# Carmen Soo

Carmen Soo (born Soo Wai Ming; 14 October 1977) is a Malaysian model and actress.

## Life and career

Soo was born and raised in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, to a Chinese father and to a half-Chinese, half-British mother. She holds a bachelor's degree in business management and can speak fluent Malay, Cantonese and English while also learning Tagalog to help her television acting career in the Philippines. She was part owner of a boutique named 'Kushi' located in Bangsar.
In 2015, Soo married Benson Tan in Bali and they have one daughter. She currently resides in Petaling Jaya, Selangor with her family.

### Modeling

Carmen Soo began modelling at age 17 and moved to Hong Kong at age 20 to pursue modelling career, which has brought her all over Asia, including Singapore. At 156 cm (just under 5'1") tall, her petite size is not conducive to catwalk modeling, hence most of her shoots tend to be print and television commercials. However, she has graced local magazines' covers such as New Man, V Mag, New Tide GLAM and Nu You. She is a spokesperson for international watch brand Longines along with Malaysian theatre personality Paula Malai Ali, and for Celcom with Singaporean singer JJ Lin. Soo is the brand ambassador of Uniqlo Malaysia. She managed by Model One in Hong Kong.

### Acting

Carmen started as an extra in the 1999 Jackie Chan movie entitled Gorgeous alongside Shu Qi, and later was in Aaron Kwok's musical special.
In September 2008, Carmen co-starred in an ABS-CBN (in collaboration with Malaysia's Double Vision) soap opera with Filipino actors Jericho Rosales, Cristine Reyes and Christopher de Leon in the teleserye Kahit Isang Saglit that was aired in the Philippines and Malaysia, and worldwide through TFC. Kahit Isang Saglit later earned a nomination in the International Emmy Award.
In 2010, Carmen appeared in a four-part series of Your Song entitled "Beautiful Girl" with Christian Bautista, which was shot through mid-July and August between Malaysia and the Philippines. In the same year, she appeared alongside JC De Vera in the third season of 5 Star Specials entitled Si Paco at ang Prinsesa, directed by Bb. Joyce Bernal on TV5.
Carmen was the lead actor in the Malaysian horror film The Hunter 3D, directed and written by Bjarne Wong. Soo then went on to perform on HBO Asia's Dead Mine as Su-Ling. She also appeared in the Singaporean horror film Ghost Child, alongside Chen Hanwei and Jayley Woo.

### Hosting

In 2009, Soo became a judge on It's Showtime. In April 2010, Soo became a co-host on Wowowee along with Kelly Misa, Jed Montero, Isabelle Abiera, RR Enriquez, Valerie Concepcion, Mariel Rodriguez and Pokwang.

## Filmography
### Film

| Year | Title | Role | Notes | Type |
| 1999 | Gorgeous | Gloria | A box office success in Hong Kong, grossing HK$40,545,889 during its theatrical run. | |
| 2004 | Visits: Hungry Ghost Anthology : Episode 1413 | Maria | | |
| 2005 | Baik Punya Cilok | Lina | | |
| 2006 | The 3rd Generation | Linda | Won the "Most Promising Actress Award" at the Malaysian Film Festival 2006. Malaysia's first award-winning Cantonese movie starring Nicholas Teo and Amber Chia | |
| 2008 | Kurus | Miss Liew | Won the Special Jury Prize at the Bangkok International Film Festival and Golden Kinnaree Awards, under the South-East Asian Competition held by director Ming Jin-Woo | Independent film |
| 2009 | Sayang You Can Dance | Angel | | |
| 2009 | Tenement 2 | Isabel | First cameo role in the Philippines. T2 Box Office 95 Million. Earned US$430,776 on its opening weekend. | |
| 2009 | My Spy | Jade | | |
| 2011 | Mein Herz in Malaysia | Dalina | Germany FFP New Media GmbH in Coproduction with Double Vision Malaysia for ARD Degeto. | Made for television |
| 2012 | The Hunter 3D | | | 3D film |
| 2012 | Dead Mine | Su-Ling | HBO Asia's first original production after 20 years. | |
| 2012 | The Borneo Incident | | | |
| 2012 | Alagwa (Breakaway) | | Recently made its world premiere at the 17th Busan International Film Festival in South Korea. | |
| 2013 | Double | | Directed by Woo Ming-Jin. Part of an online Silent Terror Anthology of YOMYOMF Network on YouTube | Short film |
| 2013 | Ghost Child | Na | | |
| 2013 | Love...and Other Bad Habits | Jess | | |
| 2013 | Shuffle | | | Short film |
| 2014 | Yasmine | Mother | | |
| 2018 | Orang Itu | Ching | | |
| 2018 | Crazy Rich Asians | Francesca Shaw | | |
| 2020 | Jebat | Aireen/Damia | | |
| 2022 | Air Force The Movie: Selagi Bernyawa | Major Marya Lee | | |
| 2024 | Baik Punya Ah Long | Amoi | | |

