New Straits Times, 1 Mar 2008

The sky’s the limit for upcoming young actress Chermaine Poo who is making her debut as a film producer. DENNIS CHUA has the story.

HAVING appeared in the Ang Lee film Lust, Caution alongside Hong Kong screen legend Tony Leung Chiu-Wai, Taiwanese singer Wang Lee-Hom and China’s Joan Chen, Chermaine Poo is now making her debut as a film producer.

The film is London Calling, a romantic story set in London and Kuala Lumpur, directed by Khairil M. Bahar of Ciplak fame.

Poo and Khairil also star in the film with Justin Chan and Melissa Maureen, as lovers who cannot move forward with their lives as a result of personal problems.

London Calling, which bears no connection to the famous 1970s hit song performed by British rock group The Clash, will be completed early next month.
Filming began in November last year, and it is likely to hit the big screen at year’s end.

“We’ll be sending it to international film festivals, and we hope for the best. The film is not your usual romantic story. It is very character-driven, not unlike Woody Allen’s films,” said Poo.

“It is a story of four Malaysians whose lives are intertwined and who are stuck in the past. Each also has a connection with London.”

Poo’s character, Emma, works in a lingerie company in Kuala Lumpur. She is transferred to the company’s office in London, and faces problems in her relationship with musician Joe.

“I was so happy that Khairil asked me to be co-producer of the film with him. It is great to work with him, as he is very knowledgeable and creative,” she said, adding that it was also fun to work with the talented Melissa and Justin.

“All of us have had some connection to London or Britain. In my case, I studied there.”

Poo, 27, is a chartered accountant with three accountancy qualifications.

At 19, she graduated with a double major degree in accounting and finance from Britain and subsequently worked with a local bank.

After a year in the bank, she joined the Miss Malaysia/Universe 2005 pageant and emerged runner-up.

She also won three subsidiary titles, namely Miss Beautiful, Miss Natural Beauty and Miss Crowning Glory.

“I was persuaded to join the contest by a friend, who participated and won two years earlier. It was strenuous and I fell sick on the night of the finals,” she said.

Her hard work paid off though. In 2006, modelling and acting offers came.

Besides Lust, Caution, Poo appeared alongside Umie Aida in the killer bomoh film Dukun as a lawyer, and in Anwardi Jamil’s heart-warming family drama Orange For Mama as a first-time lover.

She also starred in two television series namely The Beginning and Anak Pontianak.

Poo also underwent an advanced acting course at the Kuala Lumpur Performing Arts Centre (KLPaC) and starred in The Actors Studio’s theatre production The Odd Couple last year.

Voted as one of FHM magazine’s 100 Sexiest Women of 2006, Poo is also a television host.

She hosted travel documentaries for Malaysian and Singaporean television last year, including one where she had a “great time” in Pulau Tioman.

“I love travelling, especially in Europe. I stayed in Britain for a year while at university and visited France, Germany, Italy and Switzerland, among others,” she said.

The beauty’s debut on the small screen began when she was four. She modelled for television advertisements, most notably KFC, for two years.

Her appearance in advertisements continued when she was studying at Kolej Damansara Utama, Petaling Jaya, in the late 1990s.

This time, it also included billboards and the print media.

“My father also appears in advertisements, but neither my parents nor my younger sister and brother are keen on following my footsteps,” she said.

Poo said her parents had reservations about her decision to leave a lucrative banking job for showbusiness but eventually gave their blessings.

“I was always interested in the entertainment industry, acting in particular, but I had to complete my studies first.

“I have always loved watching movies and was always intrigued as to how filmmakers and actors went about their jobs,” she said, adding that her heroes included Datuk Michelle Yeoh, Gong Li, Johnny Depp and Kevin Spacey.

Poo is also sought after as a master of ceremonies as she speaks English, Bahasa Malaysia, Chinese (namely, Mandarin, Cantonese and Hokkien), Japanese and Thai.

Currently, she is signed up for another local movie, due to begin filming in August.

The RM3.5 million film, Taiko, will be directed by Brando Lee with Poo playing the two lead characters’ love interest.

“While I’d love to direct my own films some day, my main focus now is to become a successful and credible actress,” she said