ACTRESSES I LOVE TO WORK WITH. Hitting 40, but still so BEAUTIFUL, GORGEOUS and TALENTED.

These are divas and fashionistas, hitting 40 and still look stunningly beautiful.

They are Thailand’s SINJAI PLENGPANICH and Singapore’s ZOE TAY, two of Asia’s most talented actresses.

Some die-hards may differ in opinions, but being in the same industry, I’ll vouch for them any time, man.

Bow out, armchair critics, it’s easier to gripe than compliment.

Did your wife, girl friend or sister look this good when they were 40?

If so, I salute them.

But please have a sense of proportion.

Be fair.

As actresses, they may be deemed as “public properties”, but hey… give praise when it’s due.

In life, for all and sundry, a sincere compliment is always a morale booster.

A pat on our backs feels just great…

A stab….ouch!!

We all need love and encouragement. There’s no need to build “walls” to protect ourselves.

Or should we?

SINJAI PLENGPANICH (THAILAND)

She is 43, with beauty, brain and a body to match.

She is a much revered artiste of the big screen, stage and soap operas.

She is also happily married to CHATCHAI PLENGPANICH, a famous Thai actor and has 3 children who adore her.

Because in Thailand, artistes are treated with adoration and professional respect, she has a blessed career that she immensely enjoyed.

Her latest film was LOVE OF SIAM, where she played the challenging role of a distraught mother-in-distress battling emotional “demons” brought about by a defiant gay son and an alcoholic husband.

For this difficult role, she finally bagged home the BEST ACTRESS accolade simultaneouly from 2 Thai film festivals as a glorious tribute to her accomplished acting career.

ZOE TAY (SINGAPORE)

This woman is friendly, professional and unpretentious. Having worked with her once, I should know.

She is Singapore’s best known and most beautiful actress, joyously married to a RSAF pilot and blessed with 2 children.

She’s really cool at 40, and she’s still every inch the gorgeous belle.

Just check out the fashion spreads of her in bikini. Then ask any hot blooded male.

Yet fans in Singapore, unlike Thailand, are sometimes known to be selfish and “retarded” when it comes to according their homegrown artistes the professional respect they deserve. They are quick to criticize.

They should take a cue from Thailand.

Many derided ZOE with snide remarks when, as the spokeswoman for the IMEDEEN ad campaign, she was quoted as saying “My Secret to Beautiful Skin? I swallow.”

The ad copy was intended to be naughty and provocative, but had never meant to upset a portion of the  conservative market in squeaky clean Singapore.

Or was it just pure spite from a fickle audience who was ready to switch camp to another rising star?

Yet this advertisement created a “storm in a tea cup” and became the butt of sexist jokes from gossip mongers.

But ZOE TAY remains the undisputable queen from Singapore’s Tinseltown for the past ten over years.

She’s one established long lasting brand, chic and sophistication personified.

THESE ARE STARS that I hope to collaborate with in the near future with an appropriate script.

How about one on mid life crisis and marital angst, a la SEX AND THE CITY genre?

Can you remember the 1983 hit song I HAVE NEVER BEEN TO ME sung by CHARLENE on women’s rights?

Catch these lyrics:

HEY LADY,

YOU LADY,

CURSING AT YOUR LIFE,

YOU ARE A DISCONTENTED MOTHER

AND A REGIMENTED WIFE,

I’VE NO DOUBT YOU

DREAM ABOUT THE THINGS YOU’LL NEVER DO

BUT I WISH SOMEONE HAD TALKED TO ME

LIKE I WANNA TALK TO YOU.

It’s a haunting and beautiful song, isn’t it?

Now let’s check out the script ……