Last Madame

{{Short description|Singaporean TV series}}

{{More footnotes needed|date=February 2021}}

{{Infobox television

| image =

| caption =

| native_name = {{Infobox Chinese/Chinese|child=yes|hide=no|header=none

| s = 最后的夫人

| t = 最後的夫人

| p = Zuìhòu de fūrén

| l =

}}

| genre = {{ubl|Erotic historical drama}}

| writer =

| director =

| starring = {{ubl|Joanne Peh|Jeff Chou|Lina Ng|Brandon Wong|Constance Lau|Fiona Fussi|Ky Tan|Alan Wan}}

| opentheme =

| endtheme =

| country = Singapore

| language = English

| num_episodes = 12

| num_seasons =

| executive_producer = Jean Yeo

| producer =

| editor =

| cinematography =

| runtime = approx. 60 minutes

| company = {{ubl|Ochre Pictures}}

| network = {{ubl|meWATCH|Mediacorp Drama on YouTube}}

| first_aired = {{Start date|df=y|2019|9|26}}

| last_aired = {{End date|df=y|2019}}

| related = Last Madame: Sisters of the Night (2023)

}}

Last Madame ({{zh|s=最后的夫人}}) is a 2019 Singaporean television series and Toggle Original created by Jean Yeo, featuring Joanne Peh, Jeff Chou, Lina Ng, Brandon Wong, Constance Lau, Fiona Fussi, Ky Tan, and Alan Wan. The English language 12-parter, which weaves a present-day plotline with another set in the 1930s about a brothel owner, is a story of intrigue involving spies, murders, romance and an old shophouse. The series aired on Mediacorp in Singapore and premiered on 26 September 2019 on MeWatch.

It is the first M18 English Drama produced locally, and the second highest rated locally produced drama.{{Cite web|title=Sex, Secrets, And The Afterlife — What Topped Mediacorp's List Of Most-Watched Shows In 2019|url=https://www.8days.sg/en/seeanddo/tvreviews/sex-secrets-and-the-afterlife-what-topped-mediacorp-s-list-of-12269476|access-date=2021-02-10|website=8 Days|language=en}}{{Cite web|first=Divya|last=Taery |date=2020-10-26|title=Singaporean TV series about a 1940s brothel wins 'Best Asian Drama' in Busan|url=https://sea.mashable.com/entertainment/12968/singaporean-tv-series-about-a-1940s-brothel-wins-best-asian-drama-in-busan|access-date=2021-02-10|website=Mashable SEA|language=en-sg}}

A prequel, Last Madame: Sisters of the Night, was made available on meWATCH from 13 July 2023.{{cite web |last1=Seah |first1=Nida |title=Of sisterhood and survival: Exclusive sneak peek into 'Sisters of the Night', prequel to Mediacorp's 'Last Madame' |url=https://sgmagazine.com/entertainment/of-sisterhood-and-survival-exclusive-sneak-peek-into-sisters-of-the-night-prequel-to-mediacorps-last-madame/ |website=SG Magazine |access-date=8 July 2023 |date=11 May 2023}}

Synopsis

Shrouded with secrets and mysteries, a run-down shophouse in Singapore draws attention to banker Chi Ling who returns from Hong Kong to claim its inheritance. As she discovers the drudgeries and intrigues of her great-grandmother’s world – in a brothel set in late 1930s Singapore – she is pushed to decide the fate of the building and to reconcile with her roots and history. The Last Madame is a story that intertwines two seemingly opposite generations through the fascinating story of Chi Ling and her great-grandmother, Fung Lan.

A story of the past and present – The Last Madame tells the story of the last brothel owner, Fung Lan, in 1930s Singapore. Set in 2019, the successful but cold-hearted Chi Ling returns from Hong Kong to settle an inheritance from her great-grandmother, Fung Lan – only to discover that therein lies deeper and controversial histories behind house.

