The 55-year-old thesp had earlier told fellow nominee Aileen Tan: “The competition is so stiff this year. I expected to just be a spectator at today’s show.” So, yes, the last thing she’d expected to cart home today was a Best Supporting Actress trophy, the second in her 34-year-career (her previous win was in 2013 for Game Plan).

While Chen Xiuhuan had all three daughters by her side the whole night, Meijiao’s daughter, Chantalle, was nowhere to be seen. Instead, the 23-year-old was watching it with a bunch of friends at her pal’s place. “She said that every time she comes, I won’t win. And look at what happened!” she quips backstage, still heady from the surprise win.

When 8Days.sg runs into Meijiao at the post-show reception, she tells us that she’s since chatted with Chantalle. “She said to me, ‘Later you come and pick me up and we’ll go eat!” she says. Her elation is palpable, which is why we’re a little taken aback by her next revelation. “I’m going to give myself some time to slow down and rest. It’s not that I’m not taking on new shows, but I’ll take a break for a while,” says the actress, who joined the industry at 21. Since then, it’s been project after project for 34 years, barring the time off she took when she was preggers with Chantalle.

“When I was pregnant, I did feel happy because I could rest. But after a while, I felt the urge to come back. As I watched TV and saw other people acting, I started thinking to myself how I would handle this role or that role,” she recalls with a laugh.

What’s the reason for this break, we ask. “There’s no special reason. I’ve been doing this for so long, and I’ve spent a lot of time on work. So I want to find some things that I want to do for myself, go to a peaceful place, lead a simpler life,” she muses. Like, go on holiday or a sabbatical? “Anywhere is fine. It’s all in your heart.”

Photos: Mark Lee, Chee Yan, Wilson Pang, Willie Yeo, Alvin Teo, Lee Lay Na