There’s a new “ah boy” in town and it’s a she!
TVB actress Apple Chan (陳芷尤) will be starring as “Ah Boys To Men”‘s first ever female officer. According to director Jack Neo, adding a female officer to the film felt very “fitting”.
“Actually, women (serving) in the Singapore Armed Forces is very common, especially in the Armour unit. There are female tank officers, female armour officers… so to include a female officer is very fitting and appropriate,” said the helmer.
Apple Chan, who was born in Hong Kong but holds a Singapore PR, will be playing a lieutenant in the Armour unit named Zhang Xinyi. In speaking with Channel NewsAsia, she said that she felt honoured to be the film’s first “ah boy”. She shared, “Wearing the uniform, I already feel very proud. So much so that I feel like I want to serve the nation now.”
Also, she told the media outlet that she had nothing but respect for women serving in the army. “It’s not common… and they are very good representatives for females in terms of gender equality,” she explained.
It was reported that the film began production on 29th June and it will include production of the series’ 5th instalment.
“Ah Boys To Men 4”, which is expected to hit cinemas at the end of 2017, sees the return of Tosh Zhang as Sergeant Ong, Wang Weiliang as Lobang, Joshua Tan as Ken Chow, and Maxi Lim as Aloysius “Wayang King” Jin.
Sources: The Straits Times, MMO, Channel NewsAsia / Featured image: MMO, The Straits Times.
