# The Lead

The Lead (Chinese: 第一主角) is a 30-episode Singaporean drama produced and telecast on Mediacorp Channel 8. The show is Channel 8's mid-year blockbuster for 2017 to remember Mediacorp at Caldecott Hill and to celebrate 35 years of television dramas. It stars Rebecca Lim, Shaun Chen, Andie Chen and Julie Tan as main cast.

## Plot

Ah Zhen (Rebecca Lim) has three childhood friends, Guang Hui (Shaun Chen), De Ping (Andie Chen) and An Ya (Julie Tan). Like Ah Zhen, they also love watching drama, and yearned to be seen on the TV screen. The four friends even made a pact together: To make it big in the drama scene, to play the lead character in a drama someday!
After graduating from secondary school, the four friends joined the TV station's acting classes, and all of them, except Ah Zhen, were selected to join the TV station as actors. Even though she was disappointed, Ah Zhen refused to give up, and began a journey full of hardships in the local drama scene.
Initially Ah Zhen worked alongside her father Xiao Hu (Chen Hanwei), who was a martial art stuntman. Unfortunately she was clumsy and always got injured, so she had to switch to being an extra. But even as an extra, she always somehow got in the way and was disliked and shunned by the production team. But Ah Zhen refused to leave the TV station, and found herself a job in the Costume department.
Childhood friend Guang Hui clinched his first lead role, and An Ya and De Ping had also taken up supporting roles, yet Ah Zhen was still struggling to survive. She switched from department to department: make-up, Props, Radio... trying to find a path for herself, but it seems like she was drifting further from her original dream of becoming an actress. Luckily at that time, she met her savior, the then “Ah-jie” of local drama scene, Chen Xiang Rong (Xiang Yun), a woman whom Ah Zhen saw as her own mother. Under the help of Xiang Rong, Ah Zhen managed to get a small supporting role in her first ever drama debut.
Since then, Ah Zhen began her career as a freelance actor, taking part in a number of classic productions. But Ah Zhen was insistent in her own method of acting, which many others could not agree to. By then, Guang Hui was already a popular rising star, and An Ya was radiant and eye catching after her cosmetic procedure, so the two co-starred in a few dramas, and they became the best on screen couple of their time. Ah Zhen was happy for her friends’ achievements, but she couldn't help but feel a little heartbroken. Actually, Ah Zhen has always been fond of Guang Hui since her teenage years, but Guang Hui never really noticed her.
At the lowest point in Ah Zhen's life, and she felt like she was abandoned by the entire world. But with encouragement from her friends, she eventually got up on her feet again. This time, Ah Zhen decided to focus on her job behind the scenes instead!
Working as the assistant producer was the turning point of Ah Zhen's life. As she had worked in various departments previously, she had contacts everywhere in the production team, making life as an AP easier. She took part in various popular dramas, and with a brush of luck, she always managed to accidentally create epic scenes in the dramas. Eventually, she worked her way up to a director.
As the years go by, many things were no longer what they used to be. The TV station separated into two competing stations, and the friendship between the four broke down. Guang Hui was leading a wasted life, gambling and drinking away, and losing money in unsuccessful investments, eventually leading to a broken family. After separating from Guang Hui, An Ya took to the international screen, but was faced with aftereffects of excessive cosmetic surgery, threatening her acting career. De Ping was involved in a sex scandal and was fired by the TV station, and even ended up in jail for 2 months.
Seeing that their friendship was severely challenged, Ah Zhen, the only one who has not changed, tried very hard to bring the other three back together. After all these ups and downs, will the perseverance of Ah Zhen eventually recover the lost friendship between them?
Ah Zhen has always been secretly loving Guang Hui, but she always misses the opportunity to bring their friendship to another level. How will their relationship end up? An Ya and Guang Hui were the promising couple, but love grew into hate, and they went separate ways, though they never truly forgotten each other. Will they ever reconcile? Ah Zhen and De Ping are friends in times of need, supporting each other faithfully through all these times. Will their relationship eventually bear fruit?
Will this complicated four-sided relationship finally come to a happy ending?

