I was born in Malacca but grew up in Switzerland since I was three years old. When it comes to punctuality, I am Swiss (some might say otherwise), but when it comes to food, I am Asian.

Xiao long bao, wanton mee, chicken rice with a nice cold drink on a hot, hot day. Can you tell how much I love living in Singapore? I don’t think I could ever leave Singapore for long. I just keep coming back no matter how much or far I travel. Besides food, I also treasure love and friends.

In the business world, it can be very mentally demanding especially when you have a lot of responsibilities. Physically, the long working hours as an actor are definitely the toughest. But luckily each job has its own beauty and if you work on something you love, everything becomes half as hard.

For a while, I have wanted to create something of my own. With Supperclub Los Angeles, I am not fully hands-on but am very close to my good friends who run the show, and who are teaching me a lot about the hospitality business.

My entertainment career is my greatest passion as I have been doing it for over 11 years now. Then again, my new projects get the same attention as well, since I learn a lot from them.

I find myself happiest when I don’t have to do anything at all. I mean, don’t we all love a beach holiday with the people who mean the most to us? That’s where I get my energy to continue my professional career path with joy and motivation.

To only follow your mind without listening to your heart is the worst piece of advice I’ve ever been given.

Life is full of embarrassing moments. I can’t really talk about my most embarrassing moment but I embrace these and learn from my mistakes.

I was very shy with girls when I was a teenager. The pretty boy image came a lot later, especially I find myself happiest when I don’t have to do anything at all when I moved to Asia. It took me quite some time to accomplish an image of a successful entertainer rather than just another pretty boy. But if you follow your career with hard work, heart and passion, people will hopefully recognize your talent sooner or later.

For a long time, I really thought pick‐ up lines were just a myth but nope, they really happen. I’ve been hit on with them. Don’t ask me what those lines were. They’re not worth remembering.

To me, life is all about being respectful, caring, loving and going out there to live your dreams.

Being the best boyfriend, son and friend I can, means more to me than any materialistic achievement.

Has the script been changed in any way since 2003?
Yes, while the structure of the script is very similar, the text has changed since 2003. There are also new characters in the play. We have male trailing spouses, a Swiss-German and a Japanese character in this year's production.

Do you identify with your own character?
I identify with my own character in taxi rides, difficulties with language, being a stranger in a strange land (I've lived in Paris, Dublin, Scotland and London before Singapore and Hong Kong) so that feeling of "reinvention" is very familiar to me. At a certain point it becomes less of a "reinvention" than a "when in Rome...". Wisdom plays a big part in this!

Which part is toughest to play?
The part of the husband Harold isn't easy. He's got to go from small-town church choir singer to full-blown concert performer. The wives have to be spot-on in their characterizations, comic delivery and vocal ability (they took a long time to cast). The Expat Wife has always relied on slick, tight performances—it moves fast.

How do you prepare for your part?
I am so familiar with Felicity, but she is also different to me, and those differences I have to work on; accent being one. In earlier productions I always said she was more of a narrator, the Dean Martin to everyone else's Jerry Lewis. But this time Felicity is more active than reactive. I'm going to have to be on my mark!

Are the expat wife stereotypes true then?
They wouldn't be funny to an audience if they weren't ! But the play laughs with expatriates and locals, not at them. The Expat Wife was written after I came here to visit my sister and witnessed the strong bond she had with four other women from Asia and other cultures. They (and their husbands) poked fun at themselves and found humor in their situation. At the same time they missed home, loved Asia, worried about their careers, relished in the extra time they could spend with their families or partners. The number of people who have approached me and asked, "Did you hear me say that?" Husbands particularly have quoted lines to me all these years on. Hysterical!

Catch The Expat Wife through May 21, Mon-Fri 8pm, Sat 3pm, 8pm. $30-65 from Sistic.

Minimalism And Fashion by Elyssa Dimant

What it’s about: Bulky and intimidating, this solid volume touches on the influence of minimalist art and architecture in fashion. Splendid creations by prominent figures like Rei Kawakubo (Comme des Garçons), Helmut Lang and Madeleine Vionnet (just to name a few) also make appearances in the book.
Highlights: This heavy hard‑cover will leave you marveling over breathtaking photographs in its pages.
For: Photography aficionados and art enthusiasts with that fashionable slant.
Price: $124.45

The Tote Bag by Jitesh Patel

What it’s about: This one’s a feast for the eyes. Every single page is delightfully jam‑packed with eye‑catching tote bag design illustrations submitted by artists worldwide to Jitesh Patel’s “Tote Prints” blog.
Highlights: The intriguing backgrounds of the artists are mentioned in small columns beside their designs. Also, this book comes with an adorable tote bag (what else?).
For: Tote bag fanatics (obviously) and those with an eye for graphic design.
Price: $44.95

The Poetry of Fashion Design by Paz Diman

What it’s about: Look behind the lackluster cover and you will discover that this book is quite the bible for some of the most cutting‑age designers now, including Maison Martin Margiela and Ksubi. These are up‑and‑coming names you ought to acquaint yourself with.
Highlights: The good‑looking images used coupled with straight‑to‑the‑point text makes for a pleasurable and unfussy read.
For: Anyone who wants to be in the loop on the latest in fashion and skill up on fashion talk.
Price: $66.35

Style Diaries by Simon Werle

What it’s about: Fashion bloggers are on the rise and they now have a say in the sartorial world. Style Diaries engages some of the best bloggers in the scene with bangin’ style and puts them in print.
Highlights: Apart from pictures of outfits, the bloggers reveal interesting random facts as an introduction of themselves.
For: Fans of fashion bloggers who can’t get enough of their cyber-idols.
Price: $39.70

All books are sold at Page One, #02‑41/42 VivoCity, 1 Harbourfront Walk, 6272‑0822. Also try venues like Kinokuniya, #03-09/10/15 Ngee Ann City, 391 Orchard Rd., 6737-5021 and Borders, #01-00 Wheelock Place, 501 Orchard Rd., 6235-7146.