In the upcoming Channel 5 blockbuster trilogy Mata Mata: The New Era, also known as Mata Mata 2, we will not only be able to relive Rebecca Lim and Pierre Png in their English-speaking roles, various veteran Channel 8 stars have came onboard the drama as well!
Familiar Channel 8 names such as Pan Ling Ling, Chen Tianwen and Priscelia Chan have took up the ‘challenge’ for a English-speaking role in the Channel 5 drama trilogy.
“I have been in Mandarin dramas for over 30 years and learning the script is easy for me. For this, (Mata Mata), I took about a month to prepare and to memorise my lines,” Chen recalled, adding: “I was like Pierre Png during his time in Mandarin dramas; I had to mumble the lines to myself on set to get ready!”
For Pan, she accepted the role as ‘Ah Ying’, Lim’s majie in the drama, when she was undergoing treatments for breast cancer last year.
“I got the notice when I was undergoing my chemotherapy and radiotherapy period. I thought about it for while and finally agreed to it. I was initially afraid of the language so I talked to the executive producers about my concern and they told me I didn’t have to deliver my lines in perfect English,” Pan said.
When asked about her decision to continue acting rather than to rest, the bubbly actress said she wanted to ‘try something new’. “It’s a challenge for me and in the entertainment industry, it’s important to always try something different…. I think I have rested enough too!”
Pan cited ‘working with Rebecca’ as one of the enjoyable moments she had in Mata Mata: The New Era. “I didn’t have a chance to work with Rebecca in Channel 8 and many people have told me good things about her. Now that I have a chance to work closely with her in this drama, she is really ‘guai’ (respectful)!”
Pan wasn’t the only co-actor to sing praises of Lim. “I think what is unique about Rebecca is that she is very organic, and a hardworking actress,” said Cynthia Koh
Rebecca Lim plays lead character Margaret Chin, a quick-witted and savvy newbie in the police force who learns about her past and the truth behind her parents’ death.
On the praises she has from her co-stars, Lim joked cheekily: “I bribed them with drinks in the room earlier!"
“It’s quite a miserable thing if you’re always alone on set all the time. The hours are so long and can get really tiring, so it’s good that you can have a nice environment to work in…I’ve been blessed to work with nice and friendly people so far.”
Radio deejay and host Divian Nair quit his job at 987fm earlier this year to purse filmmaking and other ventures, including acting in Mata Mata. He plays a confident policeman Raj whom Nair said his character was ‘very similar’ to himself.
“1st day of shoot was very nerve-wrecking. I got on set and straight away I saw Pierre and Rebecca filming their scenes. You’re then called up to do your scene and suddenly all the lines were a bit harder to remember,” the 27-year-old actor quipped.
Mata Mata: A New Era also stars Pierre Png, Allan Wu, Priscelia Chan, Dhanya Nambiar, Daren Tan, Rayve Tay and Cavin Soh, premiering 1 September, 8pm on Channel 5!