Alaric Tay--staying
holy in Singapore's
Hollywood

By Silva Kandiah

SINGAPORE—Alaric Tay is a household name in Singapore, with entire families riveted to the television screen to watch him in the latest sitcom on Singapore’s favorite subject—money.

Alaric, 21, is also a worship leader in the Singapore church. His parents met and married in the small WCG congregation in Singapore, and he was born in the church.

Like Hollywood, Singapore’s television world is home to different life-styles and values. Yet Alaric has developed as a wonderful role model to young Singaporeans, staying firmly on a Christian path, actively participating in the church and getting involved in community service.

Alaric was inspired to be an actor and director by early exposure in his school’s language, drama and debating society. After a short television and drama course with the Television Corporation of Singapore, he signed on with a local polytechnic institute for a course in film studies.

Thereafter, it was accolade after accolade, not only in acting but also in film production, direction and writing. In 1997 he played a supporting role in one of Singapore’s major efforts at film production, Forever Fever, a movie on the 1960s dance craze. Finally, Alaric landed a major role in the television series Money.

Success, however, was accompanied with service when he used his talents to make a documentary of the church’s talent show. Alaric has taken a break to complete his national service stint in the Singapore Armed Forces but he has been brewing a number of projects to burst on the arts scene soon.

Alaric said that the greatest challenge he faces as a Christian in this industry is consciously acknowledging that he is a Christian in a fallen world.

"As a Christian, it is important to remember that we do the right thing because God said it is right," Alaric said. "After all, God created all things good, righteous and just because he is these things."

Silva Kandiah is a deacon in the Singapore church and is general manager of the Security Services subsidiary of Singapore Airlines.

Alaric Tay

MOVIE—Alaric Tay (left) in the opening
scenes of Forever Fever, with lead star
Adrian Pang.

Copyright © Worldwide Church of God, 2001