It’s lunchtime at this cover shoot and Tan Kheng Hua has gathered with the crew to dig into nasi padang while dressed head-to-toe in Chanel. “It’s pretty good,” she says, adding that it reminds her of Peranakan food, which her 89-year-old mother still whips up for the family whenever they get together.
“Let me show you some pics of the feasts she prepares,” she continues, reaching for her phone to scroll through her photos. Tan is bursting with pride, as she should. How many 62-year-olds can say they still get to enjoy their mum’s cooking?
For this cover feature, she wears pieces from Chanel’s Cruise 2025/26 collection. First unveiled on the shores of Lake Como in April and restaged at Raffles Hotel Singapore in November, it is a wardrobe conceived for a life spent in grand hotels.
The Singaporean actress may be of a small frame, but she carries the ensembles elegantly, and it is perhaps in part due to this X factor that she has been able to break into American film and television. Some of the projects she has been involved in include the Hollywood movie Crazy Rich Asians, martial arts TV series Kung Fu, and prime-time medical drama Grey’s Anatomy.
Despite her age, Tan still runs, works out at the gym, hikes, dives, and skis. She’s as high-spirited as she is candid, too. In this story, she opens up about how she approaches the universal experience that is death since she’s “living in the last season of life”.
Tan answers a couple of questions posed by her younger brother, Tan Ju Meng.
Through your global life and work experiences, what unique cultural perspectives have you developed?
I learnt how to perceive things through art history. Western art emphasises individualism and human control over nature, while Eastern art highlights interconnectedness, harmony with nature, and diminishing ego. Being reminded of how small and insignificant I am, and how much I still have to learn, makes me feel free, peaceful, happy, and balanced.
As a Singaporean artiste, what is your definition of patriotism?
Patriotism is a continuous journey of curiosity, reflection, and action. Essentially, it must be steeped in true love. Patriotism must be allowed to evolve in its shape, intensity and expression. True love ebbs and flows, dims and glows, and is both selfish and generous. However, it must always be rooted in bringing out the best in yourself and your country.
Tell me about a recent moment of happiness you experienced.
Sitting around the table with you, Kor, Shi-An, Mum, and family, knowing we have come together willingly and lovingly for as long as I can remember. It is still the safest place in the world for me. It is in these moments that we are not only dutiful, but also hopeful and excited for the future as we eat our food that nourishes our bodies and hang out with people who soothe our souls.
