Zoe Tay - Recent Years

Recent Years

Tay is married to Lieutenant-Colonel Philip Chionh, a professional fighter pilot in the Republic of Singapore Air Force and RSAF Black Knights. She gave birth to her first baby, a boy named Brayden, on 24 February 2005 at Thomson Medical Centre. During her pregnancy, Tay shifted her career focus from acting in films and serials, and hosted several educational programs aimed at pregnant women.

In early December 2005, she had her first situation-comedy role since her pregnancy, Lady of Leisure, opposite Singaporean actor Edmund Chen. In this serial (broadcast on 29 April 2006), she portrayed a fashionable and modern woman who was once a magazine editor. This was followed by A Million Treasures (百万宝), which was the 3rd highest viewership drama in 2006.

In October 2007, Tay's second child, also a boy, was born. The birth of her second baby Ashton was generally kept low-profile as compared to the birth of her first baby.

Though Tay was tipped a hot favourite to win the My Favourite Actress award in the Star Awards 25th Anniversary Drama Show held on 9 December 2007, she lost the coveted award to colleague and good friend Huang Biren. Although Tay did not win the award, she took it easy, saying that Huang Biren deserved the award through her recent years of good drama serials. Despite this, Tay still managed to win 3 other important awards during the Star Awards 25th Anniversary Drama Show. These awards are 'Top 5 Most Memorable Characters (Bobo in Pretty Faces)', 'Top 5 Most Popular On-screen partner (with Li Nanxing)' and the 'Screen Sweetheart of the 90s'. The Unbeatables, which she starred in was voted as 'Top 5 most popular drama' too.

In 2009, Tay starred in The Ultimatum, opposite one-time rival Fann Wong and actor Li Nanxing. The drama received lukewarm ratings for its unenchanting storyline. While Tay was nominated for the best actress at the Asian Television Awards, she was snubbed at the local Star Awards and was criticised by audiences and the local media for her severe wrinkles and crow's feet in the series which was shot under high definition. However a number of readers rushed to her defence after reading the report, reminding viewers that Tay has given birth to two children and childbirth takes a lot out of a woman.

In 2010, Tay was supposed to act in a role of Unriddle, but turned it down due to an unplanned pregnancy. The Unriddle role was played by Chen Liping instead for season 1 & 2.

Tay gave birth to her third child Nathan at noon on 6 October 2010. According to veteran actress Pan Lingling, who accompanied Tay throughout the birth, Tay's third son was born under exceptional circumstances. Pan said Tay was taken by surprise when she experienced some bleeding at 9am due to a blood clot. On hearing the news, Tay's husband Philip Chionh rushed home to send his wife to the hospital. After consulting the doctor, it was found that Tay's situation required delivery by Caesarean section. Chionh made the decision on the spot for his wife to have the operation.

"She (Zoe) could not rest earlier because she opted for partial anaesthesia so she could witness the birth of her child," explained Pan.

"At first, she was quite worried as this is her first Caesarean section. But after she came out (of the operating room), she said she was very happy to see that the baby is healthy."

Tay made her comeback appearance recently in Devotion, a 2011 MediaCorp Channel 8 anniversary drama, playing a heartwarming woman who adopts five children and misses her sweetheart, played by Chen Hanwei, for many years before they reconcile. The role earned her a Best Actress nomination since Baby Boom (2003) at the Singapore Star Awards 2012. She later acted in the 2012 drama Double Bonus, where she played two roles, one a bullied daughter-in-law who is barren and cannot give birth to sons, the other a deity who is possessing her acting role. This drama is her breakthrough drama together with British actor Tom Price.

Over the years, Tay has never stopped contributing to various charity organisations by performing in a large number of charity fund-raising benefits.