‘Best birthday gift’: Actress Michelle Chia marries 41-year-old boyfriend before 50th birthday

SINGAPORE – Home-grown actress Michelle Chia has tied the knot with her non-celebrity boyfriend Jackson Chen, after they dated for more than two months.

The news was first reported by Chinese-language evening daily Shin Min Daily News on Aug 9.

The couple held their wedding on an Indonesian island on Aug 8. They chose the date as it is easy to remember and they can celebrate future anniversaries along with National Day, which falls on Aug 9. Eight is also a favourite number among the Chinese community, as it symbolises prosperity. 

Chia, who turns 50 on Sept 19, told Shin Min: “I didn’t expect the biggest gift (my husband) would show up so suddenly in my life... The wedding on Friday was the best birthday gift I could ask for.”

They chose the wedding venue as it holds great significance for them. The couple celebrated Mr Chen’s birthday there in February.

The wedding was attended by about 40 family members and close friends, including artistes Jesseca Liu, Apple Hong, Priscelia Chan and Jayley Woo – Chia’s co-stars from local TV series The Queen (2016).

The wedding expenses were covered by Mr Chen, 41, a real estate consultant.

“One of his wedding gifts was a five-minute fireworks show at the reception,” Chia told Chinese-language daily Lianhe Zaobao in a separate interview. “I wept for a full five minutes while watching it.”

Chia, who said in an interview with Shin Min in 2016 that she had no plans to remarry, told Zaobao that Mr Chen changed her perspective on marriage. She was married to Malaysian actor Shaun Chen, 46, between 2009 and 2011.

“Our relationship is like that of close friends,” Chia said of Mr Jackson Chen. “We look forward to coming home every day after work, staying home together, watching TV and chatting about life. We drink coffee together in the morning and can chat non-stop for one or two hours.

“He takes very good care of me, and our communication gives me a strong sense of security as well as confidence in our marriage.”

Mr Chen took part in Mediacorp’s talent contest Star Search in 2007 and won the Mr Personality title, but left the TV station within a year.

He and Chia first met in 2008, but their paths did not cross often over the years. In September 2024, he wished her a happy birthday via a text message. Soon after, they met for coffee along with a mutual friend, but there was no spark at that time.

It was not until 2025 that the couple began to interact more frequently, often meeting for coffee and chatting for four to five hours.

“It felt like being a student again,” Chia said. “We talked about everything, including our ideals and philosophies in life, growing and learning from each other. We realised we are really alike: I am the female version of him, and he is the male version of me.”

Their first date was at National University of Singapore’s UTown, which was also where Mr Chen proposed to her. His sister, brother-in-law, nieces and nephews were also present on the day of the proposal. 

On their age gap, Chia said she does not feel like she is approaching 50, both in spirit and appearance. She added that she has many aspirations and remains energetic and positive.

Mr Chen affirmed that what he requires in a partner is spiritual compatibility, and that nothing else matters.

The couple currently have no plans for a honeymoon. Chia will fly to Beijing for filming, before travelling to India with friends in September.

“My husband cannot accompany me due to work commitments. But I’ll be back a few days before my birthday,” she said.

Correction note: In an earlier version of the story, we said that Michelle Chia is married to Jackson Tan. He has since clarified that his name is legally “Jackson B. Chen” and is no longer “Jackson Tan”.