SINGAPORE - Actor Mark Lee, 56, faced a career slump during the filming of Jack Neo's 2018 film "Wonderful! Liang Xi Mei," feeling outdated and limited in his roles.

"At the time, I had no idea what I wanted to play," Lee shared at the press conference for his new film "Number 2." "I felt I could only act as an Ah Beng who speaks loudly. Audiences had the same perception."

Doubting his longevity, Lee questioned if he could sustain his career for much longer.

A pivotal moment came during the filming of "Wonderful! Liang Xi Mei" when he met aspiring screenwriter Jaspers Lai, who played Merlion King in the film.

"I saw Jaspers typing away on his laptop all day," Lee recalled. "He was writing a script called 'Number 1,' about a man who becomes a drag queen to support his family. I found it interesting and different."

Lee suggested the script to mm2 Entertainment and expressed his interest in participating.

"Number 1" (2020) proved to be a turning point for Lee. While initially unsure of his performance, he embraced the role of Chow Chee Beng and discovered new facets of his acting.

"I saw a different side of my own performance and presented a different side of myself," Lee said. "Audiences also told me they saw something different in me, which made me very happy."

Lee's performance in "Number 1" earned him a Best Actor nomination at the Golden Horse Awards and brought the film recognition for Best Makeup and Costume Design.   

This success encouraged Lee to explore diverse roles, including the thriller-action film "Geylang" (2022) and the family drama "Wonderland" (2023). These experiences provided opportunities for international exposure, attending film festivals and interacting with actors and directors worldwide.

"I realized that my performance has so much to improve on," Lee said. "Interacting with these actors and directors motivated me to push myself further."

In "Number 2," the sequel to "Number 1," Chee Beng faces a crisis in the drag community and embarks on a journey to Thailand with his rebellious son and fellow drag performers to revive their careers.

Bridging the Generation Gap with Children

Lee acknowledged the generation gap between himself and his three children – daughters Calista, 16, and Calynn, 11, and son Maksonn, 13.

"As parents, we often assume our children know things they don't, and vice versa," he said.

To bridge the gap, Lee actively incorporates slang terms used by younger generations into his conversations with his children.

"I use words like 'slay' and 'bro,' and they're surprised I know them," he shared. "I learn these words from young adults I meet during work and use them with my children to make them more willing to open up to me."

"Number 2" is set to release in Singapore cinemas on January 28th.   

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