Introduction
Ng Kwee Khim (Chinese: 黄桂琴; pinyin: Huáng guì qín), best known by her stage name Kym Ng (simplified Chinese: 钟琴; traditional Chinese: 鐘琴; pinyin: Zhōng Qín), is a Singaporean television host and actress.
Ng is one of the three artistes who holds the record for most wins in the Best Variety Show Host category at Star Awards, with four wins.
Early life
Ng was educated at River Valley High School and did pre-university studies (A Levels) at Tanjong Katong Secondary School.
Career
Ng was previously a flight stewardess with Singapore Airlines and began her show business career as a singer. Subsequently, she joined the MediaCorp's predecessor Television Corporation of Singapore in 1995 and switched to hosting and acting. She became known to audiences as host of the popular infotainment programme City Beat alongside Pan Lingling, Lina Ng, Sharon Au and Bryan Wong. Her performance in the programme earned Ng her first two wins in the coveted Best Variety Show Host award at the Star Awards. In 2001, she left MediaCorp and joined SPH MediaWorks. But after four years, SPH MediaWorks merged with MediaCorp and Ng was transferred back to MediaCorp.
Although bilingual, Ng is most often seen on Chinese language programmes on Channel 8 and Channel U. She is known for her direct connection with the audience and her bubbly nature. She often hosts "food reviews" and variety shows. Since returning to MediaCorp, Ng has enjoyed success and has hosted more than 150 shows since the start of her television career.
In 2005, Ng was approached by director Wee Li Lin to star in the film, Gone Shopping. Her performance was stated by the Straits Times as "(Kym) Ng is a revelation here. Her role Clara, who could have been a self-indulgent bore of a character, is beguilingly shy, naively yearning and sweetly forlorn." The film took two years to complete (June 2005 to July 2007). Ng was quoted on U-weekly magazine that she was mentally prepared that the film would not follow through. The principal shoot of the film commenced in December 2006 to March 2007.
In 2011, Ng hosted the highly acclaimed variety show Love on a Plate. The programme won Best Variety Programme and gotten Ng her third Best Variety Show Host win at the Star Awards 2011. It also won a "highly commended" recognition for Best Reality Programme at the 2011 Asian Television Awards. Her performance in Jobs Around the World bagged Ng her fourth Best Variety Show Host win, tying her with Sharon Au and Mark Lee for the record of most wins in the category.
For acting, her role as the repressed Luo Na in "It Takes Two" secured Ng her first Best Actress nomination at the Star Awards. It was her second acting performance award nomination, following her Best Supporting Actress-nominated role as Hai De in The New Adventures of Wisely in 1998. At Star Awards 2018, her supporting role as Lu Meiguang in When Duty Calls garnered Ng her first acting performance award win at the award show. The win marks Ng's second acting performance award of her career, after being recognised at the 2005 Asian Television Awards for Best Comedy Performance by an Actress for her role in Durian King.
In Star Awards 2019, Ng received the All-Time Favourite Artisteafter winning the Top 10 Most Popular Female Artistes award from 1999, 2006–2007, 2012–2013 and 2015–2018 respectively. Currently, she is the co-host of The Sheng Siong Show, together with Dasmond Koh and Denise Camillia Tan.
Personal life
Ng comes from a working-class family of four children. In 2009 she secretly married her long-time boyfriend at a simple ceremony overseas. She is known for zealously safeguarding her privacy and rarely discloses her private life or personal details to the media. Ng also disclosed that she does not intend to have children because caring for a child in the long run is too much of a hassle.
Compilation album
| Year | English title | Mandarin title |
|---|---|---|
| 2013 | MediaCorp Music Lunar New Year Album 13 | 新传媒群星金蛇献祥和 |
| 2015 | MediaCorp Music Lunar New Year Album 15 | 新传媒群星金羊添吉祥 |
| 2016 | MediaCorp Music Lunar New Year Album 16 | 新传媒群星金猴添喜庆 |
| 2017 | MediaCorp Music Lunar New Year Album 17 | 新传媒群星咕鸡咕鸡庆丰年 |
| 2018 | MediaCorp Music Lunar New Year Album 18 | 新传媒群星阿狗狗过好年 |
| 2020 | MediaCorp Music Lunar New Year Album 20 | 裕鼠鼠纳福迎春了 |
Discography
| Year | Album |
|---|---|
| 1992 | *真心属于你 |
| 1994 | *小女人的独白 |
| 1999 | *追钟琴感 |
Accolades
Throughout her hosting and acting career, Ng has received various awards and accolodes, including 2 Asian Television Awards – Best Entertainment Presenter for Top Ten and Best Comedy Performance by an Actress for Durian King.
