For many Singaporeans, Mark Lee was, and is, the very pinnacle of local media entertainment. Comedy, acting, variety shows, he could do it all.
Yet, despite what he could do on both small and large screens, his talent was never genuinely recognised outside of a select few countries.
A major shame for an entertainer of his calibre.
But it seems that the tides are finally turning in his favour.
Mark Lee Nominated for Best Asian Actor at Netherlands Awards Ceremony
Back in 2020, Mark Lee surpassed himself when he earned a nomination for Best Leading Actor for the prestigious Golden Horse Awards.
He had been nominated for his role as a drag queen in the film Number 1.
Unfortunately, Lee would go on to lose the accolade to Taiwanese actor Mo Tzu-yi, but he took it in a positive manner.
“Even though I didn’t win,” Lee said at the time, “I gained a lot from my trip here and experienced an internationally prestigious film festival and awards ceremony and got to know many people in the film industry.
“I hope my nomination isn’t just validation for me alone, but can also be an encouragement for people in Malaysia and Singapore working in film. Never give up on your movie dreams.”
And indeed, it seems that Lee’s dreams are still far from over.
Apparently, the actor’s stellar performance in the film Geylang has captivated the jury at the Septimius Awards, so much so that he has earned a nomination for Best Asian Actor…
Despite not registering for the award.
The news was conveyed by Lee and his wife via a joint Instagram post two days ago.
“May this nomination serve as a stepping stone towards an even brighter and more prosperous future for you and your career,” wrote his wife Catherine Ng. “Thank you to the panel of judges.”
Several established local actors have also since congratulated Lee.
Lee has reportedly conveyed his happiness at being recognised by the Septimius Awards, a prestigious international awards ceremony that takes place in the Netherlands. He conceded that he’s relatively unfamiliar with it, but stated that it is also a reputable film festival.
Unfortunately, he’s unable to attend the ceremony, which occurs on 25 and 26 September 2023 in Amsterdam, due to scheduling conflicts.
As for his chances of winning, he’s reportedly uncertain as he has not viewed the other nominees’ works. Nevertheless, he stated, being nominated alone was encouraging enough.
Win or lose, he pledges to do his best in his next acting gig.
Update
However, a quick check on the Septimius Awards’ site revealed that there has been a change in the Best Asian Actor line-up.
Mark Lee’s name has been removed, with Korean actor Sol Kyung-gu taking his place.
We’re currently unclear as to the exact reason why and whether the change is permanent.
Geylang
Directed by Boi Kwong and produced by Jack Neo, Geylang (2022) is set in the infamous red-light district, and stars Mark Lee, Sheila Sim, Shane Mardjuki, Steven Woon and Taiwanese actress Patricia Lin.
Lee plays the role of a pimp in the local crime thriller. The film takes place over the course of a single night, and revolves around five titular characters.
The film first premiered at the Taipei Golden Horse Film Festival in November 2022, before screening at the Singapore International Film Festival and the International Film Festival Rotterdam in the Netherlands in January 2023.
It had its theatrical release on 6 April 2023.
Apart from Lee’s nomination, the film was also nominated for Best Action Choreography at the 59th Golden Horse Awards.
Previous Nomination
Lee was previously nominated for Best Leading Actor for the film Number 1.
He played the role of a retrenched general manager of a multinational company, who had to become a drag queen to support his family.
Though he did not win, the film managed to clinch the award for Best Makeup and Costume Design.
The film will also have a sequel, this time with a reportedly bigger budget.
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