9 Facts About Jin Yinji, the Veteran Actress Who Finally Won Her First Star Award After 30 Years

Doesn’t she look familiar?

She should be because she won herself a place in the 2018 Star Awards Top 10 Most Popular Female Artiste category yesterday.

And even if you don’t watch Star Awards, you’d have heard about her from the Mediacorp controversy that happened back in 2017.

Here are 8 facts about this veteran actress that every 90s kid would’ve seen on TV before.

1. First Star Awards Win in Over 30 Years

Let’s start with the most recent news about her.

Her first Star Awards win in over 30 years of acting at the age of 72.

When we look at TV or movies, we typically see a handful of successful people. They’re the minority in a huge community of entertainers, most of whom never successfully made it.

Luckily for veteran actress Jin Yinji, she did. At the age of 72.

Just like previous years, she went with the mindset of celebrating her fellow artistes’ victories at the award show.

She didn’t even prepare a winning speech as she didn’t expect to win any awards.

Plus, she isn’t under Mediacorp anymore but we’ll go into that later.

2. First Chance to Go On Stage, First Time Getting Interviewed For An Award

Now, most Singaporeans viewed the Star Awards as a programme that should be cancelled.

That it’s a cancerous show that throws the collective face of Singapore in the world.

But to the artistes, it could be an affirmation of their hard work, an acknowledgement that they’re doing well in their careers.

In an interview with 8Days back in Jun 2017, she told them that she wished she would have a chance to thank her staff members on stage.

And this can be seen from Jin Yinji’s emotional outburst.

“I’m still very emotional right now. Not only did I manage to attend this year’s awards, I even got to go on stage.

“And now, I have the chance to be interviewed. It’s really the first time that I’ve experienced this in my entire life.”

She plans to keep her prize in her room to make sure that it won’t be accidentally broken.

3. She is well-loved by fellow actors/actresses and staff members

After being in the local showbiz scene for three decades, you’d either be loved or hated by many.

And for Jin Yinji, it’s the former.

When her name was announced as the winner, local celebrities shed tears for her.

And many of them showed support for the veteran actress whom they know as Jin-Jie.

4. She was embroiled in a controversy back in 2017

Remember what I said about her not in Mediacorp anymore?

There are a few out there who consider her win surprising, especially since she and Mediacorp were embroiled in a controversial issue last year.

My colleague even suspected that this is a PR stunt which he wrote about in an app-exclusive article.

(Download our app here to read this app-exclusive article!)

Back in Jun 2017, she told Lianhe Zaobao that she decided to leave the employment of Mediacorp after the management told her to take a pay cut of two thirds or more when they were negotiating a new contract.

She mentioned that she was told that the company would rather hire a $50-an-hour freelancer.

5. Mediacorp hit back, saying that the part about $50-an-hour happened a decade ago

Of course, when an artiste of the company makes such a serious accusation, Mediacorp has to hit back.

And oh boy, did they hit back.

Ms Doreen Neo, head of Mediacorp Studios said in a statement that the passing remark was made more than 10 years ago.

And it was made by a staff who had no hiring authority during a casual conversation.

Shortly after, Jin Yinji said that the statement was true.

In her heightened emotional state during the interview with Zaobao, she made a mental association with the remark and her (then) recent falling out with Mediacorp.

That was why it all came out that way.

6. She was first spotted as a singer

I bet you didn’t know that she was talent-spotted as a singer initially.

Then she debuted as an actress in Neighbours back in 1986.

From her debut till 2018, she appeared in 109 Mediacorp’s productions since then, which made her victory at the Star Awards 2018 even more bittersweet.

And not only that, there’s more.

7. She was nominated for an award at the Star Awards 9 times before winning

Given her emotional outburst at the awards yesterday, you’d think that she wasn’t nominated for anything before.

But she was, for a grand total of 10 times, including the one she won yesterday.

She was nominated for Best Supporting Actress back in 2013 and My Favourite Actress in 2007.

She was also nominated for the popularity award for the years 2004, 2005, 2009, 2010, 2014, 2015, 2016 and finally, 2018.

8. She will never retire anytime soon

In case you can’t tell, she’s eligible for a Pioneer Generation Card.

At her age, you can expect her to be asked this question: When will you be retiring? 

In the interview with 8Days, she said she can’t see herself retiring anytime soon.

She said she cannot remain idle at home and is afraid of growing senile or depending on anyone.

She wants to stay active in life and live and learn new things every single day.

After her win at the Stars Award 2018, she said she needs “to take one award every year and complete the collection at 80”.

9. The reason why she’s always spotted in Korea’s Hanbok

Here, take a look.

Or this.

Now, take a look at how she looked like when she was much younger.

What comes to your mind?

This.

Yeah, she’s born in South Korea but is a Singaporean now. Some people still feel that her Mandarin has a Korea accent; well, we certainly can’t sense that.

So next time, if you see her in a Hanbok, don’t presume that she’s trying to be hip: it’s part of her tradition.

Pretty cool, isn’t it?

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Everyone is talking about Jin Yinji’s win in yesterday’s Star Awards: is it a PR Stunt, a “Self-fulfilling Prophecy” or a Real Win? Read our commentary in our app now (this is an app-exclusive content so you can’t read it in our website or Facebook)

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