## Cast
### Main cast

| Cast | Character | Description | Episode Appeared |
| Rebecca Lim 林慧玲 | Lin Meizhen 林美真 | Ah Zhen (阿真) Younger version portrayed by Isabel Yamada Wardrobe Assistant and Make-up Department Employee ~> Assistant Producer ~> Director Childhood friend with Xie Guanghui, Hong Deping and Fang Anya Lin Xiaohu and Liu Xinyu's daughter Deng Yongkang's half older sister TV station's substitute | 1, 6, 24, 27–28, 30 (Younger Version) 1- 30 |
| Shaun Chen 陈泓宇 | Xie Guanghui 谢光辉 | Younger Version Portrayed by Damien Teo Childhood friends with Lin Meizhen, Hong Deping and Fang Anya Lin Bixia's son Fang Yahua's grandson Fang Anya's boyfriend (broke up in Episode 14) Huang Mei Na's husband in Episode 18 (Divorced before Episode 25) TV station's actor | 1, 6, 11, 16, 24, 26–28, 30 (Younger Version) 1- 30 |
| Andie Chen 陈邦鋆 | Hong Deping 洪德平 | Younger Version Portrayed by Ivan Lo Childhood friends with Lin Meizhen, Xie Guanghui and Fang Anya TV station's actor Taxi driver Uncle Hong and Auntie Hong's nephew | 1, 6, 24, 27–28, 30 (Younger Version) 1–10, 12-30 |
| Julie Tan 陈欣淇 | Fang Anya 方安雅 | Younger Version Portrayed by Toh Xin Hui Childhood friends with Lin Meizhen, Xie Guanghui and Hong Deping Fang Guodong and Zhao Meili's daughter TV station's actress | 1, 6, 24, 27–28, 30 (Younger Version) 17 (Voice) 1–7, 9–15, 19-30 |

### Supporting cast

| Cast | Character | Description | Episode Appeared |
| Xiang Yun 向云 | Chen Xiangrong 陈湘蓉 | Liu Xinyu's best friend Lin Xiaohu's girlfriend TV station's actress | 1–10, 17–25, 30 |
| Chen Hanwei 陈汉玮 | Lin Xiaohu 林小虎 | Liu Xinyu's husband Lin Meizhen's father Chen Xiangrong's boyfriend TV station's stuntman, calefare and substitute | 1–6, 9-25, 30 |
| Terence Cao 曹国辉 | Guo Liwei 郭立威 | Main Villain TV station's actor Pretends to like Lin Meizhen to make use of her Befriends Xie Guanghui to exploit him of his money Likes Huang Mei Na and secretly has an affair with her | 10-22 |
| Jasmine Sim 沈家玉 | Huang Mei Na 黄美娜 | Supporting Villain Na Na (娜娜) TV station's Ah Jie/actress Likes Guo Liwei and secretly has an affair with him Pretends to like Xie Guanghui to exploit him of money Xie Guanghui's Ex-Wife | 14–16, 18-22 |
| Cynthia Koh 许美珍 | Chen Qiulian 陈秋莲 | TV station's director ~> Head of Drama producer and director Resigned from TV Station | 16, 18–20, 22–23, 25, 27-28 |
| Kym Ng 钟琴 | Liu Xinyu 刘心雨 | Lin Xiaohu's wife Chen Xiangrong's best friend Lin Meizhen and Deng Yongkang's mother | 19-25 |
| Zheng Geping 郑各评 | Fang Guodong 方国栋 | Uncle Curly Hair (卷毛叔) TV station canteen boss Zhao Meili's husband Fang Anya's father | 1–2, 4, 6–7, 9–10, 12–15, 17–21, 26-30 |
| Cassendra See 薛淑珊 | Zhao Meili 赵美丽 | Auntie Fang (方姨) TV station canteen lady boss Fang Guodong's wife Fang Anya's mother | 1, 7, 10, 13–15, 17, 19, 21, 26-30 |
| Jin Yinji 金银姬 | Fang Yahua 方亚华 | Guanghui's Grandmother (光辉的阿嬷) Xie Guanghui's paternal grandmother Lin Bixia's mother-in-law Died from stroke (Deceased ~ Episode 26) | 1-6, 8–12, 14–15, 18, 21–23, 25-26 26-27, 30 (flashback) |
| He Yingying 何盈莹 | Jing Jing 晶晶 | Villain but repented TV station's actress/ future Ah Jie Disliked and envied by Fang Anya | 19–23, 29-30 |
| Michael Huang 黄仲昆 | Ma Xinghai 马兴海 | TV Station's Head of Drama producer and director Retired from the TV Station in Episode 18 | 1–8, 12, 15-18 |

