Jeanette Aw facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Jeanette Aw
Aw at the Star Awards 2017
Born	Jeanette Aw Ee-Ping (1979-06-28) 28 June 1979 (age 45) Singapore
Nationality	Singaporean
Other names	Ou Xuan Ou Yanping
Education	Raffles Girls' Primary School Crescent Girls' School National Junior College
Alma mater	National University of Singapore
Occupation	Actress host filmmaker businesswoman writer
Years active	2001–present
Agent	Picturesque Films
Awards	Full list
Stage name
Traditional Chinese	歐萱
Simplified Chinese	欧萱
Hanyu Pinyin	Ōu Xuān
Jyutping	Au1 Hyun1
Birth name
Traditional Chinese	歐燕蘋
Simplified Chinese	欧燕苹
Hanyu Pinyin	Ōu Yànpíng

Jeanette Aw Ee-Ping (born 28 June 1979), also known as Ou Xuan, is a famous Singaporean actress, host, filmmaker, businesswoman, and writer. She became well-known in 2006 as one of the Seven Princesses of Mediacorp. Later, she gained even more success with her main role in the popular TV show The Little Nyonya.

Jeanette Aw was a full-time artist with Mediacorp from 2002 to 2017. She is one of the most popular celebrities in Singapore. She has won a record-breaking 29 awards for popularity and acting at Singapore's Star Awards. Jeanette has also written two books: Jeanette Aw: Definitions (2012) and Sol's World: Somebody to Love (2015). In 2015, she also starred in the musical Beauty World.

While in college, Jeanette won a TV talent competition called Route to Glamour. She started her acting career in 2001 with the drama Touched. In 2002, she joined Mediacorp. She played a character with a low IQ, Mo Jingjing, in Holland V (2003). Jeanette also earned praise for playing an actress named Zhao Fei Er in The Dream Makers (2013) and its sequel (2015). She won her first Best Actress award for her role in the sequel.

Early life and education

Eric Khoo and Jeanette Aw at the DVD Premiere of Ramen Teh

Jeanette Aw was born in Singapore. Her family is Hokkien, with roots in Quanzhou, China. She has an older sister and an older brother. Her family mostly spoke English at home, so she didn't use Mandarin much. Jeanette felt lucky growing up because her parents gave her everything she needed. She was a quiet child who loved reading, writing, and drawing. She dreamed of becoming a dancer, an artist, or a child psychologist.

Jeanette went to Raffles Girls' Primary School, Crescent Girls' School, National Junior College, and the National University of Singapore. She was a good student and a school prefect. She loved English Literature and English, and she got an A in art for her O Levels.

She did gymnastics in primary school and dance in secondary school. At 13, she started ballet and danced almost every day before becoming an actress. She also played the saxophone in her secondary school band. In university, she led the NUS Dance Ensemble. Even though she thought about studying child psychology, she decided to pursue a career in theatre. She graduated with a degree in Theatre Studies.

Acting career highlights

Early roles (2001–2002)

In 2000, Jeanette joined Route to Glamour, a talent search. She won the competition, beating over 5000 other people. She was named "Best Performer" and "Best Newcomer" in her first year. She also acted in a Taiwanese TV drama.

In 2002, Jeanette joined Mediacorp. She starred as Fan Keke in Beautiful Connection, which was the most-watched drama in Singapore that year. She won the Best Newcomer award at Star Awards 2002. She also filmed the Taiwanese drama Kiss of a Toast II.

Becoming well-known (2003–2007)

In 2003, Jeanette played Mo Jingjing in Holland V. This character had a low IQ, and the show was very popular. Jeanette was nominated for Best Actress at Star Awards 2003. She also won her first "Top 10 Most Popular Female Artistes" award. After Holland V, many saw her as a rising star.

In 2004, she played her first main female role in Spice Siblings. She was nominated for Best Actress again for A Child's Hope II and won another "Top 10 Most Popular Female Artistes" award at Star Awards 2004.

