Hollywood actor Ross Butler explores his Malaysian heritage in the upcoming movie, 'Worth The Wait'.
Hollywood actor Ross Butler has a deep love for Malaysia.
Born to a Malaysian-Chinese mother and an English-Dutch father, Butler, 35, never had the opportunity to truly explore his Malaysian roots.
That is, until he landed a role in the upcoming romantic comedy Worth The Wait, which was partially filmed in Malaysia.
“I love the food, which isn’t great if you’re an actor because you’re eating way too much on set,” he said at a press conference attended by StarLifestyle in Kuala Lumpur.
“I’m also a big durian guy. Growing up, my mum would get the frozen ones from the store. But trying it fresh for the first time was mind blowing for real. I love it!”
While Butler has developed a taste for the King of Fruits, the same can’t be said for his co-star, American actress Lana Condor – best known for her role as Lara Jean in To All The Boys I’ve Loved Before (2018) and its 2020 and 2021 sequels.
According to him, Condor’s less-than-thrilled reaction to trying durian for the first time was one of the funniest moments on set.
“That scene of Lana eating durian for the first time was real, so her reaction was genuine.
“She saw in the script that she would be eating durian, so she saved it for the screen. She did quite well,” said the actor, who was born in Singapore.
Filmed at local hotspots like Batu Caves, Petaling Street and Dataran Merdeka, Worth The Wait aims to promote Malaysia as a world-class travel destination by spotlighting the nation’s diverse culture and natural beauty.
Butler and Lana Condor filmed 'Worth The Wait' across multiple locations in Malaysia. Photo: HandoutWhen asked about his favourite filming location here, the 13 Reasons Why (2017-2020) star chose Batu Caves.
“It’s mainly because of the monkeys and not so much the steps. Another fun fact – Lana is very scared of monkeys, and there was a very big one we had to keep scaring away.”
Authentic Asian stories
Directed by Taiwanese filmmaker Tom Lin Shu-yu, Worth The Wait centres on four Asian-American couples, whose journeys intertwine as they navigate life’s challenges.
There’s Kai (Ross) and Leah (Condor), a couple trying to make a long-distance relationship work; Scott (Andrew Koji) and Amanda (Elodie Yung), who have an on-and-off relationship; Blake (Ricky He) and Riley (Ali Fumiko Whitney), young lovebirds whose romance meets disapproval from Blake’s uncle Curtis (Sung Kang); as well as Nathan (Osric Chau) and Teresa (Karena Lam), a married couple grappling with the aftermath of a miscarriage.
Producer Rachel Tan says part of the story was inspired by her sister who experienced a miscarriage in real life. Photo: Yap Chee Hong/The StarProducers Dan Mark and Rachel Tan said Worth The Wait was nine years in the making.
“Our goal is to give voices to authentic stories that are representative of us Asian people.
“Unlike how most Hollywood productions tend to stereotype Asians as tech geeks or martial arts experts, the characters in this film are just being themselves.
“They fall in love, experience loss and happiness... Those roles could’ve been played by anyone regardless of their ethnicity,” Tan, 43, told StarLifestyle.
One powerful storyline is that of Nathan and Teresa, whose struggle with grief adds emotional depth to this rom-com.
It’s inspired by Tan’s sister, who experienced a miscarriage in real life.
The film sees Canadian actor Osric Chau and Taiwanese-Canadian actress Karena Lam playing a married couple grappling with the aftermath of a miscarriage. Photo: Handout“When she told me about it, I was really sad but could only understand to a certain level as I didn’t have a child of my own,” Tan shared.
“It was only after I had my own child and had my own experience with miscarriage that I truly realised how soul-wrenching it is.”
Though she and her sister initially felt alone in their grief, they later discovered that many other women in their community had endured the same pain.
“They all felt alone too, and that’s why I wanted to show this part of our journey,” she said.
From spouse to best friends
On the topic of motherhood, Singaporean actress Tan Kheng Hua – who plays a mum in Worth The Wait – is no stranger to the role.
Known for portraying maternal characters in shows like Crazy Rich Asians (2018) and Kung Fu (2021-2023), Kheng Hua, 62, said it’s a role she would gladly take on for “the rest of my life”.
Actress Tan Kheng Hua (left) has no issues playing a mother for the rest of her career. Photo: Handout“It’s something very close to my heart because in my real life, my favourite role is being a mother to my daughter.
“Each time I play a mother, I get to dig deeper into a part of my heart and soul.
“All the mothers out there know being a mum is complex and difficult, yet beautiful and joyous,” she said.
For the record, Kheng Hua shares a 23-year-old daughter with her ex-husband, fellow Singaporean actor Lim Yu Beng – who also appears in Worth The Wait as Kai’s father.
Though divorced, the pair – who were married from 1992 to 2017 – remain very close.
“At the time I took on the role, I didn’t know who else was involved (in the movie), including my ex-wife, and we’re best friends in real life,” said Lim, 59.
The actor also spoke fondly about Penang, where his parents are from.
“My favourite Malaysian food is cooked at home, Penang laksa,” he said.
Kheng Hua then chimed in: “His mum cooks the best Penang laksa in the world. She uses two packs of fish, so next time you’re in Singapore, give (Lim) a call!”
Worth The Wait premieres on Aug 7 at cinemas nationwide.