### TV Station's Celebrities/ Extras

| Cast | Character | Description | Episode Appeared |
| Rebecca Lim 林慧玲 | Lin Meizhen 林美真 | See Main Cast | |
| Shaun Chen 陈泓宇 | Xie Guanghui 谢光辉 | See Main Cast | |
| Andie Chen 陈邦鋆 | Hong Deping 洪德平 | See Main Cast | |
| Julie Tan 陈欣琪 | Fang Anya 方安雅 | See Main Cast | |
| Chen Hanwei 陈汉玮 | Lin Xiaohu 林小虎 | See Supporting Cast | |
| Xiang Yun 向云 | Chen Xiangrong 陈湘容 | See Supporting Cast | |
| Terence Cao 曹国辉 | Guo Liwei 郭立威 | See Supporting Cast | |
| Jasmine Sim 沈家玉 | Huang Meina 黄美娜 | See Supporting Cast | |
| He Yingying 何盈莹 | Jing Jing 晶晶 | See Supporting Cast | |
| Elizabeth Lee 李巧儿 | Xue Bing 雪冰 | TV station's actress | 7-9 |
| Li Wenhai 李文海 | Zheng Jiang 郑将 | Hong Kong actor | 16-17 |
| Alvin Tho 卓汉隆 | | TV Station's actor | |
| | | TV Station's freelance actress Been raped by Hong Deping that was set up by Guo Liwei | 17 |
| Eugene Tay 郑建龙 | | TV Station's freelance actor | 5,16 |
| Fang Rong 符芳榕 | Yao Yao 瑶瑶 | TV station's actress | 19-20 |

### TV Station's Heads

| Cast | Character | Description | Episode Appeared |
| Zheng Geping 郑各评 | Fang Guodong 方国栋 | See Supporting Cast | |
| Cassendra See 薛淑珊 | Zhao Meili 赵美丽 | See Supporting Cast | |
| Marcus Mok 莫健发 | Adam | TV Station's Overall In-Charge | 17–18, 25 |
| Michael Huang 黃仲崑 | Ma Xinhai 马兴海 | See Supporting Cast | |
| Cynthia Koh 许美珍 | Chen Qiulian 陈秋莲 | See Supporting Cast | |
| Wang Yuqing 王昱清 | | TV Station's Head of drama script/ story writer | 1, 28 |
| Michelle Tay 郑荔分 | | TV Station's Head of Wardrobe | 8-10 |
| Wallace Ang 洪圣安 | Qiang-Ge 强哥 | TV Station's make up department in-charge | 10–11, 16, 18 |
| Uncredited | | TV Station's stylist Hong Deping's passenger | 28 |
| Uncredited | Mr Soh | Head of TV's Station departments | 28 |

