Hong Huifang finds new heights at 64 with Hainanese opera singer role

Veteran local actress Hong Huifang is busier than ever in a period of her life when she thought she would be resting.

- John Lui

"I thought I would be retired by now," says the 64-year-old, who enjoyed a 40-year career starring in series such as The Unbeatables (1993) and The Price Of Peace (1997).

"I felt I had reached a plateau and could not go any further. I thought only young people had opportunities, and there was none left for me."

Hong was speaking to The Straits Times at a media event in York Hotel Singapore to promote the SG60 anthology film Kopitiam Days.

Then the drama Ajoomma (2022) happened, in which she starred as a widow who becomes stranded in South Korea and embarks on a journey of self-discovery. The film, helmed by Singaporean director He Shuming, earned Hong a Best Leading Actress nomination at the Golden Horse Awards.

Following that achievement, the idea of retirement was shelved.

Her latest projects include local film A Good Child, opening on Oct 9; Taiwanese supernatural series Haunted House Secrets, which aired in June; and the Singapore-Thai mystery thriller series Decalcomania, to be released in 2026.