REPUBLIKA.CO.ID, SINGAPORE -- After playing female police constable Elizabeth Lee in the English language police drama "Mata Mata", Singapore actress-singer Cheryl Wee is back as a nurse in Channel 8's new Mandarin drama "The Caregivers".

"The Caregivers", about the lives of a group of nurses and doctors, is Wee's first major Mandarin acting project.

"I think it's a lot more challenging (than '`Mata Mata') because of the language. The shooting style is different as well," said Wee, pointing out that she had to do a lot more preparation work because of this.

She revealed that she was under quite a bit of pressure while shooting the drama, but conceded that most of the pressure actually came from within.

"I put a lot of pressure on myself because it's already my second drama," said Wee, explaining that she felt she needed to perform better than she did in her maiden work "Mata Mata".

The only problem was she had trouble identifying with her character Liu Xue Wen, whom she described as 'extroverted but has a lot of things going on inside'.

Wee said Liu tends to bottle up her feelings, which is something she doesn't really do.

"For me, if I am not happy you can see it on my face. I am an open book!" declared the actress.

Fortunately for Wee, her co-star veteran actor Thomas Ong, who plays Yang Hao Tian, a male nurse that performs house visits and gets involved in the personal lives of his patients, was always there to give her a helping hand.

"He has 400 scenes! He works every day, but he still takes time out each day to help me with my lines!" Wee gushed.

Liu detests Yang in the beginning, because she finds him picky and annoying, but is later impressed by his professionalism and kindness.

She begins to admire him and finally falls for him despite being much younger than he is, and ends up competing against Fang Yi Ting (Chris Tong), a doctor, for his love.

If the praise she heaps on him is any indication, Wee clearly admires 45-year-old Ong.

Could that admiration also turn into affection.

The 26-year-old actress-singer laughed and dismissed the notion.

"I treat him like an older brother lah!" said Wee.

She added that she wasn't quite sure if she could accept someone much older than she is as a boyfriend.

"I guess" there will a definite generation gap," said Wee hesitantly, before catching herself and refusing to go into any more detail about what she doesn't want in a lover.

"When it comes to love, I realised one thing. Don't say what you don't like, because you will get it!" said Wee with a giggle.

"The Caregivers" also stars Terence Cao, Jayley Woo as well as Yuan Shuai, and airs every weeknight from March 12, 9pm on Channel 8.

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