In Hollywood blockbuster Crazy Rich Asians, the main protagonists Rachel Chu (played by Constance Wu) and Nicholas Young (Henry Golding) are surrounded by grand mansions, interfering relatives and bitchy frenemies. One of them is Francesca, who doles out this snarky line about Rachel: “She’s not even pretty. Hasn’t she heard of plastic surgery?”
In real life, the person who plays Francesca could not be nicer. She is well-known Malaysian actress and model Carmen Soo, who breezes into our shoot on a Saturday afternoon, apologetic about being 15 minutes late. She was held up by Kuala Lumpur’s infamous traffic jam and her mummy duties.
As the makeup artist springs into action, Carmen pumps her breast milk for eight-month-old daughter Bea Claire Tan, while answering queries from this writer. Later, when hairstylist-photographer Albert Nico commands her to strike a seductive pose, Carmen effortlessly switches on a come-hither pose. Talk about an expert at multi-tasking!
With Crazy Rich Asians being a global phenomenon (raking in over US$222mil in box office, with a sequel on the way), the movie has provided a sterling launchpad for its stars.
“Director Jon M. Chu was correct when he described it as more than just a film; it was a movement,” says Carmen, after Pursuit’s shoot was wrapped up. “Everyone involved knew it was a very special project. And for it to be embraced by viewers of all races – not just Asians – around the world, that is especially meaningful.”
Primed for Premiere
In August, Carmen graced the movie’s premiere at the historical TCL Chinese Theatre in California, the United States – and she was blown away by the experience.
“Being cast in a Hollywood production and attending its premiere was a dream come true … checked off my bucket list,” enthuses Carmen, 41. For her Tinseltown debut, she made the conscious decision to wear a Malaysian designer.
“I only decided to go to the premiere one week beforehand, so I went for a few fittings with my stylist (Andrea Kee). At the back of my mind, I knew Melinda Looi would have something that I’d like; she makes whimsical couture with a fantasy element that is wearable.”
True enough, Carmen fell in love with the first dress she tried on at Melinda’s showroom. “I knew immediately it was the one. It just felt right.” Carmen’s instinct proved spot on as her Melinda Looi Couture dress landed her on several best-dressed lists.
Although the Hollywood premiere proved to be memorable, Carmen reveals she actually had reservations about being away for so long from Bea. “I have never been away from her overnight, and this trip required me to be away for six days. There were so many things to worry about, including whether Bea would still recognise me after I came back.”
Crazy Rich Asians also helped to reconnect Carmen with her fans in Hong Kong and the Philippines.
“They have followed my career since my modelling days in HK, and reached out after watching the movie. Most of them were surprised at how bitchy I was in the movie; they said ‘Oh, you’re so good at being mean!” says Carmen with a giggle.
Shooting Crazy Rich Asians, says, Carmen, was “an amazing experience”. She bonded with her cast members (over dinners and karaoke sessions) and formed lifelong friendships. And of course, she got to wear fantastic fashion throughout the movie.
“We all looked forward to our fitting, as the wardrobe room was amazing! It’s like a boutique, with clothes everywhere and rows and rows of shoes and bags. For the wedding scene in the church, I wore a Valentino dress. Ooh, it was beautiful! It fitted me perfectly, and no alteration was needed.”
Not only that, she discovered while filming the movie that she was pregnant with Bea!
“I didn’t know about my pregnancy until a month plus into the movie shoot,” exclaims Carmen.
Beauty and Baby
Bea Claire Tan was welcomed into the world on Feb 9, 2018. This is the first child for Carmen and Benson Tan, who tied the knot in Bali in 2015.
“We didn’t immediately try for a baby after our wedding, nor in the second year. Last year, Benson and I decided to try; we were counting dates and all that.”
At that time, Carmen was acting in Thunderstorm (which co-starred Patrick Teoh and Priscilla Wong), a local play that revolved around a wealthy family’s scandalous shenanigans. Carmen played Fan Yi, a beautiful but venomous lady of the house. “I didn’t want to conceive a baby while I was playing a character who was quite evil,” muses Carmen.
After the play ended in April last year, she acted in Crazy Rich Asians, followed by a return to television. Carmen has a recurring role in popular local sitcom Oh My English! “By then, I was showing a little so I had to find ways to cover up the pregnancy bump,” she recalls with a smile.
“Right after we wrapped Oh My English!, a film I was meant to do was postponed to October, so I had to pull out of it,” she adds.
For a sought-after thespian, who has acted in Malaysia, Singapore and the Philippines (where she gained immense popularity in Filipino soap opera Kahit Isang Sagit), Carmen had absolutely no reservation about taking a break from showbiz to concentrate on motherhood.
For now, she is not actively seeking out acting roles as Bea is her priority. “When I was in the States, I tried to meet as many agents and producers as I could. In two months, I think I will be ready to start working again. I actually have mixed emotions, having to choose between my career and motherhood.”
Carmen acknowledges that she is lucky to have strong support system in hubby Benson. “For instance, Benson is now at home looking after Bea as I have to do the shoot today.”
Likewise, Benson is full of praise for his wife.
“Carmen is awesome as a mother,” says Benson, 37, who is a business development director. “For her to put her acting career on hold and to focus solely on Bea, I consider it a huge sacrifice for her.”
However, where Carmen is concerned, she doesn’t consider it a sacrifice at all. Motherhood, she enthuses, is something she has wanted her whole adult life.
“I am never one to place career before family. It’s just that the right guy didn’t come along in my 20s, so I focused on my career. Almost all my friends are married, had kids and I was constantly playing with their babies. So, I have always wanted to have children … and now I have Bea!”
In regard to the name, she explains: “I have always loved the name Bea; it’s short for Beatrice. Benson and I wanted a middle name for our baby and we decided on Claire, which is short for Clarissa, a name I’ve wanted for my daughter for the longest time. We also wanted to have B and C in the name to represent our initials.”
Mum’s the word
Though Carmen is obviously besotted with Bea, she is candid about the struggles that come with motherhood.
“Being a mum in my early 40s, my energy level is different than say, a mother in her 20s. I was a little paranoid when I was doing my check-ups, and then I worried that my baby wouldn’t accept me, that I would not be able to soothe her. I had all these fears, like what if I don’t have enough milk to feed her?”
She had some help in the form of a confinement lady who stayed in their home for the first month and a half. But at nights, it was solely Carmen who had to get up every two hours to feed Bea.
“The first month was the toughest, as I was only sleeping three hours on average every night. I thought I could cope with not sleeping as I’ve done overnight shoots as an actor, but this was completely different. Staying up all night was getting to me, and I was just so tired; a lot of times, I couldn’t see the light at the end of the tunnel.”
Talking to her friends who are mothers – and her own mum – helped.
“They all advised me the same thing: that the situation will only get better, and the baby will sleep for longer periods of time. I was told not to be so hard on myself. I sought comfort in the mini triumphs, like watching Bea grow in my care; that kept me going.”
Carmen is already envisioning a future where she gets to share fashion and beauty tips with her daughter. “Bea does this thing where she raises her pinky. I always try to catch it, link our fingers together and say ‘BFFs!’”
And as Carmen decides on her next showbiz role, we have no doubt she will have Bea by her side.
Bring on those crazy rich adventures!
