If you’ve been watching Mediacorp blockbuster Emerald Hill, you’d know that Jesseca Liu’s character has a really sad backstory.
The 46-year-old actress plays Liu Shuqin, the kind-hearted wife of Zhang Jinhe (Xiu Jie Kai), the second son of the wealthy Zhang family.
She is the also the mother of Tasha Low’s Zhang Xin Niang, the main protagonist of the 30-episode spin-off of 2008 mega hit The Little Nyonya.
Jesseca’s performance has received glowing reviews, with audiences praising her acting in the series, which is currently showing on Ch 8.
However, one particular scene did not sit well with some viewers.
In the second episode, Shuqin and Jinhe suffer a devastating tragedy — their son is accidentally shot and killed. Shortly after, their daughter goes missing.
Despite the heartbreaking turn of events, some netizens felt the couple’s reaction was “too calm”, calling it an “illogical” response for grieving parents.
Speaking to Chinese daily Zaobao.sg, Jesseca defended her character, revealing that key emotional scenes were cut from the final version.
“The script actually included two scenes that showcased their grief of losing their son. One was in the hospital where Shuqin blamed herself for scolding her son the morning before he died. The couple then hugged each other and cried,” she said.
The other was when she returned home and saw her daughter An’an with her sister-in-law. Shuqin broke down in tears after being asked about her son.
Jesseca speculated that the scenes might have been removed “to avoid affecting the story’s development or length”.
She also explained her character’s composed demeanor, stressing that Shuqin and Jinhe are the main pillars of the Zhang family.
“Every decision she makes is for the bigger picture and she prioritises how the matriarch of the family feels,” Jesseca said.
Recognising that her child’s death was irreversible and that her mother-in-law (played by Zoe Tay) was already depressed, Shuqin had to remain strong to maintain stability within the family, added the actress.
Jesseca revealed that Shuqin was one of the most challenging roles she has taken on in recent years.
“I was worried that I didn’t have enough life experience to handle the role,” she admitted.
“Playing a good person is usually the hardest because you have to control how much emotion you put into the character.”