The Lead () is a 30-episode Singaporean drama produced and telecast on Mediacorp Channel 8. The show is Channel 8's mid-year blockbuster for 2017 to remember Mediacorp at Caldecott Hill and to celebrate 35 years of television dramas. It stars Rebecca Lim, Shaun Chen, Andie Chen and Julie Tan as main cast.
Plot Ah Zhen (Rebecca Lim) has three childhood friends, Guang Hui (Shaun Chen), De Ping (Andie Chen) and An Ya (Julie Tan). Like Ah Zhen, they also love watching drama, and yearned to be seen on the TV screen. The four friends even made a pact together: To make it big in the drama scene, to play the lead character in a drama someday!
After graduating from secondary school, the four friends joined the TV station's acting classes, and all of them, except Ah Zhen, were selected to join the TV station as actors. Even though she was disappointed, Ah Zhen refused to give up, and began a journey full of hardships in the local drama scene.
Initially Ah Zhen worked alongside her father Xiao Hu (Chen Hanwei), who was a martial art stuntman. Unfortunately she was clumsy and always got injured, so she had to switch to being an extra. But even as an extra, she always somehow got in the way and was disliked and shunned by the production team. But Ah Zhen refused to leave the TV station, and found herself a job in the Costume department.
Childhood friend Guang Hui clinched his first lead role, and An Ya and De Ping had also taken up supporting roles, yet Ah Zhen was still struggling to survive. She switched from department to department: make-up, Props, Radio... trying to find a path for herself, but it seems like she was drifting further from her original dream of becoming an actress. Luckily at that time, she met her savior, the then “Ah-jie” of local drama scene, Chen Xiang Rong (Xiang Yun), a woman whom Ah Zhen saw as her own mother. Under the help of Xiang Rong, Ah Zhen managed to get a small supporting role in her first ever drama debut.
Since then, Ah Zhen began her career as a freelance actor, taking part in a number of classic productions. But Ah Zhen was insistent in her own method of acting, which many others could not agree to. By then, Guang Hui was already a popular rising star, and An Ya was radiant and eye catching after her cosmetic procedure, so the two co-starred in a few dramas, and they became the best on screen couple of their time. Ah Zhen was happy for her friends’ achievements, but she couldn't help but feel a little heartbroken. Actually, Ah Zhen has always been fond of Guang Hui since her teenage years, but Guang Hui never really noticed her.
At the lowest point in Ah Zhen's life, and she felt like she was abandoned by the entire world. But with encouragement from her friends, she eventually got up on her feet again. This time, Ah Zhen decided to focus on her job behind the scenes instead!
Working as the assistant producer was the turning point of Ah Zhen's life. As she had worked in various departments previously, she had contacts everywhere in the production team, making life as an AP easier. She took part in various popular dramas, and with a brush of luck, she always managed to accidentally create epic scenes in the dramas. Eventually, she worked her way up to a director.
As the years go by, many things were no longer what they used to be. The TV station separated into two competing stations, and the friendship between the four broke down. Guang Hui was leading a wasted life, gambling and drinking away, and losing money in unsuccessful investments, eventually leading to a broken family. After separating from Guang Hui, An Ya took to the international screen, but was faced with aftereffects of excessive cosmetic surgery, threatening her acting career. De Ping was involved in a sex scandal and was fired by the TV station, and even ended up in jail for 2 months.
Seeing that their friendship was severely challenged, Ah Zhen, the only one who has not changed, tried very hard to bring the other three back together. After all these ups and downs, will the perseverance of Ah Zhen eventually recover the lost friendship between them?
Ah Zhen has always been secretly loving Guang Hui, but she always misses the opportunity to bring their friendship to another level. How will their relationship end up? An Ya and Guang Hui were the promising couple, but love grew into hate, and they went separate ways, though they never truly forgotten each other. Will they ever reconcile? Ah Zhen and De Ping are friends in times of need, supporting each other faithfully through all these times. Will their relationship eventually bear fruit?
Will this complicated four-sided relationship finally come to a happy ending?
Cast Main cast
Rebecca Lim as Lin Meizhen 林美真 Isabel Yamada as a younger Lim Shaun Chen as Xie Guanghui 谢光辉, an actor Damien Teo as a younger Xie Andie Chen as Hong Deping 洪德平, an actor and taxi driver Ivan Lo as a younger Hong Julie Tan as Fang Anya 方安雅, an actress Toh Xin Hui as a younger Fang
