Crazy Rich Asians star Pierre Png’s pearls of wisdom to looking good past 40

ON LOOKING GOOD PAST 40...

I have to say I have been blessed with good genes. I have been told many times my father is the best-looking guy in Hougang (and some say Batam) and I got his height as well. Food-wise, I do eat everything, but in moderation.

I grew up eating chilli belachan. Peranakan cuisine is just amazing and makes you sweat a lot. That does help burn calories - and your mouth. Perhaps it is also because of my upbringing. We laugh a lot, and we don't take things too seriously. Religion and love at home - that's helped a lot mentally.

I am really simple, the anti-metrosexual perhaps. I used to clean myself in my younger days with just one bar of soap. These days, because of all the products I have to put on from filming, I have to clean myself properly.

(Local host) Andrea (De Cruz), the missus, does recommend certain cleansers that work well and fast.

Hair-wise, because of all the hair product, I have found using cold water for the first rinse does help, followed by a second more vigorous scrub. This helps me get all the gunk and hairspray out of my follicles.

Here is a pro tip for guys looking to hide damaged hair or are having bad hair days: Don't use a cap. Even if it's a trucker cap where there is ventilation, you're covering your hair follicles and not letting them breathe.

It is always good to expand your horizons, rather than being holed up in Asia. Pierre Png

16 YEARS ON...

I donated part of my liver to Andrea (in 2002), but to put things in perspective, it is an experience where I am still learning as it goes along.

Post-op, it took quite a while to get used to the bodily changes. I could literally feel that stuff had moved around in my innards, and I was left with a massive scar chest down as well. It took about three to four months before the pain and discomfort left and full range of motion returned.

As the years have gone by, I haven't felt many side effects.

To a certain extent, the trauma now feels psychological - any workouts or training involving my core makes me hold back.

But fitness-wise, I seem to have over-compensated and I reckon I am actually fitter than before. I am really happy to reach this point of my life and with the decisions I've made.

I subscribe to (the teaching of Israeli fitness coach) Ido Portal - the philosophy that if you can't control your own body and movement, you have no right moving anything else.

Lifting weights and all is great, but he likes to go back to controlled movement and getting a full range of stretches. Very much like calisthenics.

I used to do a lot of cardio, interval training and Tabata, but these days, my workouts involve push-ups and sit-ups.

I am all about Amrap (as many reps as possible). While sit-ups aren't rocket science, I do take my pull-ups seriously. In fact, my home has gymnastic rings.

TALKING CRAZY RICH ASIANS

With Crazy Rich Asians, there was nothing to lose. I auditioned for three roles - Nick Young, the lead character; his best friend; and the role I ultimately got - Michael Teo.

He is a born and bred Singaporean, which is right up my alley, as I am also from a middle-income family, didn't go overseas to study. My character is basically the only one who is neither crazy nor rich.

It was also a great learning experience. Set discipline for Hollywood films is remarkable. You get on set and everyone knows what they are doing, and for us actors you just do your best to try not to screw it up after all that hard work.

All that effort means actors get the best chance to put real emotions on screen, as we're not distracted by anything else except being in that moment and right on cue.

It is always good to expand your horizons, rather than being holed up in Asia. You could send me off to India, Thailand, and I am game for anywhere and anything.

This article was first published in the September 2018 issue of Men's Health Singapore (www.menshealth.com.sg)