Keith Lin

---

Singapore’s Ng Chin Han makes good in Gotham

Ng Chin Han got his start on the Singaporean TV drama, “Masters of the Sea”.

The 38-year-old actor-director has emerged from those ashes to land a plum role as a Hong Kong baddie in the most anticipated movie of the year, The Dark Knight.

Handpicked by highly acclaimed director Christopher Nolan, this Singaporean actor shares the screen with the likes of Christian Bale, Morgan Freeman, and the late Heath Ledger.

After knocking on the doors of Tinseltown for several years and playing supporting roles in mostly indie movies, Ng seems to have finally carved a niche for himself there.

Up next is a role in what promises to be yet another summer blockbuster, director Roland Emmerich’s sci-fi epic 2012.

How did the opportunity for you to land a substantial role in The Dark Knight arise?

I pretty much did it the old school way, auditioning for the film’s casting director John Papsidera. They asked to see the previous work I did, and it took a total of six weeks for them to make a decision.

When I first heard the news, I was very excited that I would get to work with Chris(topher Nolan). He is such a genius and with such an incredible cast, that’s when you know you have your work cut out for you.

What was your first day on the set like?                      

It was terribly exciting. The first thing that caught my eye actually was the Bat Bunker. It was beyond my expectations and better than what I saw in the first film. I realized then that this movie was going to be so much bigger than the first one.

What was it like, working with such an impressive cast? Were you struck by anyone in particular?

It was a joy really. Whether it was Christian or Maggie or Morgan, I felt that they treated me as their peer. Of course, they expected you to perform as their equal, and that’s where the pressure came in. 

Morgan in particular left a deep impression on me. He is a true professional – always the first guy on the set and working every take to perfection. That is something that as actors, we can all learn from.

What do you make of the rumours that Ledger got too immersed in his role as the tormented Joker?

Heath was an immensely talented actor, always creative and inventive. When he was on set, he was The Joker, but when he was off, he was the loveliest guy you could ever meet and talked about his family frequently, especially his daughter.

I worked with him only on a few scenes, but even in those scenes, you could feel that something special was going on there.

Is it harder for Asian actors to break into Hollywood?

The challenge is to land the role, regardless of race, simply because the number of roles compared to the number of actors in Los Angeles is so disproportionate. As an Asian actor, what matters is what you do with the role after getting it, and that’s where stereotypes can be broken.

 What advice would you give to aspiring actors from the region who hope to follow in your footsteps?

Persistence is one thing. As with all crafts, you just need to keep working at it and improve your odds.

 Support is also vital. Family was key for me, because they saw me through the ups and downs of my career. If you could get a group of friends or family or even actors who feel the same as you do to rally around you, it makes the journey so much easier.

Masters of the Sea was derided as a “wannabe American soap opera”. What would you say to critics who dismissed the series?

The show was a necessary first step for local drama. It was the first English drama TV series (in Singapore), so they used the American soap as a template, which didn’t connect with local audiences.

But the truth is that everyone on the set tried to make it work and did their best, and there was success at various levels. The question is not what mistakes were made, but where are we 14 years later, and that question can only be answered by the Singapore public.

What plans do you have after breaking into Hollywood? 

If there’s a good script or good director, I would be on it at the drop of a hat.  Character- driven movies are always very juicy to sink your teeth into, but like The Dark Knight, big action flicks are great fun too.

I have a love affair with romantic comedies too. When Harry Met Sally is my favourite movie of all time, so to be able to take on a part like that would be wonderful.