At the Star Awards, Ng has received 16 awards, including four Best Variety Show Host Awards and one Best Supporting Actress Award. She holds the records the record for most wins in the former category, alongside Sharon Au and Mark Lee. Having won her tenth Top 10 Most Popular Female Artistes award in 2018, Ng will received the All-Time Favourite Artiste at the award show in 2019. She will be the eleventh female artiste (and twenty-first overall) to receive this accolade.
| Year | Ceremony | Category | Nominated Work | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1998 | 5th Star Awards Ceremony | Best Variety Show Host | City Beat | Won |
| Best Supporting Actress | The New Adventures of Wisely (as Hai De) |
Nominated | ||
| Top 10 Most Popular Female Artistes | N/A | Won | ||
| 1999 | 6th Star Awards Ceremony | Top 10 Most Popular Female Artistes | N/A | Won |
| Best Comedy Performer | Different Cuts, Different Strokes | Nominated | ||
| Best Variety Show Host | City Beat | Won | ||
| 2002 | Asian Television Awards | Best Entertainment Presenter | Snap | Nominated |
| 2003 | Asian Television Awards | Best Entertainment Presenter | Top Ten | Won |
| 2004 | Asian Television Awards | Best Entertainment Presenter | Snap 3 | Nominated |
| 2005 | 11th Star Awards Ceremony | Top 10 Most Popular Female Artistes | N/A | Nominated |
| Best Variety Show Host | Love Bites | Nominated | ||
| Asian Television Awards | Best Comedy Performance by an Actress | Durian King | Won | |
| 2006 | 12th Star Awards Ceremony | Top 10 Most Popular Female Artistes | N/A | Won |
| Best Variety Show Host | Love Bites 2 | Nominated | ||
| 2007 | 13th Star Awards Ceremony | Top 10 Most Popular Female Artistes | N/A | Won |
| 2009 | 15th Star Awards Ceremony | Top 10 Most Popular Female Artistes | N/A | Nominated |
| Best Variety Show Host | Buzzing Cashier | Nominated | ||
| 2010 | 16th Star Awards Ceremony | Top 10 Most Popular Female Artistes | N/A | Nominated |
| 2011 | 17th Star Awards Ceremony | Top 10 Most Popular Female Artistes | N/A | Nominated |
| Best Variety Show Host | Love on a Plate | Won | ||
| 2012 | 18th Star Awards Ceremony | Top 10 Most Popular Female Artistes | N/A | Won |
| Best Variety Show Host | Chef Apprentice | Nominated | ||
| 2013 | 19th Star Awards Ceremony | Top 10 Most Popular Female Artistes | N/A | Won |
| Best Variety Show Host | Jobs Around the World | Won | ||
| Best Actress | It Takes Two (as Luo Na) |
Nominated | ||
| YES 933 Best Speech | N/A | Won | ||
| 2014 | 20th Star Awards Ceremony | Top 10 Most Popular Female Artistes | N/A | Nominated |
| Best Variety Show Host | Finding U | Nominated | ||
| BottomSlim Sexiest Legs Award | N/A | Nominated | ||
| 2015 | 21st Star Awards Ceremony | Top 10 Most Popular Female Artistes | N/A | Won |
| 2016 | 22nd Star Awards Ceremony | Top 10 Most Popular Female Artistes | N/A | Won |
| 2017 | 23rd Star Awards Ceremony | Top 10 Most Popular Female Artistes | N/A | Won |
| 2018 | 24th Star Awards Ceremony | Best Supporting Actress | When Duty Calls (as Loke Meiguang) |
Won |
| Top 10 Most Popular Female Artistes | N/A | Won | ||
| Best Programme Host | Ah Ma Can Cook | Nominated | ||
| 2019 | Asian Rainbow TV Awards | Outstanding Host Award | Won | |
| 25th Star Awards Ceremony | All-Time Favourite Artiste | N/A | Received |