Nine-year-old Singaporean Ong Xuan Jing has clinched the Best Actress title at the Malaysia Golden Global Awards, presented during the closing ceremony of the 9th Malaysia International Film Festival (MIFFest) on July 25.
The win, for coming-of age drama Ah Girl (2026), marks the second international acting accolade for the Primary 4 student in 2026.
At the 50th Hong Kong International Film Festival (HKIFF) in April, she took home the Firebird Award for Best Actress in the Chinese-language Young Cinema Competition, making her the youngest Best Actress recipient in HKIFF history, surpassing high-profile contenders including Golden Horse Best Supporting Actress winner Hao Lei and Taiwanese star Ariel Lin.
For the MIFFest Best Actress title, Xuan Jing - who makes her acting debut in Ah Girl and was just seven during production - tied with 21-year-old Swiss actress Lila Gueneau for historical French drama Silent Rebellion (2025).
The other nominees in their category included Taiwan’s singer-actress 9m88, Sudanese model-actress Buliana Simon and Czech actress Katerina Falbrova.
Speaking after the award ceremony held in Kuala Lumpur, the child star expressed surprise at the historic joint win, describing the moment to local Chinese-language daily Lianhe Zaobao as feeling “like a dream”.
She credited her co-stars – Mediacorp artistes Carrie Wong and James Seah, who portray her parents in Ah Girl – for their patience and guidance on set.
“They shared their acting experience, which helped me get into character,” Xuan Jing said, adding that she maintains discipline to balance her schoolwork and acting career.
The story centres on seven-year-old Swee Swee, affectionately known as Ah Girl, and her five-year-old sister Ah Tian (Sydney Wong) as they navigate the turmoil of their parents’ painful divorce and separation. Shuttle-cocked between two strained homes, Ah Girl is forced to grow up far too quickly while observing the confusing, broken adult world around her.
Ah Girl is slated to be released in Singapore later in 2026. – The Straits Times/ANN
