Ya Hui To Leave Mediacorp After 16 Years, Says This Is “The Right Time”
The 35-year-old shared with 8days.sg that she wants to make the first move to step out of her comfort zone and experience life.
After 16 years with Mediacorp, Ya Hui is leaving the company, with her last day being February 28.
8days.sg caught up with the 35-year-old earlier today (Feb 21) before the news of her departure was made public to find out more.
Ya Hui entered showbiz in 2007, after emerging as the runner-up and Miss Telegenic in Star Search that year. Since then, she’s showcased her acting chops in a variety of roles, from a troubled university student in 2009’s Reunion Dinner, to a frumpy Wanton mee seller in longform drama 118, and most recently, an unempathetic reporter in 2022’s Truths About Us.
And now, the actress wants to try something new.
“There's no particular reason [why I’m leaving Mediacorp], but I guess the time is right for me to explore on my own for a while,” Ya Hui shared.
“I want to focus on both acting and exploring different things that I might have passion in but had no time to explore for the past few years. There’s too many [things that I want to try],” she added with a laugh.
Musing that she’s been thinking about what she really wants in life, Ya Hui continued: "What motivated me was the hiking trip I went on recently. I’ve always had so much fear of stepping out of my comfort zone, even after so many years. [But if I don't take the first step now,] I might never get to see what’s outside, and it could turn out to be something beautiful and interesting that I’ve never could’ve imagined.”
"It's been an eye-opener to see everything beyond what I’ve been doing, and there are so many things to learn. I think I shouldn’t restrict myself to just acting as a job, so I just want to experience life, and search for that deeper meaning of life,” she said.
But rest assured. Ya Hui's not gonna disappear from the limelight just yet.
The actress still intends to continue acting, and that has a role in an upcoming Mediacorp drama that she’s really looking forward to.
"I think my pace slowed down a lot [in the past year or so]. In the past, I was filming nonstop, and every day, you shoot for 12 hours, go back home, read your script and continue the next day. You have no time to think about life, and I think work-life balance is something that I’m looking for. To be able to sip a glass of red wine in the afternoon, read a book, and then go to work the next day, you know, that kind of life,” she said, adding: "But I’ll continue to do what I love, that’s for sure."
Ya Hui added that she hasn’t told anyone around her about her decision, save for her parents.
"I told my parents that I won't have a monthly salary from now on. It's a very realistic problem,” she laughed.
“They were quite sweet, and said if I don't have a monthly salary, then I don't have to give them allowance anymore. It's sweet lah, but of course I won't do that. I would still try to provide them with what I have,” Ya Hui said.
And finally, here’s some food for thought from the actress: "I’d like to encourage people who feel stuck or jaded at work. I think it’s really a relief to have the courage to step out. There might be a lot of uncertainties, but really, the world is so big. There’ll definitely be something that interests you and makes you happy, so don’t be afraid to make the first move.”
Wise words indeed.
Catch Ya Hui in her latest drama, Truths About Us on meWATCH here, or watch the first episode below.
