Gaining weight for a role is a sacrifice many actors are willing to make and that’s what Mediacorp actress Tay Ying has been up to for the past two months.
Earlier this week, the 28-year-old took to her Instagram to share how “after two months of bulking [up], drinking mass gainers and a significant increase in calorie intake”, she successfully “gained 10kg and counting” for her role in upcoming drama The Blockbusters.
“I have never tried gaining weight in such a timeline before and since I do have a higher metabolism, this was by far the toughest thing I’ve ever done for a role,” said the actress who is the daughter of veteran stars Hong Huifang and Zheng Geping.
The Blockbusters is about four plus-sized girls — played by Tay Ying, Kayly Loh, Xixi Lim and Malaysian actress Meeki Ng — and their journey to form a girl group.
So something like 2021 Mediacorp drama Live Your Dreams but an upsized version?
When 8days.sg reached out to Tay Ying, she tells us she was initially “unsure if [she] could even reach the weight-gain requirement”.
She then engaged a trainer to help her put on the pounds as fast as possible.
“I had four meals a day and took mass gainers, because besides gaining fat, I also had to gain muscles since that can make you look bulkier. So we did mainly weights training. I haven’t done cardio in two months,” she says.
Tay Ying also says she is feeling the effects of the extra weight.
“When we started training for the dance scenes [in the drama], I felt like my stamina decreased a bit,” says the actress who has been dancing since she was 17.
Does plumping up also mean she got to indulge in sinful, fatty food?
Wrong. She and her trainer took the healthy route instead.
“When it comes to gaining weight, it can be unhealthy if you eat junk. We increased the calories [I consume] which is the carbs and proteins, but it doesn’t mean you have to eat a lot of fat, sweet and oily stuff,” she explains.
But at least she has her celebrity chef boyfriend Wu Sihan to make healthy and yummy food for her right?
“I have to say after I got this role, he did up his game a bit and started feeding me. He always blames me for making him gain weight because I have to gain weight and he ended up gaining with me since we eat together a lot,” she chuckles.
Tay Ying says was totally game for the challenge when she first learnt about the role.
“They were casting for girls who were willing to gain weight for this show, so I went into the audition knowing I had to gain weight,” she reveals. “I’ve never done anything like that, and as an actress I want to try different kinds of genres and roles.”
Tay Ying also feels she has more flexibility to change her body since she’s still in her 20s.
But is she worried that she won’t be able to shed the weight after the show is done?
“To me, health is the most important, regardless of what size you are,” she asserts.
The actress is also someone who’s very comfortable in her own skin.
“If the people around me still love me despite my body changing, then why should I feel insecure?” she replies confidently.
“And I’m doing this for a greater purpose! There’s something that I’m working towards and I’d think that my loved ones are very supportive so I shouldn’t worry too much,” she gushes.
That said, Tay Ying’s really looking forward to start doing cardio again.
“I do love cardio a lot, it helps me with my mental health. So I know when I’m done filming, cardio can help me lose weight too. It can also help me unwind and get back to being myself because right now, I’m not me. I’m the character,” she tells us.
Netizens, on the other hand, aren’t thinking as positive as Tay Ying.
When asked if she’s had to deal with fat-shaming comments, the actress says: “We were not supposed to talk about [the drama] yet so there were people commenting that I’ve gained weight, or the nastier ones would be like: ‘Oh you fat already’.”
Tay Ying’s not letting those haters get to her at all. In fact, she’s happy people are noticing her transformation.
“It means I’ve succeeded. I mean like, I spent so much time and effort just to get bigger and if people can’t see it then what’s the point?” she says.
“The fact that they can is a huge compliment,” she says.