### TV Station's Instructors Directors/ Reporters/ Producers

| Cast | Character | Description | Episode Appeared |
| Rebecca Lim 林慧玲 | Lin Meizhen 林美真 | See Main Cast |
| Guo Liang 郭亮 | Li Wei 李伟 | TV station's acting class instructor | 1-2 |
| Louis Wu 伍洛毅 | Ken | TV Station's director | 4-5 |
| Ryan Lian 廖永谊 | No Role | TV Station's director | 7 |
| Tay Ping Hui 郑斌辉 | Himself | Star Awards' emcee | 13-14 |
| Chase Tan 陈锦宏 | Chase | TV Station's assistant director Lin Meizhen's assistant | 18–19, 21-24 |
| Kenneth Chung 钟坤华 | No Role | TV station's director | 19 |
| CKay Lim 林志强 | Xu Zhiguang 许志光 | TV Station's Executive Producer Been resigned from TV Station | 19–22, 27-28 |
| Bukoh Mary 巫许玛莉 | Mary | TV Station's reporter | 27 |
| Fraser Tiong 张家奇 | No Role | TV Station's director | |

### Others

| Cast | Character | Description | Episode Appeared |
| Zhu Xiufeng 朱秀凤 | Sister E 鹅姐 | Chen Xiangrong's friend | 3-4 |
| Jaslyn Theen 汤妙玲 | Lin Bixia 林碧霞 | Villain Gambler Xie Guanghui's mother Fang Yahua's daughter-in-law Used to be Lin Xiaohu's love interest Steals away Xie Guanghui valuables but was caught by Lin Xiaohu | 10-16 |
| Hu Wensui 胡问遂 | | Villain Loanshark Lin Bixia's subordinate | 12-15 |
| Benjamin Tan 陈俊铭 | Eric Hong | Villain Boss of Hollywood Movie Company Cheated Fang Anya all this while because he is unhappy to know that she only have feelings for Xie Guanghui | 12–13, 22, 26-28 |
| Charlie Goh 吴清樑 | Jack | Villain Loanshark | 20-26 |
| Dylan Quek 郭景豪 | Jay | Villain Loanshark | 20-26 |
| Teo Sili 张思丽 | Auntie Hong 洪婶 | Hong Deping's aunt | 22, 27 |
| Hoong Kuo Juey 洪国锐 | Uncle Hong 洪叔 | Hong Deping's uncle | 22, 27 |
| Larry Low 刘龙伟 | Xiao Ma 小马 | Film/movie film crew | 23 |
| Nick Teo 张鈞淯 | Deng Yongkang 邓永康 | Liu Xinyu's son Lin Meizhen's half younger brother | 25 |
| Uncredited | Mr Li 李先生 | Been knocked by Hong Deping's car and hospitalized | 26-28 |
| Uncredited | No Role | Helped Xie Guanghui at a shore and escort him find a place to stay in Tanjungpinang (Indonesia) | 27-28 |
| Alston Yeo 杨峻毅 | No Role | Helped Xie Guanghui at a shore and escort him find a place to stay in Tanjungpinang (Indonesia) | 27 |

## Original Sound Track (OST)

| No. | Song Title | Singer(s) |
| 1) | 初衷 (Main Song for the series) | Tay Ping Hui |
| 2) | 谈到爱 | Ling Kai |
| 3) | 记得 | JJ Lin 林俊杰 |
| 4) | 亲密爱人 | 王芳 |

## Awards and nominations
### Star Awards 2018

The Lead is up for 5 nominations.
The other drama serials also nominated for Best Theme Song nomination with Dear DJ, Life Less Ordinary, Dream Coder & When Duty Calls.
It won 3 out of 5 nominations. It swept almost all the awards except for Best Director and Best Theme Song.
The Star Awards are presented by Mediacorp.
Star Awards – Performance Awards :
| Accolades | Nominees | Category | Result |
| Star Awards | Loo Yin Yam | Best Director | Nominated |
| Star Awards | Tay Ping Hui | Best Theme Song 《(初衷)》 | Nominated |
| Star Awards | Damien Teo | Young Talent Award | Nominated |
| Star Awards | Isabel Yamada | Young Talent Award | Won |
| Star Awards | Chen Hanwei | Best Supporting Actor | Won |
| Star Awards | Rebecca Lim | Best Actress | Won |

## Development

* Filming began in November 2016 and wraps in March 2017