Actress Fang Rong hits pause after first lead role: ‘Nice little bookmark in my acting journey’

SINGAPORE – Less than a month before the premiere of Channel 8 fantasy drama Fixing Fate, in which Fang Rong plays her first lead role, the Singaporean actress declared she was leaving acting behind.

In a Sept 5 Instagram post, the 29-year-old announced her “departure from the acting world, for now”.

She told The Straits Times over the phone on Sept 16 that saying goodbye to show business now was ending things on a high.

“It is a nice little bookmark in my acting journey,” she said. “Not a full stop, but a ‘to be continued...’, after a piece of work I am proud of.”

In the 15-episode series, Fang Rong plays a woman who uncovers the secret behind a strange lighter with the ability to transport its user to the past. The show premieres on Channel 8 on Oct 2, and will air on weekdays at 9pm. Also starring Xu Bin, Carrie Wong and Andie Chen, it is available on mewatch from Sept 29.

Fang Rong clarified that she remains a Mediacorp artiste, with the company managing her wholly and working with her on public appearances, social media campaigns and other engagements. The only difference is that she is stepping away from acting projects.

She said: “Some fans might feel I am leaving acting too soon, or that I should capitalise on the momentum of this role.

“But if I continued with that mindset, then I will never be able to pursue other interests. I recognise there is no perfect timing. It just feels like the right time to take this leap of faith.”

Fang Rong would reveal only that she recently pivoted to a “helping profession”, working with a broad spectrum of people, and currently feels very happy.

The former child star said: “It is very different from what I had done my whole life, and I am very excited to see how I can contribute meaningfully to society.”

Regarding her new chapter, she wrote on Instagram that she wanted “to live a life where (she) could be with those in need, reminding them of their goodness, and inspiring healing, growth and self-actualisation”.

She stressed to ST that she is “not trying to be elusive or mysterious” about her new job.

“It is very natural for there to be a spotlight (on what I do), so I am trying to minimise that as much as possible. I want to respect the people I am working with and just not bring so much attention to that space.”

Fang Rong, who has been acting since she was seven and has appeared in dramas such as Dear Neighbours (2019) and The Unbreakable Bond (2022), has a degree in psychology from the University at Buffalo in New York in the United States.

Come 2026, she also plans to take a master’s programme in counselling at a local university. Her interest in the subject stemmed from her visiting a counsellor in her teenage years, which she found to be a transformative and special period in her life.

“Having an adult figure, someone who is skilled in guiding me and believed in me, gave me the confidence and resilience to keep moving forward,” she recalled. Since then, she has always felt particularly drawn to the potential in counselling work.

Fang Rong recently also became a certified yoga teacher, after picking it up in early 2020. “It has a very healing quality – focusing our breath, feeling our body in alignment,” she said. “It is naturally de-stressing and calming, which is what many Singaporeans, like myself, need.”

And will she act again? That would depend on a few factors, she said.

First, the timing would need to work. Second, the role would have to be something she has not tried before or with a director or producer she really wants to work with. “I have not really given it serious thought. But if (the opportunity) comes, I think I will know.”