Carmen Soo

{{short description|Malaysian model and actress (born 1977)}}

{{EngvarB|date=October 2014}}

{{Use dmy dates|date=October 2014}}

{{family name hatnote|Soo|lang=Chinese}}

{{Infobox model

| image = Carmen Soo on MeleTOP.jpg

| caption = Soo interviewed on MeleTOP in 2015

| imagesize =

| name = Carmen Soo

| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1977|10|14|df=y}}

| birth_place = Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

| nationality = {{MAS}}

| occupation = {{hlist|Model|host|actress}}

| years_active = 1997−present

| birth_name = Soo Wai Ming

| height = 160 cm

| website = {{URL|carmensoo.com}}

| module = {{Infobox Chinese |child= yes|hide= no |headercolor=lightblue

|s=苏慧敏|t=蘇慧敏|poj=So͘ Hūi-bín|p=Sū Huìmǐn|j=Sou1 Wai6 Man5

}}

}}

Carmen Soo (born Soo Wai Ming; 14 October 1977) is a Malaysian model and actress.

Life and career

Soo was born and raised in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, to a Chinese father and to a half-Chinese, half-British mother. She holds a bachelor's degree in business management and can speak fluent Malay, Cantonese and English while also learning Tagalog to help her television acting career in the Philippines.{{cite web|url=http://telebisyon.net/balita/Carmen-Soo-enjoying-life-in-Manila/source/113682/ |title=Carmen Soo enjoying life in Manila |accessdate=2010-04-10 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20120325131553/http://telebisyon.net/balita/Carmen-Soo-enjoying-life-in-Manila/source/113682/ |archivedate=25 March 2012 |df=dmy }} She was part owner of a boutique named 'Kushi' located in Bangsar.

In 2015, Soo married Benson Tan in Bali and they have one daughter.{{Cite web|url=https://www.thestar.com.my/lifestyle/life-inspired/2018/05/21/389920|title=Model and actress Carmen Soo opens up about motherhood|last=|first=|date=|website=|access-date=}} She currently resides in Petaling Jaya, Selangor with her family.

=Modeling=

Carmen Soo began modelling at age 17 and moved to Hong Kong at age 20 to pursue modelling career, which has brought her all over Asia, including Singapore. At 156 cm (just under 5'1") tall, her petite size is not conducive to catwalk modeling, hence most of her shoots tend to be print and television commercials.{{cite web|url=http://www.sun2surf.com/article.cfm?id=13396|website=Sun2Surf|title=She's Soo beautiful|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060508192024/http://www.sun2surf.com/article.cfm?id=13396|archive-date=8 May 2006}} However, she has graced local magazines' covers such as New Man, V Mag, New Tide GLAM and Nu You. She is a spokesperson for international watch brand Longines along with Malaysian theatre personality Paula Malai Ali,http://www.longines.com/eng/html_longines/Ambassadors/cv_Carmen_Soo.pdf{{dead link|date=November 2016 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }} and for Celcom with Singaporean singer JJ Lin.

Soo is the brand ambassador of Uniqlo Malaysia. She managed by Model

One in Hong Kong.{{cite web|url=http://www.modelone.hk/en/model/viewmodel.php?mid%3DT10008 |title=Carmen Soo |accessdate=2014-10-29 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20160303230202/http://www.modelone.hk/en/model/viewmodel.php?mid=T10008 |archivedate=3 March 2016 |df=dmy }}

= Acting =

Carmen started as an extra in the 1999 Jackie Chan movie entitled Gorgeous alongside Shu Qi, and later was in Aaron Kwok's musical special.{{cite web|url=http://allmalaysia.info/services/printerfriendly.asp?file=/2003/7/7/msiansabroad/yycarmen1|website=AllMalaysia.info|title=Soo gorgeous|url-status=dead|last=Yoga|first=S.S.|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070926235338/http://allmalaysia.info/services/printerfriendly.asp?file=%2F2003%2F7%2F7%2Fmsiansabroad%2Fyycarmen1 |archive-date=26 September 2007 }}

In September 2008, Carmen co-starred in an ABS-CBN (in collaboration with Malaysia's Double Vision) soap opera with Filipino actors Jericho Rosales, Cristine Reyes and Christopher de Leon in the teleserye Kahit Isang Saglit that was aired in the Philippines and Malaysia, and worldwide through TFC. Kahit Isang Saglit later earned a nomination in the International Emmy Award.{{cite web|url=http://push.abs-cbn.com/features/69978/malaysian-star-carmen-soo-still-hopes-to-get-projects-in-the-philippines|title=Malaysian star Carmen Soo still hopes to get projects in the Philippines|last=Belmonte|first=Maureen Marie|date=July 18, 2016|accessdate=July 18, 2016}}

In 2010, Carmen appeared in a four-part series of Your Song entitled "Beautiful Girl" with Christian Bautista, which was shot through mid-July and August between Malaysia and the Philippines.{{cite web|url=http://www.pep.ph/guide/tv/6783/christian-bautista-and-carmen-soo-are-paired-in-your-song-presents-beautiful-girl|title=Christian Bautista and Carmen Soo are paired in Your Song presents Beautiful Girl |date=September 12, 2010 |accessdate=July 18, 2016}} In the same year, she appeared alongside JC De Vera in the third season of 5 Star Specials entitled Si Paco at ang Prinsesa, directed by Bb. Joyce Bernal on TV5.

