Comedy Couch: Q&A with Singapore’s rising star Glory Ngim

You’ve probably seen her theatrics on TV or laughed at one of her wisecracks on Youtube. She’s also appeared in commercials for BMW, Citibank, Diva Universal, KFC, SingTel and countless others. Yahoo! Singapore has called her  one of the “next big things” and we couldn’t agree more. Glory Ngim may just be the fastest rising star on the Singaporean comedy scene. The actress, host and singer was identified as a “young and hot” triple threat by Timeout Magazine back in 2014, and judging by her recent accomplishments in the industry, it looks like Miss Ngim is living up to everyone’s expectations.

Glory’s ability to play a wide variety of characters attests to her talent as an actor. In What Do Men Want?, which just wrapped up its first season on Channel 5, she played Jane, the romantic lead, best friend and potential love interest to two middle-aged bachelors. On stage, Glory has played the free-spirited Adela in W!LD Rice’s The House of Bernarda Alba which showed in March 2014.  Her other notable roles include lawyer-playwright Eleanor in Theatreworks/ Esplanade’s ‘National Broadway Company’, hapless small town girl Kathy in Dream World Productions’ ‘Company’, and one of the 8 Ting Tong Belles of Dream Academy’s musical spoof show Crazy Christmas: Ting Tong Belles.

All that aside, the gorgeous actress radiates warmth and is a bag of laughs (well naturally!). Her easy going demeanour puts everyone at ease and she’s not one of those bona fide actresses with a long list of topics she won’t talk about. Not one to forget her humble roots, the actress credits her conventional education at MGS and ACJC which gave her ample exposure and experience in the performing arts.

Marie France Asia managed to get hold of the busy actress and have a candid chat with her to see why she’s undoubtedly one to watch when it comes t the entertainment scene in Singapore.

Marie France Asia: How did you get into this line of work?

Glory Ngim: I was a gregarious child, and my relatives used to joke that I would grow up to be a lawyer because I “talked so much”. But I knew from an early age that I just enjoyed telling stories and entertaining people. I was 10 when I did my first musical, 18 when I started auditioning for professional shows. Over time, I went from acting on stage, to television, film and commercials, and hosting for television and events.

MFA: What can you tell us about the comedy scene in Singapore?

GN: It’s a small scene that’s growing. There are stand up and sketch comedy acts as well as online groups. I enjoy watching acts like Rishi Budhrani, Fakkah Fuzz, Sharul Channa, Kumar, Broadway Beng, Hossan Leong, Dim Sum Dollies and Wah!Banana, and have been meaning to check out Comedy Masala, a weekly stand up comedy event.

MFA: What is it like being a woman in this field? Is it any more challenging?

GN: I think it’s an unsaid consensus that in the media, women are subject to more intense scrutiny of our looks/ appearance, by both male and female audiences. The (acting) career lifespan for women is also shorter, because there tend to be more roles written for middle aged and/or older men, than there are for women.

MFA: Tell us more about your new web series Wah Lau!

GN: It’s a new web series on speaking Singlish. You find out the meanings of, and how to correctly pronounce Singlish terms (if you didn’t already know how to), as well as the origins behind the terms. So it’s a show for both the newcomer to Singapore and Singaporean culture, and for Singaporeans who don’t know how these slang terms came about.

MFA: What do you think audiences can look forward to in this production?

GN: Laughs and giggles as you embrace your inner Singaporean!

MFA: Do you prefer to take on more serious roles or is being a goof more your thing?

GN: I’m so serious. Can’t you tell?

MFA: Any other upcoming projects we should look out for?

GN: I will be hosting at the 2015 SEA Games and am one of the roving hosts on Channel 5’s ‘The 5 Show’. Come on down during the games and support your favourite athletes!!! Look out also for commercials that I did recently with KFC, Citibank Citigold and Sapporo Beer.

MFA: What are some good Singaporean shows you’d recommend?

GN: Check out “What Do Men Want?”, a rom-com-drama series I acted in, that aired recently on Channel 5. I have to say the series was really finely written, and I think viewers will appreciate the humour. All the 13 episodes of Season 1 are now available online on Xin MSN and Toggle. I’m also looking forward to watching “Public Enemy” by W!LD Rice in April 2015, and “Dim Sum Dollies: The History of Singapore Part 1” by Dream Academy in June 2015.

Karen George