Cast

= Main =

Ruthless and cold-hearted, Fung Lan is a former prostitute, now the head of a brothel, The House of Phoenix (Fung Wong Gok), in 1930s Singapore. Educated, she fled from her well-to-do family and an arranged marriage as a young girl, only to find herself caught in a deplorable state of affairs that led her to where she is now. She has since remade herself and in light of a grisly murder of the century, changes are abounding her future and the future of the brothel – and we find that there is more to Fung Lan than meets the eye. Fung Lan is a survivor. She wants to take control of her life and beat men at their own game. To her, if you can’t win them, join them and be the bossand save your kind while you are at it. Seeking revenge, she has achieved it. But now she wants to avoid being caught for her dark past.{{Cite web|title=Last Madame: Joanne Peh talks about that steamy M18 scene|url=https://cnalifestyle.channelnewsasia.com/trending/joanne-peh-the-last-madame-11972698|access-date=2021-02-10|website=CNA Lifestyle}}

= Main and supporting =

Awards and nominations

class="wikitable"

|+

!Year

!Award

!Category

!Recipient

!Results

!Ref

rowspan="21" |2020

| rowspan="8" |New York Festivals - TV & Film Awards

|Best Performance by an Actress

|Amanda Ang

|Bronze

|{{Cite web|title=Winners Gallery - New York Festivals |url=https://tvfilm.newyorkfestivals.com/Winners/WinnerDetailsNew/b3697c5e-16c6-471f-b27a-3209a03bbf53|access-date=2021-02-10 |website=TVFilm.NewYorkFestivals.com}}

Streaming Drama

|Last Madame

|Finalist

|{{Cite web|title=Winners Gallery - New York Festivals |url=https://tvfilm.newyorkfestivals.com/Winners/WinnerDetailsNew/622c5e55-7af8-4821-a52a-c505247640c0|access-date=2021-02-10 |website=TVFilm.NewYorkFestivals.com}}

Best Performance by an Actress

|Lina Ng

|Finalist

|

Best Production Design/Art Direction

|Last Madame

|Finalist

|

Drama

|Last Madame

|Finalist

|

Best Costume Design

|Last Madame

|Finalist

|

Best Direction

|Jean Yeo

|Finalist

|

Crime Drama

|Last Madame

|Finalist

|

Asia Contents Awards

|Best Asian Drama

|Last Madame

|Finalist

|{{Cite web|title=Asian Contents & Film Market|url=http://www.acfm.kr/eng/addon/10000001/page.asp?page_num=2275|access-date=2021-02-10|website=www.acfm.kr}}{{Cite web|title='Last Madame', 'When The Camellia Blooms' win best Asian drama |url=https://www.thestar.com.my/lifestyle/entertainment/2020/10/27/039last-madame039-039when-the-camellia-blooms039-win-best-asian-drama|access-date=2021-02-10|website=Thestar.com.my}}{{Cite web|date=2020-11-17|title=Singapore actress Joanne Peh talks about Last Madame's historic win at Busan International Film Festival event|url=https://vogue.sg/joanne-peh-last-madame-busan-international-film-festival-asia-contents-awards/|access-date=2021-02-10|website=Vogue Singapore|language=en-US}}

Asian Academy Creative Awards

|Best Actress in a Supporting Role

|Lina Ng

|WINNER

|{{Cite web|last=|first=|date=|title=FULL-LIST-GRAND-FINAL-WINNERS-AAA-2020|url=https://25j12o2yh5jz386f6x10j2nd-wpengine.netdna-ssl.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/FULL-LIST-GRAND-FINAL-WINNERS-AAA-2020.pdf|archive-url=|archive-date=|access-date=|website=}}

rowspan="11" |Asian Television Awards

|Best Drama Series

|Last Madame

|Nominated

| rowspan="3" |{{Cite web|title=2020 Nominees|url=https://www.asiantvawards.com/nominees/2020-nominees/|access-date=2021-02-10|website=Asian Television Awards|language=en-US}}

Best Actress in a Leading Role

|Joanne Peh

|Nominated

Best Actor in a Supporting Role

|Brandon Wong (actor)

|Nominated

Best Actress in a Supporting Role

|Lina Ng

|Winner

|

Best Actress in a Supporting Role

|Amanda Ang

|Nominated

| rowspan="4" |

Best Cinematography

|Fong Hing Loong & Fong Heng Kit

|Nominated

Best Script Writing

|Jean Yeo

|Nominated

Best Script Writing

|Claire Merquita

|Nominated

Best Digital Fiction Program/Series

|Last Madame

|Winner

|

Best Leading Male Performance - Digital

|Jeff Chou

|Nominated

|

Best Leading Female Performance - Digital

|Joanne Peh

|Winner

|

References

{{reflist}}