xinmsn : Highlights of Jesseca Liu’s fleeting showbiz career

Here’s a look back on Jesseca Liu’s short-princess stint with MediaCorp since she first joined in 2004.

The Malaysian beauty is not just another pretty face. An aspiring entrepreneur who’s bent on establishing herself outside of showbiz, Jesseca decided against renewing her contract with MediaCorp when it ended in May this year. She announced her intentions to wholly focus on her family business but promised a return to local TV “six months later”.

In her years as one of the Seven Princesses of Caldecott Hill, the low-key lass has gone from playing demure stereotypes to gutsy and tomboyish roles. At the peak of her career in 2006, she scored her first lead role (in Rhapsody In Blue) and went on to bag a Star Awards ‘Best Actress’ nomination in the same year.

Clinching one of the Top 10 Most Popular Female Artiste award at the recent Star Awards was a perfect “fairy tale ending” to her acting stint at MediaCorp but y’know – this won’t be the last we’ll see of Jesseca Liu.

2004 – The Champion

Bet you guys only remembered the buxomly Fiona Xie, Jeanette Aw and Felicia Chin in this Ch 8 sports drama from their iconic bikini run down Orchard road back in 2004. Coincidentally, The Champion also marked Jesseca Liu’s debut MediaCorp project, as Chinese heartthrob Qi Yuwu’s nature-loving islander girlfriend, He Yi Xuan.

2005 – Portrait of Home I/II

Remember the doe-eyes, long silky hair, accented-talk, and country-bumpkin garb? Jesseca’s turn as a mail-order Vietnamese bride to Adrian Pang’s yoga-loving character in Portrait of Home brought her household fame as the soft-spoken and demure Ruan Mian Mian. It remains the starlet’s most memorable role to date.

2005 – Star Awards

Jesseca won her first ‘Most Popular Newcomer Award’ at the Star Awards 2005

2006 – Women of Times

As Jia Wanqi in this 30-episode series.

2006 – Rhapsody In Blue

Right after gaining fame in Portrait of Home, Jesseca landed her first big break in helming Rhapsody in Blue, starring opposite method-actor Chen Hanwei. She also gained a Best Actress nod for her breakthrough at the Star Awards 2006 ceremony the same year.

2006 – Star Awards

Winning her first Top Ten Most Popular Female Artiste award in 2006.

2006 – Through It All

Starring opposite MediaCorp’s Ah Ges Li Nanxing and Christopher Lee in 2006′s Through It All.

2007 – Jesseca’s Diary

At the book-signing event of her first Chinese book, Jesseca’s Diary, in December 2007.

2007 – Mars vs Venus

Jesseca took a frivolous turn as a stay-home wife to Pierre Png’s character in Mars VS Venus. We can’t remember much from her role in this show ‘cept the part of having a conniving best friend, and an active bedroom life with her infertile onscreen hubby.

2007 – Kinship

This Langkawian ex-beauty queen landed her meatiest onscreen role in Ch 8′s megadrama series, Kinship. She chopped her locks and went all out as the tomboyish adopted-daughter of a masseur palour owner, and bagged a Best Actress nomination at the Star Awards 2007 ceremony.

2008 – Beach Ball Babes

Sporty, athletic and spiteful Jesseca is like a breath of fresh air from her usual damsel-in-distress roles. Beach Ball Babes made up for Jesseca’s non-participation in the iconic bikini run from The Champion, and the lanky one flaunted it all in her teensy togs with Joanne Peh and Jade Seah as they stripped down to their bikinis and ran around the wet market for a forfeit.

2008 – Rhythm of Life

As Liu Zhiling, the object of affections for both Christopher Lee and Zzen Zhang’s onscreen characters.

2009 – Romantic Delicacies

A Malaysian production which received raved reviews from viewers and bagged the beauty a Best Actress nod for this year’s Malaysia’s NTV7′s Golden Awards. Jesseca made a trip to the wicked witch of the east and ditched her heart of gold for a devilish turn in last year’s Romantic Delicacies. We’re glad she’s vamping things up onscreen (in a good way) to prove she ain’t a safe and boring typecast.

2009 – Baby Bonus

As the headstrong and fiercely independent Zheng Xiao Yang in 2009′s Baby Bonus.

2010 – New Beginnings

This heartwarming series of life and death marks Jesseca’s swansong production with MediaCorp before her contract expires in mid-May. It’s may not be her most outstanding production, but Jesseca looks her best here as the genteel and immaculately pretty wedding gown designer, Tang Wenxi.

2010 – Star Awards

Jesseca’s Farewell 2010

Fans spent more than S$6,000 and rented a yatch to throw their beloved idol a memorable farewell gathering. Jesseca was shocked and touched to tears by their efforts and love.

She may be returning to Malaysia to manage her family’s spa business, but Jesseca promised to return in six months time. Fans, are you counting down yet?

source : xinmsn