The newbie is already making a name for herself in China. She was handpicked by Golden Horse Best Actor nominee Zhao Benshan to play the female lead in a new drama series, Dongbei Master, which the actor-turned-director is helming.

Some Channel 8 viewers may remember her from the variety show Way To Go, which she co-hosted with Jeff Wang last year, and Dear, Dear Son-in-law, a drama series where she played Jeanette Aw's youngest sister. The family drama last year also starred Pierre Png.

Chen might arguably still be playing such small roles if she had taken a familiar showbiz route in Singapore - signing on as an artiste with MediaCorp.

Says the actress, who is managed by independent management firm Popstar Media, of her role in the China serial, 'Such an opportunity is very hard to come by. It would have been very difficult for me if I had to compete with more experienced and well-known actresses in MediaCorp.'

With Channel 8's 45th anniversary celebrations just around the corner - the three-hour gala show airs on Nov 23 - is it time for the television station to tweak its tried, tested, and according to fans, flawed system, where it keeps a roster of full-time stars like the old Hollywood studio system?

Read the full story in Friday's edition of The Straits Times' Life!