#51: Tan Kheng Hua: On Choosing Yourself Without Apology
About this episode
Tan Kheng Hua discusses the importance of choosing oneself and living authentically in both personal and professional life.
Tan Kheng Hua is one of Singapore’s most beloved actors; known for Phua Chu Kang, Crazy Rich Asians, and three seasons of Kung Fu on The CW. She has spent a lifetime choosing herself, not selfishly, but deliberately. And in doing so, she became a better mother, a better artist, and a more grounded human being. She did not build a long and remarkable career by chasing what looked good or what felt safe. She built it by returning, again and again, to what felt true. To joy over ego. To interest over image. To a life she did not have to shrink in order to hold. In this episode, Kheng Hua speaks with striking honesty about what it really takes to stay rooted in your craft, your relationships, and yourself. We spoke about: motherhood, and why she refused to let it shrink her life. the decision-making rule she has followed for decades that gave her her longevity. divorce, co-parenting, and how a friendship outlasted a marriage. the honesty cave: going inward, admitting the ugly feelings first, and choosing the next step from truth rather than fear. therapy, and why she believes gathering the tools to be better is not optional, but a responsibility to everyone who loves you. This is…
Topics covered
- self-discovery
- motherhood
- career longevity
- mental health
- personal growth
- authenticity
More episodes of Who We Are with Rachel Lim
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- #48: First Episode of 2026: A Solo Reflection with Rachel Lim
- #47: CLOSER with Steven Bartlett: Live in Singapore
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