Jernelle Oh got a Best Actress nomination at Asian Academy Creative Awards, but she isn't focusing on acting just yet
Rising star Jernelle Oh reflects on her Best Actress nomination alongside industry giants and shares insights on her unexpected recognition at the ceremony
It was a big moment in this starlet’s career — after all, she was nominated for Best Actress at the Asian Academy Creative Awards (AAA) alongside South Korean star Song Hye-kyo. This was also the same category which Singapore-based ‘Queen of Movies’ Yeo Yann Yann won in 2020.
So for 29-year-old Jernelle Oh, who re-entered showbiz after being a finalist at Star Search 2019, was there any pressure going into the awards? Well, when Yahoo Southeast Asia caught up with her at the red carpet of the ceremony on 7 Dec, Oh said she was “taking this more of like an experience”.
“I think no matter what the results are, I'll probably get to learn a lot from today. And I'll be happy no matter who won,” she added.
Unfortunately, Oh lost out to Rajshri Deshpande, who was nominated for her role in the Netflix series Trial By Fire. However, the nomination was exciting for Oh as it is “my first recognition in a professional award”.
She had also just flown back from Taiwan the morning of the ceremony.
“I haven't had much time to, you know, internalise this whole thing. But I think I will sleep very well tonight, no matter what the results are.”
No idea she was even nominated
Oh also admitted that she was surprised by her nomination at the AAA.
She said, “I totally had no idea I was even nominated in the first place. And suddenly, I was announced the winner. So it all came as a shock. I was actually at work at that point in time. One of the listeners from 95.8FM sent the news to me.”
Submissions to the awards are first judged locally in 17 countries across Asia, with only one entry in each category going through to represent their country at the Grand Awards (which was the ceremony Oh attended).
Despite the recognition for her acting after just two years in showbiz, Oh isn’t looking to double down on being an actress just yet.
This is also despite the fact that she has always wanted to be an actress growing up as she felt that it would allow her “to do all sorts of jobs” and let her “experience life”.
Oh is probably more known for her hosting gigs and is currently on a guest-hosting stint at Captial 95.8FM.
On whether she prefers acting or hosting, she replied, “Wow. This is, like, [choosing between] my right hand or my left hand. I love both. I think for acting, there's a lot of emotions involved, so it helps to grow my emotional intelligence maybe.
“And then for hosting, I think it's a lot of on the spot [improvisation]. Like, maybe if I'm talking to you, how I'm going to answer to you and things like that. Or what kind of questions I'm supposed to ask. It requires a lot of on the spot thinking. So I think it's two different things. And I enjoy both of them very much.”
On that viral Crimewatch scene
Many might recognise Oh from the viral Crimewatch TikTok trend that came via a scene she did in 2013.
When asked how she felt about the video catapulting her to mainstream recognition, she said she didn’t expect it to go viral and added, “I appreciate the attention that was given and it also shows that everything that you do will actually come back to you somehow. So yeah, we better put in 100 per cent.”
As for what’s next for this rising star, Oh shared that she is working with TVBS and filming a comedy series in Taiwan.
“I'm looking forward to that, for it to come out in April, most likely. So after this, end of the year, I'll probably fly back to film again. Yeah. And that will be my project for now.”
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