Xiang Yun "Really Regrets Being A Career Woman", Wishes She Spent More Time With Her Kids When They Were Young

For Mediacorp Ah Jie Xiang Yun, a successful acting career came at the cost of not being able to spend as much time with her children as she would have liked.

On the first episode of 8days’ new chat show DNA (now streaming on YouTube and mewatch), Xiang Yun, 64, and her daughter, Chen Yixin, 25, opened up to host Rebecca Lim about life in showbiz, and how things have been for them over the years. 

Xiang Yun shared that she has always looked forward to travelling with Yixin, calling it one of her dreams.

"When I was younger and she was still a kid, especially for Yixin as she's nine years younger than her brother, [Chen Xi], I did a lot of long-form dramas so I didn't have time for them. I told myself, when Yixin is older, I'd want to travel with her like sisters," said Xiang Yun.

"But she's so busy now, I'm afraid I've missed my chance. Because I'm getting old," she added.

While Yixin said they would make Xiang Yun's dreams happen in 2026, the veteran actress confessed: "I really regret being a career woman."

Xiang Yun admitted she had always hoped to be the kind of mother who takes care of her family and cooks for them, but her busy schedule made that difficult.

"Now that I've decided to do that, my kids are grown and are no longer free to eat my home-cooked meals. I want to prepare a nice meal at home for my family and they can come home and remember what was their favourite dish to come home to," said Xiang Yun.

These days, Yixin and Chen Xi still make the effort to return home for her cooking, even requesting dishes like chicken macaroni.

"They're very cute, once I tell them I'm cooking, they'd all come running home and wait for me to finish cooking. That makes me really happy. I want my kids to remember the feeling of warmth of having home-cooked meals at home, and I hope it's something they would think of even when they're old," Xiang Yun added.

While Xiang Yun felt she may not have fully fulfilled her role as a mother, Yixin saw it differently, sharing that she hopes to be the kind of mother her mum is in the future.

Though comforted by her daughter’s words, Xiang Yun admitted: "I would often express in interviews or in journals that this is something I truly regret. Motherhood didn't turn out the way I envisioned it to be. I thought it's too late, there's nothing I can do anymore."

For Yixin, she is well aware of the sacrifices Xiang Yun had to make while balancing motherhood with the peak of her career.

Describing her mother as a driven career woman with exceptionally high standards, Yixin shared that Xiang Yun “did not have it easy at all,” though she rarely speaks about it due to her upbringing. She added that Xiang Yun came from a humble background as the eldest of five children, and had to step up as the family’s breadwinner.

"One thing that I think she struggled the most and not a lot of people acknowledged was when she decided to be a mother. When she got married, she got most of the burn. When she got pregnant, she was referred to being a voice actress because back then being seen as someone thicker or curvier is not as appealing as someone who is young and available," said Yixin. 

Still, she expressed admiration for her mother’s resilience, adding that she found it remarkable that Xiang Yun returned to the industry, had another child, and managed to bounce back in her career.

In response to Xiang Yun’s regrets about prioritising her career over family, Yixin shared: “I can relate to the feeling of 'oh, it's already passed.' But I also hope you know that I feel the same way as your daughter. Like five years ago, why was I so unreasonable with you? That's something that has already passed as well. Why couldn’t I be more understanding towards you?”

She then shook her mother’s hand and added with a smile, “Then we can have a deal. Let’s not have any more regrets with each other.”

To catch the full episode, click here or scroll down to watch.
Photos: Mediacorp, xiang_yun_/ Instagram