Life after television: Whatever happened to ...

Whatever happened to the stars who gave us Tan Ah Teck from "Under One Roof", the lovable alien Yidi in Singapore's very first sci-fi show, 1987's "Star Maiden", and the two lead Ah Lians in the iconic "On the Fringe" that same year?  Many past stars attended the Star Awards 2012 Show 1 on Sunday, including those who played the memorable characters mentioned above, as guest presenters. Channelnewsasia.com chatted with some of them to find out what they've been up to since they left showbiz. Moses Lim Former Singapore actor Moses Lim is best known for playing Tan Ah Teck in the sitcom "Under One Roof" as well as being Jack Neo's partner in crime in the unforgettable Mandarin comedy sketch show "Comedy Night". Lim revealed that he seldom does any acting nowadays, though he made an exception and took on a cameo role in the upcoming Mandarin drama "Joys of Life". He explained that this was the reason the Star Awards 2012 Show 1, which saw them present an award together, was the first time they had met in years. "We lead different lives. "Now, I mostly spend my time playing with my three granddaughters, leading food tasting tours overseas and promoting food products," said Lim, who, despite his food-related activities, appeared to have lost a bit of weight. "We (Neo and himself) move in different circles. I am doing food tours and he is shooting movies. If I was a performer, our paths would cross, but I am not." Lim joked that even if Neo invites him to shoot a film, he would only do it if the price is right. "He always used to persuade me to accept a lower acting fee, saying that we are 'old friends' and that I should offer him a 'friendship rate'!" quipped Lim. Chen Xiu Huan Former Singapore actress Chen Xiu Huan used to melt men's hearts with her winsome smile and was especially cute as Yidi, an alien princess that gets stranded on Earth, in 1987's "Star Maiden". She later married a wealthy businessman, bade showbiz farewell and had three daughters, though she did appear in a few children's programmes in recent years. However, Chen said she has no plans to return to acting. "I came back to act a little bit in the past years but I wasn't very accustomed to it," said Chen, flashing a radiant smile. "Nowadays, I am just busy caring for my children! That is all there is to say about my life right now." Yang Li Bing and Zheng Wan Ling You could tell how close former Singapore actresses Yang Li Bing and Zheng Wan Ling are by the way they shared easy banter backstage at the Star Awards 2012 Show 1, and playfully teased one another when they met the media together. Zheng expressed that she still keeps in contact with many of her acting colleagues till this day, and had been very good friends with Yang since they played a pair of female delinquents in the original "On the Fringe", way back in 1987. "Last time for 'On the Fringe', we used to shoot for seven days and seven nights, without much sleep," said Zheng, who married a diplomat in 1998, then quit showbiz and had a daughter. "We would sleep in the holding rooms because we were so tired and she (Zheng) even slept with her make-up still on," recounted Yang, who now runs her own property-related business. Zheng, who now resides in Panama, revealed that she led a rather idyllic life attending functions alongside her diplomat husband, and returning to Singapore once a year for the shopping and the hawker food. Yang has yet to remarry, following her separation from her ex-husband, Singapore actor Li Nanxing, in 2004. "She (Zheng) keeps telling me to get married! But I think it's very important to find someone you like," said Yang. Would they consider returning to the screen? "If the script is good, and the role fits, I don't rule it out," said Yang. "We (she and Yang) should do a show together! And the male leads must be handsome!" suggested Zheng with a laugh.