5 Quotes That Show How Xu Bin Is Anything But Dull
Last August, we went for a run with Xu Bin in Seoul and discovered that the actor, always so squeaky clean and proper on TV and in interviews, was more than just that. He’s also chatty, candid and surprisingly cheeky. Here are some choice quotes from the Ch 8 star from that cover story.
On being the top Duke
“I don’t think being at the top [of the Dukes list] is that big a deal. Look at Rui En and Jeanette (Aw). I don’t think they were at the top when the term ‘Seven Princesses’ was first coined. But look at them now. You can say life is like this Puma Run. Whoever drops out, or whoever takes a rest halfway, or whoever stays till the end… You’ll never know the final outcome until you reach the finishing line.”
On Moving to Singapore
“I still remember the exact day I moved here: 2001, May 20, 8.20pm. My mum lied to me. She told me I was here for a holiday. I didn’t know I was coming to study. But “I looked at the skyline and thought, ‘Wow so beautiful!” “I was so happy, actually. In fact, I’ve even written a screenplay about my childhood and coming here.”
On fame
“I don’t think the people who don’t watch TV know who I am. It’s tough to penetrate that market, unless you’re Li Nanxing or Christopher Lee.” (We tell him a good benchmark of fame is if a hawker asks to take a pic of him to hang on his wall.) “Well, if that’s the yardstick, sure. But that’s not enough for me. I want more.”
On his rebellious years
“[When I was 18] My mum left me $20,000 for living expenses and I spent it all in three months. I honestly don’t know what I spent it on. I bought a lot of things and was out having fun all the time. I remember there was a day where I spent $400 just on cab rides — I would be playing mahjong, then I would leave in the middle of the night to go drinking. My mum was so angry when she found out. It sounded like she was crying on the other end of the line.”
On life had he stayed in China
“[I would be] A hooligan. But you know, that’s life. Maybe if Dasmond [Koh] didn’t call me [and asked to be in his movie], I would be working in a warehouse talking about air freight and shipment.”
Watch Now
Shopping
