Their on-screen kisses felt 'incestuous'
Long-time friends Rebecca Lim and Desmond Tan say intimate scenes in new drama felt awkward
They have been good friends in real life for a decade.
Now, local actors Rebecca Lim and Desmond Tan play a couple for the first time in a Chinese legal drama, Second Chance.
Premiering at 10pm on Thursday on Channel U, it focuses on Li Dashan (Tan), a tattooed bad boy lawyer who enjoys doing pro-bono work.
He meets cosmetic surgeon Zhang Xiaoxian (Lim) and they fall in love.
The pair share several kissing scenes, which Lim says made her "feel awkward".
The 28-year-old told The New Paper at the show's press conference last week: "We are too familiar with each other and we have known each other for a long time. It just feels wrong, it feels a bit incestuous."
Lim added that both she and Tan spoke to Second Chance's director to see if they could avoid the kissing scenes, but the director felt that those scenes would improve the storyline.
She said: "The first time we kissed, we ended up bursting into laughter. We asked the director if we could do with just kissing on the cheek so he filmed two versions, but ended up using the one where we kissed on the lips."
Tan added: "She hit me right after the first take and we kept laughing. It was funny. However, the next few takes were professional."
Lim, who is single, was also worried that Tan, 28, would get into trouble with his long-time girlfriend because of it.
"Desmond did not tell me if his girlfriend was jealous, but I feel that if I have a boyfriend and he is on such good terms with another girl, I would mind. I would feel awkward," she said,
"Thankfully, his girlfriend is a very cool person."
When asked about his girlfriend's reaction, all Tan said was: "Thanks for your concern. I am happy."
In 2013, Tan was reportedly in a three-year relationship with the woman, who is not from the entertainment industry. During the interview with TNP, he did not want to talk about her, saying he did not want to discuss his private life.
Before filming any kissing scenes in a drama, Lim would brush and floss her teeth, as well as use a breath spray.
However, for Second Chance, she did not put in much effort as her kissing partner happened to be her good pal.
She said: "I feel bad as I only used breath spray before the kissing scene. We are very close so we even share a breath spray. Of course, I try not to eat nasty-smelling stuff beforehand."
FRIENDS
Lim got to know Tan more than 10 years ago when they were paired up for an inter-junior college pageant.
Tan represented Jurong JC while Lim represented Victoria JC.
However, Lim feels that it would be impossible for them to date in real life even if Tan were not attached.
She said: "If we got together, we would always quarrel as I am very direct with him."
The actress, who has been in four relationships, said the last time she had a boyfriend was in 2013.
For her next relationship, Lim is looking for marriage to be the end goal.
She said matter-of-factly: "There is no point in getting into so many relationships. If I think it's not going to work, I don't want to waste my time, too."
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