Malaysian actress Lee Sinje said stepping out of her character in 'The Resurrected' was a huge struggle. Photos: Handout
Malaysian actress Lee Sinje is no stranger to South-East Asian cinema, having captivated fans with her acclaimed performances in films such as The Eye (2002), Re-cycle (2006), The Garden Of Evening Mists (2019) and more.
This year marks a major milestone in her career as she celebrates three decades in entertainment.
To make the occasion even more special, Lee, 49, has taken on a leading role in The Resurrected, her sixth television series, starring opposite Taiwanese actress Shu Qi.
This is the pair’s first time collaborating with one another.
Despite collaborating for the first time, Lee (right) and Taiwanese actress Shu Qi clicked very naturally.“We clicked very quickly since we’re both seasoned actresses,” said Shu at a press conference attended by StarLifestyle in Taiwan.
Lee then chimed in: “When you’re acting alongside such a great person, sparks fly naturally.”
The Resurrected marks Lee’s debut in a Chinese-language Netflix series.
She plays Chao Ching, a mother driven by vengeance after her daughter is brutally murdered by the merciless leader of a scam network.
“Chao Ching’s a powerful, unique and solid Asian female character, and it’s not easy to receive such a profound role,” she told StarLifestyle in an exclusive interview.
Drawing from her own life as a mother of three, Lee – who’s married to Hong Kong film- maker Oxide Pang – said she was able to connect instinctively with Chao Ching’s emotions.
The actress admitted to feeling overwhelmed the first time she read the scene in which her character identifies her daughter’s body.
“I remember asking Caitlin Fang, who plays my daughter, for a photo of her as a child.
“I kept it in my hotel room and looked at it every day to create memories between us.
“In that scene, I was patting her forehead like how I do with my own son, so it was very sad.”
The weight of Chao Ching’s emotions made stepping out of character a struggle for Lee.
To safeguard her mental health, she would retreat to a dark room after filming ended.
“It helps me pull myself out of those heavy emotions... It’s painful to film scenes where my character tortures people,” she added.
Challenging experience
The Resurrected presents a web of complex characters – including the protagonists’ chirpy neighbour Pong, played by Thai star Sukollawat Kanarot (better known as Weir), and the ruthless scam kingpin Chang Shih-kai, played by Taiwanese actor Fu Meng-po.
Both actors told StarLifestyle that bringing their characters to life was no easy feat.
For Fu, getting into character wasn’t the most taxing part as he had ample time to prepare while sitting in the makeup chair.
Taiwanese actor Fu Meng-po says the technical aspects of playing Chang Shih-kai was more challenging than getting into character.“When I look at myself in the mirror with the fake wounds, I already look miserable, so that gives me a lot of time to develop the necessary emotions,” the 38-year-old said with a grin.
Once fully immersed in the role, however, the intensity of Fu’s character often left him drained.
“It felt like challenging the unknown, but once you succeed, the sense of accomplishment is incredible,” he said.
Fu vividly recalled filming the execution scene in the first episode, noting just how immersive the experience felt.
“When I was lifted up (onto the execution table), everyone’s eyes were on me, and it really felt like I was about to (die).
“Even the nurse beside me said my heartbeat rose to 120... The sense of realism then was so overwhelming!”
As for Weir, one of the biggest challenges was striking a balance between Pong’s cheerful side and the darker aspects of his character.
Thai actor Weir stars as Pong, a cheerful neighbour who also harbours a dark side.“In the first few episodes, Pong may seem like a good neighbour who always helps others.
“However, there’s another side to him which you’ll only see near the end of the series.
“Balancing the character’s (contrasting personalities) was a lot of work, but I’ve done my best,” the 40-year-old said.
Different image
Meanwhile, Thai-German singer-actor Patrick Nattawat Finkler said The Resurrected marks a departure from his usual sunny on-screen image.
He plays Eason, a young man who frequently crosses paths with Shu’s character Wang Hui-chun, at the hospital where her daughter and his grandmother are receiving treatment.
“I’ve mostly played bright high schoolers, but this series explores much heavier themes,” the 21-year-old told StarLifestyle.
Thai-German star Patrick Nattawat Finkler takes on his first-ever 'heavy' role in his latest Netflix series.To prepare, Finkler diligently studied the script, trained for his action sequences and took the initiative to develop the backstory for his character.
“I discussed the script with the director and created lots of additional details for Eason.
“I wrote down many things – from how he grew up, his relationship with his parents and his relationship with his grandmother,” he said.
The actor recalled a memorable moment on set when he faced off against his co-star, Taiwanese actress Liu Chu-ping in a particularly intense scene.
“We spent a lot of time preparing for it... Everyone on set was shouting and building up their energy beforehand.
“When the cameras finally rolled, everything just clicked.
“The intensity and the performance turned out even better than we imagined.”
All nine episodes of The Resurrected are available on Netflix.
