Jeremy Chan will win Best Actor, Kym Ng will win Best Actress and our other predictions for Star Awards 2024
Star Awards season is upon us once again, and so it’s time to look back on the standout performances of the past year and predict who will go home with a coveted trophy.
Blockbuster drama All That Glitters swept three trophies —Best Drama Serial, Best Director and Best Screenplay — at the Star Awards 2024 Gala Night on Monday night (Apr 15).
Will its cast — Chantalle Ng, Desmond Tan, Jeremy Chan, and Zhang Zetong — reap equally fruitful returns too?
Or will Andie Chen, who's nominated for both Best Actor and Best Supporting Actor, finally walk away with his first Star Awards acting trophy?
8days.sg and three industry insiders, who shall remain anonymous, attempt to predict who will emerge winners this Sunday (Apr 21).
Best Actor
Andie Chen - Silent Walls
Chen Han Wei - Whatever Will Be, Will Be
Desmond Tan - All That Glitters
Jeremy Chan - All That Glitters
Richie Koh - Cash On Delivery
INDUSTRY WATCHER: “It’s probably going to be Jeremy. The fight’s between Desmond, Jeremy and Richie. Richie’s the most natural of them all, but it’s hard — practically impossible, even for himself — to outdo his performance in Your World in Mine, so judges are not going to be particularly surprised however great he was (I cried!). Desmond was good, but you can’t help but feel he carries a bit of 'idol baggage'. Meanwhile Jeremy just went all out, and judges are likely to reward that. I hope Jesseca cries!”
INDUSTRY INSIDER: “I predict Jeremy will win, given his stable performance in his first lead role.
However, my personal preference is Richie. Although this wasn’t a breakthrough performance like last year, Richie has proven that he’s not a one-trick pony, delivering consistently excellent performance that is a true inspiration to younger actors. However, the judges may have such a deep impression of his last performance that this may pale in comparison.”
MEDIACORP ACTOR: “I think the race is between Richie and Jeremy. I teared up watching both their performances.”
8DAYS’ PICK! While we think Richie, who is undoubtedly the best and most unaffected actor of his generation, should win again for his frank performance as a resourceful loan shark runner who pretends to be a food delivery rider to collect debts during Covid, we believe the award will go to Jeremy for the showier role. His heartwrenching turn as a simple-minded, stupidly loyal odd job labourer is awards bait and the actor delivered and then some.
Best Actress
Chantalle Ng - All That Glitters
Jernelle Oh - Cash On Delivery
Joanne Peh - SHERO
Kym Ng - Till The End
Rui En - Oppa Saranghae!
INDUSTRY WATCHER: “I’m voting for Kym. It’s like how Best Actor Christopher Lee snagged Best Programme Host at SA2023. Judges are going to be impressed by how natural this Best Host was in the role, and that alone increases her odds.
INDUSTRY INSIDER: “I pick Jernelle. Jernelle’s outstanding performance is especially impressive, given her limited experience compared to the other nominees in this highly competitive category.”
MEDIACORP ACTOR: “I think Kym will snag the win. It’s not easy acting in a role that requires her to be funny and emotional at the same time, and she did it really well.”
8DAYS’ PICK! Jernelle's unforgettable turn as a food delivery person with cerebral palsy made what was essentially a supporting role into an integral part of Cash On Delivery — the best drama of the year to us. It's a pity that she's going up against Kym, whose turn as a dead woman who returns as a spirit to fulfil her unfinished business, showed off both her comedy and dramatic chops. If there's anyone who can be hilarious and moving at the same time, it's Kym.
Best Supporting Actor
Andie Chen - Whatever Will Be, Will Be
Darren Lim - SHERO
Peter Yu - Cash On Delivery
Zhang Zetong - All That Glitters
Zhu Houren - Till The End
INDUSTRY WATCHER: “It’s going to be Zetong. Richard Mo was despicable yet charismatic, vile yet believable, and he didn’t let his boyish dimples get in the way of his villainy. There’s no fight here.
