Irene Ang

Early career: Stunt performer, sales, and sports

In 1989, after attending Outram Institute, she and her friends responded to an ad recruiting stunt swimmers for a television series.^[8][9] She eventually became the stunt swimmer for Chen Liping in Splash to Victory. She later was a stunt double for Zoe Tay in the 1990 television series, Navy.^[9]

After leaving school, Irene Ang was a receptionist and clothing store sales supervisor.^[5] Ang then a sales executive with American Express for a year.^[5] It was also here when she started training in fencing.^[10] She trained for eight months before presenting Singapore the 1991 SEA Games and won a silver medal.^[8] After winning the SEA Games medal, she was shortlisted for representation at the following year's 1992 Summer Olympics. However she declined the offer as she could not afford the expenses to travel to Spain.^[3]

Ang was then hired at Bloomdale, which specialised in floral arrangements and corporate gifts, and led a sales team there. Her team would outperform the rest in the company.^[5] She would eventually be head-hunted and joined the insurance industry for seven years.^[3][11] When her grandmother was hospitalised, Ang was saddled with a S$26,000 credit card debt. Her supervisor at AIA, David Ong, would paid off the debt for her as a loan. In return, Ang would then worked hard for the next three months, bringing in enough policies to make it to the Million Dollar Club.^[5]

Forays in the entertainment industry

She would also work as a warm-up comedian to warm up the studio audience on the set of Under One Roof.^[12] It was here she was spotted by Phua Chua Kang Pte Ltd's producers and was asked to audition for roles in the upcoming television series.^[12]

In 1997, Ang was cast in Phua Chua Kang Pte Ltd as Rosie Phua, the wife of lead character Phua Chu Kang, a general contractor. As the 10-year long television series eventually became a regional hit, she would reprise her character in a Malaysian spin-off, and a movie, all of which revolving around Phua Chu Kang. In the first season, Ang was paid S$975.00 a month.^[5]

In 2022, Ang launched the web application TADAA! Casting which serves as a local and regional casting platform for entertainers.^[13]

In 2023, Ang was named as one of the recipients of the Public Service Medal (PBM), for her work as a committee member of the SkillsFuture programme with the South West Community Development Council.^[14]

In 2025, Ang launched The Irene Ang Show, a talk show featuring candid conversations with both celebrities and non-celebrity guests, including individuals from her personal and professional circles. The programme adopts an informal, conversational format that explores personal experiences, career journeys and behind-the-scenes aspects of the entertainment industry. One episode featuring actress Jeanette Aw attracted media attention after Aw recounted an incident in which she told a co-star to “do his homework” and learn his lines before coming onto set.^[15]

Film

Television

Web series