|
By Michael SJ LIM
All it takes is a few minutes to fall for Malaysian model-actress
Carmen Soo. This we found out during our interview with the lead
female star of the new soap opera “Kahit Isang Saglit,” a
Philippine-Malaysian
co-venture currently attracting viewers on the
ABS-CBN channel.
Soo has only a few more weeks left working on
this daily drama, having started during the end of the Philippine
summer months but she has only good words for this experience she
calls, “priceless.”
“I feel very fortunate to have been tapped to
play the lead female character of the drama series amongst the many
talented actors we have in Malaysia. Moreover, I got to experience a
different work set-up and I must say that Filipino actors are a
talented lot,” she enthuses, flashing out a distinctive molar to
molar—smile—that catapulted her to fame in photoshoots around
Asia.
Soo, who was born and raised in Petaling Jaya in
Malaysia, started her modeling career at the age of 17 and found her
place in the very competitive runways and photo studios of Hong
Kong. “Sometimes it takes courage to explore an entirely new
environment where you don’t know anyone. But that’s the beauty
and excitement of life, you are brought to a place to discover
things that will make you happy and fulfilled, and hopefully make
you a better person,” she says, unraveling a deeper side of her.
With her beautiful face gracing the cover pages
and inside spreads of lifestyle magazines and fashion billboards,
Soo made people take a second look at her and before she knew it,
she found herself being featured in the music videos of Hong Kong
singing superstars Jacky Cheung, Aaron Kwok and Tony Leung.
“Those were wonderful opportunities for any
starting actor to work with big name celebrities, so all I did was
to seize every moment and work things from there,” she explains,
citing her debut acting project in the Philippines as one big chance
for her to improve as an actor.
She adds,“ When the offer [to work in this
joint venture between Star Cinema of the Philippines and Double
Visions of Malaysia] was made and the deal was sealed, I got all
excited. Jericho [Rosales] has become quite a name in Malaysia
because of his drama series Pangako Sa Yo and I saw this as a chance
to broaden my perspective as an actor.”
Soo admits that she experienced what she calls
“initial culture shock” since the timing of her first few weeks
of work coincided with the much-talked about breakup between her
leading man and his ex-girlfriend Heart Evangelista. “I was
suddenly being tagged as the cause of their separation which I knew
nothing about. But I guess everything is part and parcel of being in
show business here in the Philippines.”
The 29-year-old reiterates that he bears no
guilt in the failure of her leading man’s romance. “To each his
own,“ she breaks into a smile,“ and adds,“ If it was me and if
the rumors that we are creating beautiful music together is true,
then I guess you will see it. Love is something too beautiful to
hide, emotions are something that should be nurtured and shouldn’t
be destroyed by concealing.”
Soo, who is a quarter British, a quarter Chinese
and half Malay, shares that she has also broken up with her
boyfriend for sometime now and that she is enjoying the
“privileges of being free and happy.”
“Love is something that you don’t push to
the limits. Romance is something that involves two people. When one,
or both, no longer continue to be happy and become better, then it
is time to go on separate ways.”
In the meantime, Soo tells us that she is very
happy working on her role and that the only complain she has is not
getting enough sleep. “To have a complete eight-hour rest has
become an exception more than a rule, but the tradeoffs are worth
it. I have never enjoyed the company of such brilliant actors and
I’d be happy to do another project here in the Philippines.”
When work is done, Soo plans to take some time
off to go to Boracay, and other places of fun and peace in the
Philippines. Who knows, by that time, she has already found someone
to accompany her to enjoy the scenic spots of this country.
|