INDUSTRY INSIDER: “I think it will go to Zetong. Jernelle aside, this is arguably the most surprising and memorable performance of the year. Zetong has shown that he’s not just a pretty face, and is in fact a highly versatile actor.”
MEDIACORP ACTOR: “Zetong’s turn as the villainous Richard Mo in All That Glitters stands out — he portrayed the wickedness of the character so well!”
8DAYS’ PICK! If there's a sure bet this year, it's Zetong. His wickedly good performance as the baddie of All That Glitters brought the drama and the high camp factor, blazing the scene every time he was on screen. A win here will prove that those judges who crowned him Star Search champ in 2019 knew what they were doing.
Best Supporting Actress
Aileen Tan - SHERO
Chen Liping - The Sky Is Still Blue
Hong Hui Fang - Strike Gold
Jin Yinji - Cash On Delivery
Ya Hui - Family Ties
INDUSTRY WATCHER: “I really hope it’s Jin Yinji. Here's hoping the judges would make up for the 76-year-old’s disappointment [in not making the Most Popular shortlist] with this arguably more prestigious award. She’s always been an exceptional supporting actress. Richie, who played her grandson, couldn’t have touched our hearts if she didn’t do so first.”
INDUSTRY INSIDER: “My vote is for Aileen. Among the rather muted performances in a historically competitive category, Aileen probably edges out because of the unexpected twist in SHERO’s storyline involving her character.”
MEDIACORP ACTOR: “I have so much love for Jin Yinji. She definitely deserves a win for her moving performance in Cash On Delivery.”
8DAYS’ PICK! Who wouldn't be thrilled to see Jin Yinji take home the award? It’s impossible not to root for the veteran actress who has been in the business for almost four decades. Her role as a doting, diligent grandma who dies from Covid — the most heartbreaking death scene of the year — is just the cherry on top.
Best Programme Host (Entertainment & Infotainment)
Chen Shu Cheng - Foodie Trio
Darren Lim - Fixer 4
Guo Liang - The Zoe and Liang Show
Kym Ng - Old Taste Detective S4
Quan Yifeng - Hear U Out S4
INDUSTRY WATCHER: “I hope it’s Darren Lim. The subject matter of Fixer – to have dived into the mafia scene in Italy and bride markets in Bulgaria, etc. – is infinitely more challenging and treacherous than any of the other shows, which I hope will be rewarded.”
INDUSTRY INSIDER: “My pick is Yifeng — she’s consistently shown her great hosting skills, coupled with her on-screen humour that others can never imitate.”
MEDIACORP ACTOR: “Yifeng-jie is someone whom I’ve worked with many times. I really admire her skills and love her way of hosting, and her work in Hear U Out is no exception.”
8DAYS’ PICK! The severely underrated Darren needs to be recognised for his work in Fixer, a show that draws attention to social issues from around the region that have been overlooked or ignored. His outburst of raw emotion when meeting kids afflicted by war in Sulu, Philippines was one of the most touching onscreen moments of the year.
You can head down to mediacorp.sg/starawards/nominees to vote for your favourite artistes.
Catch the Backstage LIVE event of Star Awards 2024 from 3.30pm - 10.30pm on mewatch or Mediacorp Entertainment YouTube Channel on April 21 (Sunday).
The Walk Of Fame will be from 5pm - 6.30pm, on mewatch, Ch 8, Ch U, and Mediacorp Entertainment YouTube Channel on the same day.
It will be followed by the Star Awards 2024 Live Show from 7pm - 10pm on mewatch, Ch 8, Ch U, and Mediacorp Entertainment YouTube Channel.
The repeat telecast for the Walk of Fame and Award Ceremony will air on Ch 8 from 2pm - 6.30pm on April 28 (Sunday).
Photos: Mediacorp, mewatch
