Sharon Liew

Before I retired as a school teacher, I would never have dreamed of being an actress. It was expected that one had to be young and beautiful to be in front of the camera and to be in the limelight. And I didn’t have the opportunity, nor the time or effort to try acting as a hobby. 

So when my husband and I retired, I remember applying for a part-time job at a Chinese dessert shop but was rejected as they said I was too old! I wasn’t offended, and the truth is, I felt like I could still do a lot for a 58-year old.

We then discovered a club called ‘Young at Heart’ – where seniors can come together to participate in social learning, social action and social movement activities. During one of the activities, I got to know my current acting coach, Catherine, who leads the Glowers Drama Group. Through her, I was introduced to the world of acting, and she gave me lots of advice and even opportunities to act in short films, TV series, where I met people from various backgrounds and cultures. 

At the beginning, I was rather enticed by the beautiful costumes and make-up that came with the territory of acting. I was selected to play the part of Madam White Snake, and it was a very memorable experience as I’ve never had the opportunity to wear period costumes, with make-up that made me look so beautiful. 

However, I soon learned that acting isn’t always a bed of roses. I was casted in a couple of roles which required me to look really old, and one such role was that of a rag-and-bone lady who collects cardboard for a living. In that role, I had to film over 3 days and up till 2am in the morning every day! There was also a rain machine, drenching me from head to toe, and by the time we wrapped for the day, I was cold and shivering. It was truly an experience I couldn’t have gotten anywhere else in my life. And when I eventually saw the programme being aired on TV, I was filled with pride for days after!

Acting gives me the confidence to try different things in life, for example volunteer work, which have brought me closer to the community. I have read storybooks to children at the National Library, engaged a group of elderly people in weekly song and dance sessions, and I’ve even gone to the Turf Club to share problem-gambling messages. In these volunteer sessions you get to interact with different people from all walks of life, even those who are not receptive to you. But as time goes on you will learn to to deal with them, and I believe my thick-skin and acting experience helped.

Looking back, I am really glad that I didn’t get the job at the Chinese dessert shop, or else I wouldn’t have had all these invaluable experiences! Whether it’s acting or volunteer work, I am really having a lot of fun. You never know where life takes you, and sometimes all it takes is a little gesture or an action, to begin an amazing journey.