Oon Shu An Dives Into The Highs And Lows Of Her Life

The Singapore thespian dives into the highs and lows of her life

- Hayley Tai

Not many people can enter a crowded room and bring such an aura with them. In this room, one woman captivates everyone from the moment she steps in, effortlessly displaying a range of expressions and emotions before the camera, which speaks volumes of her fine pedigree in drama.

The protagonist is Oon Shu An.

Her oeuvre stands out for its versatility – she has displayed her magnificent artistic range in more than 30 films and plays. Some may remember the Singapore thespian for the role that catapulted her into Hollywood, that of a bewitching concubine in Netflix’s historical epic, Marco Polo.

She is also recognised for her portrayal of a cleavage-baring Japanese porn star in Han Yew Kwang’s sex comedy film, Rubbers, and her role as a hard-nosed attorney in the Channel 5 legal drama, Code of Law.

More recently, she had an unforgettable outing as the university lecturer who embarked on a liaison with a student in Pangdemonium’s fiery play, This is What Happens to Pretty Girls, which was scripted in the wake of the #metoo movement.

Next up, the 32-year-old will star in the Toggle web series, I’m Madam, where she plays a beauty blogger who joins the army.

The real Shu An emerges during the interview – the vivacious viral sensation of the ongoing Tried and Tested Youtube beauty episodes by Clicknetwork, and her solo play and Youtube series, #Unicornmoment, produced with Checkpoint Theatre in 2014.

#Unicornmoment, which has a strong following of teens and young adults, explores the themes of family, love and personal identity. The script is no fluffy fantasy – it was nominated for Best Original Script at The Straits Times Life! Theatre Awards 2015, and the solo play was also brought to schools.

The petite actress strides confidently towards you with a smile, tucks herself into her seat, and makes you feel that she is comfortable talking about anything.