Highlights From The Star Awards 2023: The Heartwarming, The Cute & The Memorable

The 29-year-old was crowned Best Actor for his role as an intellectually disabled adult in family drama Your World In Mine, making him the youngest winner of the award in 26 years. The last to do so was Christopher Lee, who won in 1997 at the age of 26.

In his acceptance speech, Richie gave a shout-out to members of the special needs community whom the cast consulted before working on the show: “Thank you, Johannes and Anna, for letting me into your world. Your world is beautiful.”

And when asked by the emcees who else he wanted to thank with the remaining of his allotted speech time, the star cheekily said he wanted to use it for a photo op with Cantopop superstar Sammi Cheng, who was a guest presenter for the night.

After 16 years in showbiz, Jeremy Chan finally received the Top 10 Most Popular Male Artistes award. His wife, Jesseca Liu, who won the same award that night, immediately rushed to embrace him, and was visibly holding back tears when she returned to her seat. Talk about couple goals.

With Christopher Lee away in Taiwan for work, it was up to his wife Fann Wong to go on stage to accept his win. He'd snagged the Best Entertainment Programme award for his cooking programme, Dishing With Chris Lee.

Reading from a note card with his prepared speech, Fann read, "I want to thank minister Chan Chun Sing and my celebrity pals. Your life stories are the highlight of Dishing With Chris. And you, my lovely wife," with the last bit making her slightly embarrassed.

“Without you, there wouldn’t be Chris’ homecooked meals. Thank you for being my guinea pig, she continued. "You say whatever I cook is delicious. I love you."

"I love you too,” she laughed while proceeding to pat herself on the shoulder.

Dharmadasa D Dharamahsena, who goes by Das DD, took home the Best Rising Star award last night. The host of Mediacorp’s online entertainment programme, #JustSwipeLah (2021 to present), he's the first Indian to win in a performance-based category in the event's 28-year history.

During his teary speech, which he delivered in fluent Mandarin, he thanked the #JustSwipeLah production team for taking a chance on him to host a Mandarin programme, his co-hosts, as well as his fans for giving him the courage.

The Young Talent Award went to Alfred Ong, who acted in Healing Heroes. While sobbing through his speech, he said, "I want to especially thank Ann Kok (who played my) mummy. Ann Kok mummy. Ann Kok mummy. Important people have to be mentioned thrice."

Awwww.

Despite being in showbiz for 28 years, veteran actor Brandon won his first performance award only last night — the Best Supporting Actor award for his role in Dark Angel, making it especially heartfelt. The 51-year-old, who also clinched his second Top 10 Most Popular Male Artistes win, said on stage, "This is my first stop as a long-distance horse, I'll have many more."

He also dedicated his award to his kids, saying "I want to tell my four kids that, as long as they persevere, they will achieve their goals. This is how Daddy achieved his."

Romeo Tan, got his best birthday gift this year yet — a Top 10 Most Popular Male Artistes award. The actor turned 38 on the day of the Star Awards 2023 (April 9).

Ya Hui, who had left Mediacorp in February after 15 years, was one of the recipients for Top 10 Most Popular Female Artistes. She shared, "I always thought I'd be acting until I was old."

"I hope that I'll be able to be like Xiang Yun, Aileen Tan or Chen Shucheng, and keep acting until I'm..." She trailed off, drawing laughter from the audience, before quickly clarifying, "I don't mean 'old'! I mean I hope I can act until people remember me and my work."

Good save.