand that several actresses within and outside MediaCorp are being considered now…

It is a pity that Fiona has withdrawn from it as such a role doesn’t come by easily. The replacement actress will be one lucky gal. It is also one role which will come with alot of pressure to do well, maybe to prove to everyone out there that she is worthy to be the ‘IT’ actress for the coveted role, not just a ‘Fiona’s replacement’.

The lensing ceremony will take place at 10am on Wednesday. ‘Together’ is Ch 8’s 46th Anniversary drama written and produced by the same talents behind ‘The Little Nyonya’. Set against the changing landscape of Singapore’s history in the 60s-80s, its cast of young and veterans include such stars as Dai Yang Tian, Elvin Ng, Kola Zhou, Zhang Zhen Huan, Zheng Ge Ping, Hong Hui Fang, Ailen Tan, Lee Wen Hai, Constance Song, etc.

I wll keep all posted on who will become the lucky star soon…by the way, what in your opinion could be the reason Fiona pulled out suddenly and which star is your choice to take over this role?

Loads of online gosips flooding now, here are some from xin.sg:

- DYT revealed that Fiona did express uneasiness about her role

- Because Fiona hated the idea of playing 2nd lead to Jeanette Aw

- Scriptwriter said Fiona probably hated her role

- Fiona’s manager said it was Fiona’s personal reason to withdraw

omy.sg also gossiped:

- Withdrew from drama because Fiona’s pregnant?

Elvin Ng needs one tailor-made role to propel him to the next level as an artiste. He didn’t get voted into Top 10 Most Popular Artistes year after year for nothing. I personally feel this is the role that may change him as an artiste.

As ‘Tarzan’ in the drama, Elvin will play someone who is brash, courageous but naive. Often manipulated by others, he is easily distracted and doesn’t succeed in the things he takes up. He harbors big ambitions but easily gives up in the face of difficulties. Tarzan is great buddies with Xiao Bei (DYT) but falls out with him because of their love for Jian Hong (JA). He eventually marries Jian Hong (JA) but never never winning her heart over lor…

Fiona Xie isn’t quitting lah. She is going to play the role the writer loved most – a super vain, sexy and materialistic vamp.

She plays Huang Jin Hao, a vain young girl in her prime who’s bubbly, pretty and fashionable. Always dreaming of a better life, she doesn’t want to be cooped up working in a coffeeshop. Naive, she is often lucky to have Xiao Bei (DYT) who protects her from being cheated. She makes use of Yao Wu Ji (Zhang Zhen Huan) who’s in love with her, and fights with Jian Hong (JA) for Xiao bei’s affections. she later becomes the cause of Xiao Bei’s downward spiral change of fate…

The writer said Fiona’s role is going to be one which may be much hated by viewers but definitely one which is most ‘human’. He is considering writing the role off resulting in her death…(sounds like a Star Awards potential signature role woah…).

There won’t be real big villains like in ’The Little Nyonya’. The writer and EP are aiming for a new sort of a drama genre where simple folks live simple dreams (with ups and downs of course) in the midst of a changing Singapore in the late 60s-80s. They haven’t decided on the location in Malaysia to shoot the street scenes yet. The supporting roles are still being worked out.

Tomorrow, I will talk about the 3rd pair of lead characters….(meanwhile, you can click the sidebar or below link to check on yesterday’s writeup on the 1st pair of stars – Dai Yang Tian and Jeanette Aw.