Supporting cast Cast Character Description Episode Appeared Xiang Yun Chen Xiangrong 陈湘蓉 Liu Xinyu's best friend Lin Xiaohu's girlfriend TV station's actress 1–10, 17–25, 30 Chen Hanwei 陈汉玮 Lin Xiaohu 林小虎 Liu Xinyu's husband Lin Meizhen's father Chen Xiangrong's boyfriend TV station's stuntman, calefare and substitute 1–6, 9-25, 30 Terence Cao 曹国辉 Guo Liwei 郭立威 Main Villain TV station's actor Pretends to like Lin Meizhen to make use of her Befriends Xie Guanghui to exploit him of his money Likes Huang Mei Na and secretly has an affair with her 10-22 Jasmine Sim 沈家玉 Huang Mei Na 黄美娜 Supporting Villain Na Na (娜娜) TV station's Ah Jie/actress Likes Guo Liwei and secretly has an affair with him Pretends to like Xie Guanghui to exploit him of money Xie Guanghui's Ex-Wife 14–16, 18-22 Cynthia Koh 许美珍 Chen Qiulian 陈秋莲 TV station's director ~> Head of Drama producer and director Resigned from TV Station 16, 18–20, 22–23, 25, 27-28 Kym Ng 钟琴 Liu Xinyu 刘心雨 Lin Xiaohu's wife Chen Xiangrong's best friend Lin Meizhen and Deng Yongkang's mother 19-25Zheng Geping 郑各评 Fang Guodong 方国栋 Uncle Curly Hair (卷毛叔) TV station canteen boss Zhao Meili's husband Fang Anya's father 1–2, 4, 6–7, 9–10, 12–15, 17–21, 26-30 Cassendra See 薛淑珊 Zhao Meili 赵美丽 Auntie Fang (方姨) TV station canteen lady boss Fang Guodong's wife Fang Anya's mother 1, 7, 10, 13–15, 17, 19, 21, 26-30 Jin Yinji 金银姬 Fang Yahua 方亚华 Guanghui's Grandmother (光辉的阿嬷) Xie Guanghui's paternal grandmother Lin Bixia's mother-in-law Died from stroke (Deceased ~ Episode 26)1-6, 8–12, 14–15, 18, 21–23, 25-26 26-27, 30 (flashback) He Yingying 何盈莹 Jing Jing 晶晶 Villain but repented TV station's actress/ future Ah Jie Disliked and envied by Fang Anya 19–23, 29-30 Michael Huang 黄仲昆 Ma Xinghai 马兴海 TV Station's Head of Drama producer and director Retired from the TV Station in Episode 18 1–8, 12, 15-18
TV Station's Celebrities/ Extras Cast Character Description Episode Appeared Elizabeth Lee 李巧儿 Xue Bing 雪冰 TV station's actress 7-9 Li Wenhai 李文海 Zheng Jiang 郑将 Hong Kong actor16-17 Alvin Tho 卓汉隆 TV Station's actor TV Station's freelance actress Been raped by Hong Deping that was set up by Guo Liwei 17 Eugene Tay 郑建龙 TV Station's freelance actor 5,16 Fang Rong 符芳榕 Yao Yao 瑶瑶 TV station's actress 19-20
TV Station's Heads Cast Character Description Episode Appeared Marcus Mok 莫健发 Adam TV Station's Overall In-Charge 17–18, 25 Wang Yuqing 王昱清 TV Station's Head of drama script/ story writer 1, 28 Michelle Tay 郑荔分 TV Station's Head of Wardrobe 8-10 Wallace Ang 洪圣安 Qiang-Ge 强哥 TV Station's make up department in-charge 10–11, 16, 18 Uncredited TV Station's stylist Hong Deping's passenger 28 Uncredited Mr Soh Head of TV's Station departments 28
TV Station's Instructors Directors/ Reporters/ Producers Cast Character Description Episode Appeared Rebecca Lim 林慧玲 Lin Meizhen 林美真 See Main Cast Guo Liang 郭亮 Li Wei 李伟 TV station's acting class instructor 1-2 Louis Wu 伍洛毅 KenTV Station's director 4-5 Ryan Lian 廖永谊 No Role TV Station's director 7 Tay Ping Hui 郑斌辉 Himself Star Awards' emcee 13-14 Chase Tan 陈锦宏 Chase TV Station's assistant director Lin Meizhen's assistant 18–19, 21-24 Kenneth Chung 钟坤华 No Role TV station's director 19 CKay Lim 林志强 Xu Zhiguang 许志光 TV Station's Executive Producer Been resigned from TV Station 19–22, 27-28 Bukoh Mary 巫许玛莉 Mary TV Station's reporter 27 Fraser Tiong 张家奇 No Role TV Station's director
Others Cast Character Description Episode Appeared Zhu Xiufeng 朱秀凤 Sister E 鹅姐 Chen Xiangrong's friend 3-4 Jaslyn Theen 汤妙玲 Lin Bixia 林碧霞 Villain Gambler Xie Guanghui's mother Fang Yahua's daughter-in-law Used to be Lin Xiaohu's love interest Steals away Xie Guanghui valuables but was caught by Lin Xiaohu 10-16 Hu Wensui 胡问遂 Villain Loanshark Lin Bixia's subordinate 12-15 Benjamin Tan 陈俊铭 Eric Hong Villain Boss of Hollywood Movie Company Cheated Fang Anya all this while because he is unhappy to know that she only have feelings for Xie Guanghui 12–13, 22, 26-28 Charlie Goh 吴清樑 Jack Villain Loanshark 20-26 Dylan Quek 郭景豪 Jay Villain Loanshark 20-26 Teo Sili 张思丽 Auntie Hong 洪婶 Hong Deping's aunt 22, 27 Hoong Kuo Juey 洪国锐 Uncle Hong 洪叔 Hong Deping's uncle 22, 27 Larry Low 刘龙伟 Xiao Ma 小马 Film/movie film crew 23 Nick Teo Deng Yongkang 邓永康 Liu Xinyu's son Lin Meizhen's half younger brother 25 Uncredited Mr Li 李先生 Been knocked by Hong Deping's car and hospitalized 26-28 Uncredited No Role Helped Xie Guanghui at a shore and escort him find a place to stay in Tanjungpinang (Indonesia) 27-28 Alston Yeo 杨峻毅 No Role Helped Xie Guanghui at a shore and escort him find a place to stay in Tanjungpinang (Indonesia) 27
Original Sound Track (OST) No. Song title Singer(s) 1) 初衷 (Main Song for the series) Tay Ping Hui 2) 谈到爱 Ling Kai 3) 记得 JJ Lin 林俊杰 4) 亲密爱人 王芳
Accolades Organisation Year Category Nominee(s) Result Star Awards 2018 Best Director Loo Yin Yam Best Theme Song "初衷" by Tay Ping Hui Young Talent Award Damien Teo Isabel Yamada Best Supporting Actor Chen Hanwei Best Actress Rebecca Lim
Development Filming began in November 2016 and wraps in March 2017
See also List of MediaCorp Channel 8 Chinese drama series (2010s)
References