Sharply dressed and standing at attention in uniform, with a gorgeous rainbow in the background for the photoshoot at Marina Barrage, Paige Chua looked every bit the Republic of Singapore Navy officer she plays in upcoming Channel 8 drama series When Duty Calls.
The former national netball player-turned-model-turned-actress plays Captain (CPT) Sim Yi Xuan in the series, a collaboration with the Ministry of Defence and the Ministry of Home Affairs to commemorate the 50th anniversary of National Service.
To get her character down pat, Paige watched YouTube videos on Navy personnel and their training. She felt that the no-nonsense character of CPT Sim, whom she described as a tough cookie, is the closest she's played to her real personality.
"I think I'm quite similar (to my character) because I'm so work-oriented. And when I'm off duty, I have my own hobbies that I focus on. I draw a clear line between my work and personal life."
She got the rare opportunity to film on board Landing Ship Tank RSS Endurance and patrol vessels RSS Justice and RSS Freedom. "I remember seeing so many warships at the naval base. They looked like something out of a movie! I was in awe of them."
One of the challenges she faced while filming was her fight scenes. "The first few scenes, I had a hard time and even had bruises. I prepared myself mentally and subsequently, it was better. But I definitely won't look like Bruce Lee anytime soon," she said with a laugh.
The actress also has a newfound understanding of the life that Navy personnel lead. "It's definitely very disciplined. They have to sail for weeks, sometimes months, so it's tough not just on themselves but also their family members."
