The race between actor Christopher Lee and his younger brother Frederick Lee for the Best Actor Award at the Asian Television Awards put the siblings back in the spotlight.
Neither went home with the coveted prize at the Dec 2 awards. But it seems like neither had thoughts of taking the award home in the first place.
The 45-year-old Christopher was rooting for his brother, saying: “I wanted him to win. I want his career to reach greater heights.”
The star was nominated for his role as a pragmatic record-label boss in the MediaCorp music-themed drama Crescendo.
The younger Lee, 40, did not dare harbour thoughts of beating the other nominees, including his brother.
“My older brother has much more acting experience, he is more talented. He is my acting guru, he has been my role model since I was young. How could I surpass him?” asks Frederick, who was nominated for his role as a zealous cop in Malaysian crime thriller drama, Turning Point.
Frederick is currently in Taipei where he is based. He is following in his brother’s footsteps – venturing into the Taiwan market under the same Taiwanese talent agency Catwalk.
Christopher has already blazed a trail in Taiwan, making his mark two years ago with his Best Actor win at the prestigious Golden Bell Awards for the hit family drama, A Good Wife (2013). But is the Taiwanese industry ready to accept a Christopher look-alike?
Genetics proved to be a stumbling block for the dapper Frederick when he tried to break into the Singapore market after winning MediaCorp’s Malaysia Star Search (2003). Then, Christopher was already a suave leading man on MediaCorp’s Channel 8, having made his break placing second on Star Search (1995).
“A small market like Singapore did not need two acts that looked similar. The audience might get us mixed up. It was a blessing that I came back to Malaysia”, says Frederick, who became a regular face on Malaysian TV.
He nabbed the Best Actor award at ntv7’s Golden Awards (2014).
With the confidence of a veteran, Christopher believes it is possible for the brothers to make it in the same market.
“Even if we look alike, we are two individuals with different personalities and working styles. I believe he will carve out a niche for himself,” says Christopher, who describes himself as an extrovert and his brother as an introvert.
Frederick has long come to terms with the double-edged sword of being Christopher’s younger brother.
“When I first started, I was concerned about stepping out of my brother’s shadow. I got over it and realised that there are advantages. Audiences get to know who I am quicker. Because he is experienced, he is able to share with me the pitfalls to avoid,” says Frederick, who will spend the next few months in Taiwan going for auditions and meeting directors.
Should there come a day when the two brothers go head to head in an audition, Frederick believes they will compete as professional counterparts.
“Competition is inevitable in the business. If I get the job, sorry,” says Frederick with a laugh.
In Christopher’s opinion the scenario is unlikely to happen. He says: “If the production company looks for me, they won’t look for him. And vice versa. We are five years apart, so we are suited for different types of roles.”
Producers can approach the brothers to star in the same production – both indicated an openness to this in separate interviews.
“I hope there will be a chance in the future, if I am still acting then,” says Christopher with a chuckle. “We could play brothers, but it would not require much imagination. It would be great to play roles that help us explore our potential.”
The Lees walked away empty- handed at the Asian Television Awards, but it was a rare opportunity to spend quality time with the family. Frederick met his two-year-old nephew Zed, Christopher and his actress wife Fann Wong’s son.
He says: “There is a sense of euphoria when your niece or nephew acknowledges you. When I said bye to Zed, and he said bye back, it was a touching moment for me.”
Meanwhile, Christopher has jumped at the opportunity to advocate the joys of fatherhood to his bachelor brother.
Frederick says: “My big brother didn’t use to interfere with my personal life. Now that he has become a father, he keeps telling me to get married and experience the bliss of having kids of my own.” – The Straits Times/Asia News Network/Gwendolyn Ng
