Zoe Tay Shows Us Why She'll Always Be The Queen of Caldecott Hill

"This was where they held the first televised Star Awards in 1994. I won the Most Popular Actress award that year. I remember thinking, “Wah, so grand… we have our own TV theatre!” Have I sat on any row but the first? (Shakes her head and laughs) It’s quite true that where you sit is a sign of your ‘status.’ I remember feeling very stressed the first time (I sat in front) ’cos our CEO was sitting directly behind me!"

"Everyone used to sit here and enjoy the view. There used to be a huge tree here, and when the wind blew, its leaves would rain down on the ground. It really felt like autumn. I’ll always remember Xie Shaoguang squatting here, smoking and listening to his Walkman. I once asked him, ‘Who are you listening to?’ and it was Italian opera! That’s very ‘him’. Huang Yiliang would squat here too, but unlike Shaoguang who looked very cool, he just looked like an ah pek (laughs). These days, only part-timers and extras sit here. It’s a different generation now.”

In the past, toilet paper instead of tissue paper was used to wipe your face. It’s more absorbent and won’t stick to your face. You walk into the make-up unit and you’ll see rolls of toilet paper on the dressers like a supermarket (laughs). There’s also no cutting of queue when you get your make-up done. It doesn’t matter if you’re an A-lister or a newbie. No one cares. The rule has always been first-come-first served. Well, unless you’re a calefare – then we can cut your queue (laughs).”

"No matter how nice your outfit in the show is, you are never to wear it out in private. Once, I accidentally took home some accessories and I forgot to bring them back the next day. Wah I tell you, really panic, okay! We were going out for a location shoot and I had to drive home to get them! Of course I got scolded lah!”

"This canteen is the new one. The old canteen was in another building that’s been turned into the Ch 5 and 8 offices now. In the old canteen, you could always see foreign celebs like [A Chinese Ghost Story star] Joey Wong eating there when they come here to appear on variety shows. There were only four stalls then compared to the 10 now. The guy who owned the fruits stall was very nice. He was such a trusting guy that he left everyone to sort out their own change after payment.”

“Back in the day, I was known as the Studio 6 girl, ’cos that’s where most of my dramas were filmed.” (PS: This photo was taken outside Studio 4, home to most variety shows.)