Pierre Png On How Nervous He Was On The Crazy Rich Asians Jade Carpet & Making Plans To Hang Out With Michelle Yeoh Next Month

8 DAYS: Was the event everything you imagined?
PIERRE PNG: Yes! It’s really everything you would see on TV. You know, celebs walking from interview to interview with the questions just coming out and them answering off the cuff.
How nervous were you?
I was shitting in my pants! (Guffaws) Firstly, you have to speak in a way that people understand what you’re saying. So I cannot say use Singlish terms like “kampong” or “cannot tahan”, which would be how we would speak to reporters at, like, the Star Awards. And it’s not like how I talk to you now and you can fill in the blanks. I think for once I knew what it feels like to be a state person.

Were there a lot of media people?
Yeah… there was press from Russia, China, India, different parts of the States… It was unbelievable. They asked stuff about, say, diversity, which are questions… You know how we say we are very protected [in Singapore]. And you only realise that when you’re working in another country where people have to fight for things or work hard to get an audition. I mean I was very honest with them. I told them I don’t experience what the Chinese-Americans do, or the Asians outside of South East Asia. I said I am a full-time actor with a TV station so I am very lucky. And I get a lot of work and I don’t have to go for many auditions. I did a few interviews where they asked me stuff like, tell me more about Singapore. And I was like, where do I begin? I’ve lived here all my life so what is interesting to me may not be for you so I had to pick and choose what I wanted to talk about.

Who were you most excited to meet?
I didn't think of who I would meet but I was just happy to see (CRA director) Jon. M. Chu and the rest of the cast and crew. It was such a beautiful reunion! And meeting Ming Na Wen and having a decent conversation with her was a dream come true!
How did that happen?
I had already been ushered into the theatre and was looking around but didn’t see anyone but her,” says Pierre. “So I mustered up my courage and introduced myself. I told her it’s a dream come true to meet someone whom I watched — I was very careful not to say “growing up” (laughs) — in Joy Luck Club, where I was amazed to see the main cast being all Asian.”

Some of the Singaporean cast members chose to wear local designers on the red carpet. Was it something you wanted to do too?
Yeah, but ’cos I’m busy filming [You Can Be An Angel 3] I couldn’t find someone in time. I did reach out to a few [designers] but it was too last minute.
How many days were you in Hollywood?
Two days. I got there on the morning of the first day, then had the red carpet event. The next day was full of interviews and shoots. And I left at 8am the next morning. It was really in and out.
Speaking of in and out, you Instagrammed a photo of you eating In-N-Out Burger.
Yeah. We were on the way to another shoot and we had a little bit of time. My manager said, we gotta have In-N-Out and I said, “Oh, you mean we just go in and out to get something?” (Laughs). I didn’t know it was such a well-known burger joint. And yes, it was sinfully good.

How many days were you in Hollywood?
Two days. I got there on the morning of the first day, then had the red carpet event. The next day was full of interviews and shoots. And I left at 8am the next morning. It was really in and out.
Speaking of in and out, you Instagrammed a photo of you eating In-N-Out Burger.
Yeah. We were on the way to another shoot and we had a little bit of time. My manager said, we gotta have In-N-Out and I said, “Oh, you mean we just go in and out to get something?” (Laughs). I didn’t know it was such a well-known burger joint. And yes, it was sinfully good.
What was the after-party like?
It was fun. It was at a rooftop bar and I got to meet everyone who had a part to play in the movie and their better halves…
Did you get drunk?
No lah (laughs). I had a full day of interviews the next day.
Not even a little bit?
Nah, we didn’t need to get drunk to have fun ’cos just being there… we were high on everyone’s energy.

We hear your Instagram followers increased by 15K after the red carpet. Surprised?
Um, yes and no. Yes, ’cos 15K is a lot… though not as much as Chuando lah (laughs). But I wasn’t that surprised ’cos the world is not just Singapore. I can imagine that if I went to China or did something in India, people would just satisfy their curiosity about me [by following me].
Did you get a chance to network while you were there?
Yeah. Michelle Yeoh’s husband (FIA president) Jean Todt gave me his name card with his number on it. And he said, “Hey, we’re coming to Singapore in September [for F1], give me a call then.” And I was like did you just ask me to call you? Yeah sure! (Guffaws)
Do you plan to?
Of course! Especially since it’s just next month. If they were coming in December, maybe a bit paiseh. Like, “Do you still remember meeeeee?” (Laughs).
What do you make of all the buzz that is surrounding the cast and the movie now?
I don’t know, you know. I’m afraid to think about it. I’m just taking it one step at a time… and hold my breath for the second book to be made into a movie.