### Television

| Year | Title | Role | Network | Notes |
| 2007 | Ghost | Jenny | 8TV | |
| 2008 | Kahit Isang Saglit | Margaret 'Garie' Hang-Li | ABS-CBN | Main Role / Protagonist |
| 2008 | Kurus (Days of the Turquoise Sky) | Miss Carol | NTV7 | |
| 2009 | Ghost II | Jenny | 8TV | |
| 2009 | Maalaala Mo Kaya: Videoke | Maria | ABS-CBN | |
| 2010 | Showtime | Judge | ABS-CBN | |
| 2010 | Wowowee | Co-Host | ABS-CBN | |
| 2010 | 5 Star Specials: Si Paco at ang Prinsesa | Prinsesa Amara | TV5 | |
| 2010 | Your Song: Beautiful Girl | Hannah | ABS-CBN | |
| 2010-2012 | The Pupil | Rachel Sung | Mediacorp | |
| 2012-2015 | Code of Law | Rachel Sung | Mediacorp | |
| 2011 | Maurice Lacroix Follow Your Convictions Private Sessions | Herself | NTV7 | Episode 5 |
| 2011 | Ang Asawa Kong Japeks | Lily | TV5 | |
| 2011 | Showtime | Judge | ABS-CBN | |
| 2011 | Cyber Colors Glamour Girl Search | Mentor | 8TV | Sasa Reality Search |
| 2011 | Dapur Selebriti Knorr | Herself | 8TV | Reality cooking show |
| 2012 | The Apartment Style Edition | Guest Judge (Episode 8) | Star World | Shot in Malaysia Airing in 20 Countries in Asia |
| 2012 | Omg! | Herself | Diva Universal | |
| 2016 | The Hush | Valerie Teo | Mediacorp | |
| 2017 | Asia's Next Top Model | Host/Judge | Star World | Cycle 5 |
| 2022 | One Cent Thief | Irene | Astro Ria | |
| 2023 | The Iron Heart | Harmonia | Kapamilya Channel, A2Z, Jeepney TV, TV5 | Main Role / Protagonist |
| 2023 | Operandi Gerhana (Phantom Squad) | | Netflix | |

## Theatre

| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
| 2005 | The Girl From Ipoh | The Girl From Ipoh | A Chinese make love story. Directed by Low Ngai Yuen with music direction by Penny Low The Theatre production by Integrated Expressions staged from 9 to 13 November 2005 at Pentas 1 KLPAC. |
| 2007 | Rose Rose I Love You | Xuan | Integrated Expressions presents a pop musical production inspired by the life and times of Rose Chan, the legendary erotic Cabaret Queen of Malaya. Directed by Low Ngai Yuen with music direction by Penny Low, Rose Rose I Love You is the second collaboration between Penny Low and Ngai Yuen since The Girl from Ipoh. Rose Rose I Love You staged at the Genting International Showroom from 2 to 4 Nov, and on 9 to 11 Nov It is mostly in English with some Cantonese/Mandarin dialogue (with subtitles). Also in the cast are Tony Eusoff, K.K. Wong, Ling Tan, Lim Tiong Wooi and Anrie Too. |
| 2011 | Angels & Demons BURLESQUE | | Genting International Showroom |

## Awards

* Most Promising Actress Award at the Malaysian Film Festival 2006