In 2005, Jeanette played a talented dancer with stage fright in The Rainbow Connection. She won her third "Top 10 Most Popular Female Artistes" award at Star Awards 2005. In 2006, she acted in C.I.D. and Through It All. She won her fourth "Top 10 Most Popular Female Artistes" award at Star Awards 2006. In December 2006, she was named one of the Seven Princesses of Mediacorp.

In 2007, Jeanette starred in The Peak, playing a ship construction worker who became wheelchair-bound. She also appeared in Switched! and Dear, Dear Son-In-Law.

Breakthrough with The Little Nyonya (2008–2009)

In 2008, Jeanette filmed The Shaolin Warriors in China. She then starred in Rhythm of Life and The Defining Moment.

Her biggest role came with The Little Nyonya. Jeanette played two characters: Yamamoto Yueniang and her mother, Huang Juxiang. Many viewers praised her acting. The show became the most-watched Singaporean drama in 15 years. Jeanette gained many fans and was called the "third-generation Ah Jie" (a term for top actresses). She was nominated for Best Actress at Star Awards 2009. Later in 2009, she acted in Together.

Continued success (2010–2014)

In 2010, Jeanette played a funeral director in New Beginnings. She received more Best Actress nominations for Together (2010) and Breakout (2011). In 2011, she filmed Precious in China, playing three different roles. In 2012, she starred in Rescue 995 and the comedy Jump!. She also played a girl who could see people's inner thoughts in Beyond.

In 2013, Jeanette starred in The Dream Makers, a popular drama with many famous actors. She played a C-list actress trying to become famous. She received many positive comments for her role. She won "Favourite Female Character" and "Favourite Onscreen Couple" with Qi Yu Wu. At Star Awards 20, she won four awards in one show, a first for an artist. She also won her tenth "Top 10 Most Popular Female Artistes" award, becoming the first of the Seven Princesses of Mediacorp to earn the "All-Time Favourite Artiste" award.

In 2013, Jeanette was also in the historical drama The Journey: A Voyage. In 2014, she acted in the football-themed drama World at Your Feet. She also played a tomboy chef in Spice Up and starred in The Journey: Tumultuous Times.

Best Actress win and new paths (2015–2019)

In February 2015, Jeanette starred in Let It Go. She won six awards at Star Awards 2015 Show 1. She then received her All-Time Favourite Artiste award at Show 2.

In July 2015, she appeared in The Journey: Our Homeland, making her the only actor to be in all three parts of The Journey series. She also played Zhao Fei Er again in The Dream Makers II. She researched depression to play her character better. Her performance was highly praised. She won "Best Actress", "Favourite Female Character", and "Favourite Onscreen Couple" at Star Awards 2016.

Jeanette later starred in The Dream Job and was nominated for "Best Actress" again at Star Awards 2017. She also played a gangster in 118. In 2017, she filmed Ramen Teh, a movie made with Japan and Singapore. The film premiered at the Berlin International Film Festival in 2018.

In October 2017, Jeanette announced she was leaving Mediacorp to explore new opportunities. In 2018, she starred in Till We Meet Again, her first drama after going solo. She also filmed After The Stars in 2019.

Other work and ventures

Filmmaking

Jeanette Aw started her own production company called Picturesque Films. In 2017, she wrote, directed, and produced a short film called The Last Entry. This film was inspired by her godmother's struggles with Alzheimer's disease. It was chosen for the Short Shorts Film Festival & Asia 2018 in Tokyo.

In December 2018, Jeanette filmed another short film, Senses, in Japan.

Ambassador roles

After her role in the film Ramen Teh, Jeanette was named a PR ambassador for the city of Takasaki, Japan, in 2018. She helps promote the city's tourism and products.

Endorsements

Jeanette has worked with many brands over the years. From 2001 to 2002, she appeared in commercials for Singtel and Sony Batteries. She later endorsed skincare products and juice. In 2004, she became the official ambassador for SK Jewellery. After the success of The Little Nyonya, she endorsed brands like NETS and New Moon. From 2010 to 2012, she worked with Olay and OWL, earning the title "queen of endorsements."

