Taiwanese actor Hsiu Chieh-kai celebrated his recent birthday away from his family, but together with his reel family in the production Emerald Hill – The Little Nyonya Story.
He is in a Singapore drama for the first time, playing the second son of a wealthy Peranakan family in the spin-off to 2008 hit The Little Nyonya.
He was at the Peranakan Museum on March 6 for a media conference to promote the upcoming Mediacorp series, which premieres on Netflix and mewatch Prime on March 10. It will also air on Channel 8 on weekdays at 9pm from March 19.
Along with other cast members, Hsiu will join a watch party for the series at Jewel Changi Airport on March 7.
He posted a photo of himself with a birthday cake and a bottle of champagne in what looked to be his hotel room and wrote in the caption: “At the age of 42, I really want to make some wishes. I wish for everyone to cherish every day and do their best to embrace themselves and go ahead and do what they want to do.”
Hsiu is married to fellow Taiwanese actress Alyssa Chia, 50, and they have two daughters, aged nine and seven. He is also close to Chia’s daughter from her first marriage, 19-year-old Angel Sun.
He wrote: “My girl group – you are all an important motivation that keeps me going, I love all of you.”
He jokingly referenced an incident that occurred on his birthday in 2024. He and fellow Taiwanese actor Wang Bo-chieh were involved in a physical altercation with some gangsters during a celebration at a karaoke joint. No charges were pressed.
“I didn’t go singing this year, so don’t worry,” he quipped.
The cast of Emerald Hill includes stars like Zoe Tay, Jesseca Liu, Elvin Ng, Romeo Tan and Tasha Low. They celebrated Hsiu’s birthday onstage at the media conference by surprising him and the event host, radio deejay Zhu Zeliang, with cake and the birthday song. Zhu turned 28 on the same day.
Hsiu’s family wished him happy birthday on their social media accounts.
Chia posted two photos of them together on Instagram Stories, including one where he is giving her a piggyback ride under the Northern Lights. She wrote: “Continue to be safe, healthy and happy so you can carry our girl group on your back.”
His stepdaughter, Ms Sun, posted a collage of pictures of Hsiu in an Instagram Story, including one where she hugs him from behind, and another where Hsiu is kissing Chia. She wrote: “Happy birthday, my uncle Hsiu.”
Coincidentally, Hsiu and Chia’s ex-husband – businessman Charles Sun – share the same birthday. Ms Sun posted a similar Instagram Story for her father to wish him happy birthday.
Chia and Mr Sun married in 2005 and divorced in 2010. Chia and Hsiu married in 2015. – The Straits Times/Asia News Network
