I want to be the best mummy, says Fann Wong

The actress returns to work three months after having a baby and is okay that baby gets all the attention now

Actress Fann Wong is fine about losing the limelight she and her husband, actor Christopher Lee, used to get to their first child, three-month-old son Zed (above). -- PHOTO: FACEBOOK
Actress Fann Wong is fine about losing the limelight she and her husband, actor Christopher Lee, used to get to their first child, three-month-old son Zed (above). -- PHOTO: FACEBOOK
Actress Fann Wong is back on the film set with her first TV drama since giving birth three months ago. -- PHOTO: DIOS VINCOY JR FOR THE STRAITS TIMES

Actress Fann Wong is fine about losing the limelight she and her husband, actor Christopher Lee, used to get to their first child, three-month-old son Zed.

She says whenever people spotted Lee on the streets in the past, they would immediately look around to see if she was also around. These days, they have little interest in the couple.

"Now, their immediate reaction when they see Christopher is not to look for me. Their immediate reaction is to look downwards around him, to see if they can spot our baby," she tells Life! on Friday morning.

The actress is back at work, filming My Secret App, her first TV drama since the birth of her child. In the 13-episode family drama, which began shooting on Friday, she plays a secondary school gymnastics coach who escapes from her mundane life by imagining herself as the woman at the centre of romantic Korean dramas. The series is StarHub's first public service broadcast drama.

Despite Fann's swift return to work, it seems her priorities have changed in favour of family.

Asked if she is eager to snag an acting award to match her husband's recent Best Actor triumph at Taiwan's prestigious Golden Bell Awards, she replies with a chuckle: "No lah, I only wish to get the award for Best Mummy."

She says that she will be picky in her choices of roles.

"I accepted this current role because the story seemed quite fun, it's a relatively short series and, most importantly, I get to stay in Singapore the entire time and can spend more time with my baby. I don't think I want to travel very much and be away for long periods at a time."

Recently, she filmed an episode of China reality TV series Here Comes The Bride, which features celebrities such as Lin Chi-ling and Charlene Choi going to rural villages to live without cell phones or proper toilet facilities. That was "okay, because it was just for a few days".

"Any more time out of Singapore than that, and I usually have to reject the offers," she adds.

According to her manager seated next to her at the interview, Fann has already had to say no to "so many offers from all across the region that it's embarrassing".

Even while working in Singapore, Fann, 43, admits that she misses her baby whenever she leaves him at home, although she has started to get used to the notion.

"Initially, I used to have major 'withdrawal symptoms' whenever I stepped out of the house. Even when I was just going to see my gynaecologist for two hours, I would be like, 'That's it, I'm done, I need to get back home to see my baby'. Now, I'm a bit better. I'm mentally prepped that I'm back at work."

But why get back to work at all? After all, her husband appears to be doing well enough for the both of them.

"That is a great question. I think I will go home and pose that question to my husband and ask him why I still have to work," she says in jest.

On a more serious note, she adds: "I think I'm a little addicted to acting. I enjoy acting, so I don't want to put it aside completely just yet. This drama won't be the last for me, that's for sure."

Looking svelte and elegant in a green dress, she also reveals that she has lost "most of" her pregnancy weight. "My peak was 70.5kg, but I'm about back to my usual size now," she says, declining to give details of her current weight.

"All I can say is, it's really, really hard to lose weight."

Weight-loss concerns aside, she is staying away from certain foods as she is also breastfeeding, she says.

That means no shellfish, no coffee, and "no popping of champagne".

Then how did the couple celebrate Lee's award win?

She says with a laugh: "Oh, he drank the champagne on his own. I just licked some."

yipwy@sph.com.sg

Follow Yip Wai Yee on Twitter @STyipwaiyee

My Secret App is slated to air on E City (StarHub TV Channel 111/825) next year.

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