Carmen was the lead actor in the Malaysian horror film The Hunter 3D, directed and written by Bjarne Wong. Soo then went on to perform on HBO Asia's Dead Mine as Su-Ling. She also appeared in the Singaporean horror film Ghost Child, alongside Chen Hanwei and Jayley Woo.

= Hosting =

In 2009, Soo became a judge on It's Showtime. In April 2010, Soo became a co-host on Wowowee along with Kelly Misa, Jed Montero, Isabelle Abiera, RR Enriquez, Valerie Concepcion, Mariel Rodriguez and Pokwang.

Filmography

=Film=

class="wikitable sortable"
Year || Title || Role || class="unsortable" |Notes || Type
1999GorgeousGloriaA box office success in Hong Kong, grossing HK$40,545,889 during its theatrical run.
2004Visits: Hungry Ghost Anthology : Episode 1413Maria
2005Baik Punya CilokLina
2006The 3rd GenerationLindaWon the "Most Promising Actress Award" at the Malaysian Film Festival 2006. Malaysia's first award-winning Cantonese movie starring Nicholas Teo and Amber Chia
2008KurusMiss LiewWon the Special Jury Prize at the Bangkok International Film Festival and Golden Kinnaree Awards, under the South-East Asian Competition held by director Ming Jin-WooIndependent film
rowspan="3" | 2009Sayang You Can DanceAngel
Tenement 2IsabelFirst cameo role in the Philippines. T2 Box Office 95 Million. Earned US$430,776 on its opening weekend.{{Cite web|url=https://www.boxofficemojo.com/intl/philippines/?yr=2009&wk=15&p=.htm|title = Philippine Box Office Weekends for 2009}}
My SpyJade
2011Mein Herz in MalaysiaDalinaGermany FFP New Media GmbH in Coproduction with Double Vision Malaysia for ARD Degeto.Made for television
rowspan="4" | 2012The Hunter 3D3D film
Dead MineSu-LingHBO Asia's first original production after 20 years.
The Borneo Incident
Alagwa (Breakaway)Recently made its world premiere at the 17th Busan International Film Festival in South Korea.
rowspan="4" | 2013DoubleDirected by Woo Ming-Jin. Part of an online Silent Terror Anthology of YOMYOMF Network on YouTubeShort film
Ghost ChildNa
Love...and Other Bad HabitsJess
ShuffleShort film
2014YasmineMother
rowspan="2" | 2018Orang ItuChing
Crazy Rich AsiansFrancesca Shaw
2020JebatAireen/Damia
2022Air Force The Movie: Selagi BernyawaMajor Marya Lee
2024Baik Punya Ah LongAmoi

=Television=

class="wikitable sortable"
Year || Title || Role || Network || class="unsortable" |Notes
2007GhostJenny8TV
rowspan="2" | 2008Kahit Isang SaglitMargaret 'Garie' Hang-LiABS-CBNMain Role / Protagonist
Kurus (Days of the Turquoise Sky)Miss CarolNTV7
rowspan="2" | 2009Ghost IIJenny8TV
Maalaala Mo Kaya: VideokeMariaABS-CBN
rowspan="4" | 2010ShowtimeJudgeABS-CBN
WowoweeCo-HostABS-CBN
5 Star Specials: Si Paco at ang PrinsesaPrinsesa AmaraTV5
Your Song: Beautiful GirlHannahABS-CBN
2010-2012The Pupilrowspan="2" | Rachel Sungrowspan="2" | Mediacorp
2012-2015Code of Law
rowspan="5" | 2011Maurice Lacroix Follow Your Convictions Private SessionsHerselfNTV7Episode 5
Ang Asawa Kong JapeksLilyTV5
ShowtimeJudgeABS-CBN
Cyber Colors Glamour Girl SearchMentor8TVSasa Reality Search
Dapur Selebriti KnorrHerself8TVReality cooking show
rowspan="2" | 2012The Apartment Style EditionGuest Judge (Episode 8)Star WorldShot in Malaysia

Airing in 20 Countries in Asia

Omg!HerselfDiva Universal
2016The HushValerie TeoMediacorp
2017Asia's Next Top ModelHost/JudgeStar WorldCycle 5
2022

| One Cent Thief

| Irene

| Astro Ria

|

rowspan="2"|2023

| ''The Iron Heart

| Harmonia

| Kapamilya Channel, A2Z, Jeepney TV, TV5

| Main Role / Protagonist

Operandi Gerhana (Phantom Squad)

|

| Netflix

|

Theatre

class="wikitable sortable"
Year || Title || Role || class="unsortable" |Notes
2005The Girl From IpohThe Girl From IpohA Chinese make love story. Directed by Low Ngai Yuen with music direction by Penny Low The Theatre production by Integrated Expressions staged from 9 to 13 November 2005 at Pentas 1 KLPAC.
2007Rose Rose I Love YouXuanIntegrated Expressions presents a pop musical production inspired by the life and times of Rose Chan, the legendary erotic Cabaret Queen of Malaya. Directed by Low Ngai Yuen with music direction by Penny Low, Rose Rose I Love You is the second collaboration between Penny Low and Ngai Yuen since The Girl from Ipoh. Rose Rose I Love You staged at the Genting International Showroom from 2 to 4 Nov, and on 9 to 11 Nov It is mostly in English with some Cantonese/Mandarin dialogue (with subtitles). Also in the cast are Tony Eusoff, K.K. Wong, Ling Tan, Lim Tiong Wooi and Anrie Too.
2011Angels & Demons BURLESQUEGenting International Showroom

Awards

  • Most Promising Actress Award at the Malaysian Film Festival 2006

References

{{reflist}}