Gladys Bay “Couldn't Play Netball To Save [Her] Life” — Now Netballer Role Lands Her An International Award

If there's one Mediacorp star having a breakout year, it's Gladys Bay.

Just months after clinching Best Rising Star at Star Awards 2026, the 29-year-old has scored her first international acting accolade.

Gladys won the Outstanding Asian Star: Singapore award at the Seoul International Drama Awards 2026 for her portrayal of netballer Bella in Mediacorp's Mandarin netball-themed drama Under The Net.

The award is determined entirely by fans through public voting, with nominees representing six Asian markets — Singapore, China, Japan, South Korea, the Philippines and Thailand.

Gladys emerged as Singapore's winner after garnering 42.67 per cent of the votes cast via the Idol Champ app, ahead of fellow Mediacorp actress Cheryl Chou, who received 38.17 per cent. She follows in the footsteps of past Singapore winners Rebecca Lim (2017) and Desmond Tan (2024).

This year's other winners include K-pop girl group Blackpink’s Jisoo, NCT member Jaemin, Yang Yang, Jin Akanishi, Paulo Avelino and Becky Armstrong.

For Gladys, the honour is all the more meaningful as Under The Net was not only her first Mediacorp drama after finishing second in Star Search 2024, but also her first leading role.

And to think that before landing the role, the competitive breakdancer couldn't even play netball.

"I'm still very new to the industry, so I honestly never expected to win and that's why it was such a beautiful surprise," Gladys told 8days.sg.

"And before this drama, I couldn't play netball to save my life, so the fact that I can still do an alley-oop now is a surprise too! I never imagined the role would take me this far.”

Gladys underwent three months of netball training before filming began, and says the award has made every gruelling practice session feel worthwhile.

"The award means a lot, and it does make the training feel even more meaningful. But what matters most to me is knowing audiences enjoyed the drama and connected with the story. That makes all the hard work worthwhile."

The honour also caps off a milestone year for Gladys, who made her K-drama debut in Absolute Value of Romance, a Coupang Play and Mediacorp co-production.

Gladys will return to Seoul to receive her award in person at the Seoul International Drama Awards ceremony on October 8.

"Korea has become very meaningful to me,” she said. “So ... maybe Korea is my lucky place. But I trust there will be many lucky places in the future for me as long as I keep working hard."