In 2015, she started appearing in ads for Bio-Essence skincare. Jeanette is also a brand ambassador for Montblanc and Lancôme. In 2017, she even created a special Peranakan-Chinese food menu with a chef for American Express.

Helping others

Jeanette has visited children's homes and volunteered overseas to help children in need. In 2012, she worked with Precious Moments and donated a large sum of money to a charity for children with cancer. In 2016, as an ambassador for Bulgari, she helped raise money for a Save the Children program in Vietnam.

Books

In February 2012, Jeanette published her first book, Jeanette Aw: Definitions. It shared parts of her personal life and her love for drawing. The book became a bestseller in Singapore.

In May 2015, she released her second book, Sol's World: Somebody to Love. This picture book is about a character named Sol who goes on a journey of self-discovery. Jeanette hand-painted all the illustrations. Her artwork from the book was shown at the National Museum of Singapore in 2015.

Stage performances

In May 2009, Jeanette starred in The Peranakan Ball musical at the Singapore Indoor Stadium. She also performed at Singapore Day events in Shanghai in 2011 and 2015.

In November 2015, Jeanette took on the role of Lulu, a cabaret queen, in the musical Beauty World. She was praised for her strong acting in the role.

Culinary arts and businesses

In June 2018, Jeanette moved to Bangkok to study baking at the Le Cordon Bleu Dusit Culinary School. She was even named an International Brand Ambassador for the school. She finished her course in Tokyo in 2019.

In mid-2021, Jeanette opened her first pastry shop, Once Upon A Time, in Singapore. In early 2024, she will also run pop-up shops for her pastries in department stores in Tokyo, Osaka, and Nagoya, Japan.

Fan club

Jeanette's official fan club, Jeanius (Singapore), was started on December 29, 2004. The name "Jeanius" comes from her first name, Jeanette, and the word "genius." The fan club has grown to include fans from countries like Cambodia, China, and Malaysia.

In the media

Jeanette Aw is one of Singapore's most popular actresses. She likes to keep her personal life private. She has appeared on the covers of many lifestyle magazines in Singapore, Malaysia, and Cambodia.

Jeanette is also very popular on social media. She is the only Singaporean TV actress with over a million fans on Facebook. She has won several social media awards, earning her the nickname "social media queen" of Singapore's entertainment scene.

People often compare Jeanette with fellow Singaporean actress Rui En. They have both won many popularity awards. However, Jeanette and Rui En have said that there is no real rivalry between them. Their former manager, Ken Lim, explained that they appeal to different types of fans, which is why they are both so successful.

Filmography

Television series

Film

Variety and infotainment shows

Theatre performances

Discography

Compilation albums

Awards and nominations

Jeanette Aw has won many awards throughout her career. Here are some of her notable wins and nominations:

• Best Newcomer: She won this award at the Star Awards 2002.
• Best Actress Nominations: She has been nominated for Best Actress many times for her roles in shows like Holland V, A Child's Hope II, The Little Nyonya, Together, Breakout, The Dream Makers, and The Dream Job.
• Best Actress Win: She won Best Actress at Star Awards 2016 for The Dream Makers II.
• Top 10 Most Popular Female Artistes: Jeanette has won this award multiple times, from 2003 to 2006, and from 2009 to 2014.
• All-Time Favourite Artiste: After winning the "Top 10 Most Popular Female Artistes" award ten times, she received this special award at Star Awards 2015.
• Favourite Female Character: She won this award for her roles in Together, The Dream Makers, The Journey: Tumultuous Times, and The Dream Makers II.
• Favourite Onscreen Couple: She won this award with her co-stars for Breakout, The Dream Makers, World at Your Feet, and The Dream Makers II.
• Social Media Award: She won this award in 2014 and 2015.
• Most Popular Regional Artiste: She has won this award for Cambodia, Indonesia, and Malaysia.

See also

In Spanish: Jeanette Aw para niños