THE METAMORPHOSIS OF #GTMA
(Grace The Monash Alumni…yes I was once cover girl for
Monash Magazine)
Solo at KongsiKL. Photographed
by Liew Chee Heai. ▶
Grace Ng
‘haters’ hadn’t even entered our vocabulary. None of
my immediate circle of friends could understand. I felt
alone. Then there were certain manipulative directors,
acting teachers and so-called ‘fellow actors’ who,
through their own insecurity and ensuing narcissism,
abused my trust. As my career progressed, I started getting cast in
bigger productions – films, TV series, and stage
plays. At one point, I became a public figure when
I was a newsreader on ntv7 as well as a TV host for
a prime-time program. Along with this came a series
of challenges: I set out on a quest to define myself. 49
To reclaim my identity and to see myself through my
own eyes.
I set out on
a quest to
define myself.
To reclaim my
identity and
to see myself
through my
own eyes.
It all started with this insatiable desire to perform.
The stage had always been home for me. My first
role was as the ‘Head Dwarf’ in my school’s rendition
of ‘Snow White and the Seven Dwarves’. From
then, it never stopped: gymnastics routines, dance
performances, storytelling competitions, the list goes
on. I found something I was good at and that I loved
at a very young age.
Being labelled, subject to the male gaze and
consumerist gaze, picked apart by clients. I also
made the mistake of Googling myself. This was
2011, before ‘Instastories’ and ‘influencers’. The term
How did I overcome these challenges?
To be my own narcissistic director, my own ‘hater’,
and my own man. I found healing and expression
in art, photography and dance. Here are a few
personal pieces I think would spark the interest
of Monash grads.
7-year-old me. ▼
◀ Crawling in a puddle of dirt as my
attackers attempt a rape. Despite the
seemingly derogatory positioning of this
character, this is one of my favourite scenes
because the character eventually becomes
incredibly powerful.