They are no PUSSYCATS
But are they tameable or garang’? Husbands of celebrity Tigresses reveal what it’s like living with a wildcat ‘ Ferocious in Malay
By Germaine Lim
February 08, 2010
NEVER stoke a sleeping tiger.
ANIMAL CRACKERS: Actress Beatrice Chia and husband Mark Richmond, who was born in the Year of the Pig. TNP PICTURE:
GAVIN FOO
They’re said to be short-tempered and stubborn. But they’re also sensuous beings who will never bore their partners.
Tradition also has it that Tigresses aren’t the best mates.
This being the year of the Tiger and Valentine’s Day falling on the first day of Chinese New Year, The New Paper on Sunday spoke to several celebrity couples to see if the claims are true.
Although none of the couples believes in the Chinese zodiac system, they gamely took on our intimate quiz.
Evelyn Tan, Beatrice Chia and Lina Ng reveal their true Tigress selves, while husbands Darren Lim, Mark Richmond and Mike Lam weigh in on the forecast’s accuracy.
Independent but she’s no control freak
TIGER AND PIG
Beatrice Chia, 36, and Mark Richmond, 39
Married for four years
HER imagination knows no bounds and she lives with a perpetual adrenaline rush.
Beatrice is also the independent woman that a Tigress is supposed to be.
Mark, who is senior head of sports presentation at the Singapore Youth Olympic Games Organising Committee, says his actress-director wife fits the bill of the Tiger very well.
‘For her, no holds are barred. The more risky it is, the more she’d want to get her feet wet. That’s what makes her sexy as a woman.’
What about the spontaneity and passion a Tiger apparently demonstrates in the bedroom?
‘She indeed treads on dangerous grounds and roars at the right time,’ Mark said, with a laugh. I can be a wild boar too.’
But Mark says a level-headed and even-tempered Beatrice is nothing like the rash Tiger.
Neither is Beatrice a control freak.
She said: ‘We like control in different areas. We’ve agreed not to fight for control over the same thing. He doesn’t dictate what I wear and I won’t fight over the TV remote with him.’
Where compatibility is concerned, it seems an energetic Tiger finds rest in a Pig.
Beatrice said: ‘That’s correct. I know I can seek refuge in him. He’s simple and consistent in his wants and needs and because of that, he’s stable.’
It’s true that the Pig is in awe of his Tiger. Mark says he absolutely adores his wife. ‘She has the ability to adapt and influence those around her. She’s the life of the party. Her energy is boundless.
‘She’s admitted before that I think more highly of her than what she thinks of herself.’
Just don’t mess around with this cooperative pair as the Tiger and Pig will defend and protect each other when either is maligned.
Mark said: ‘If someone wrongly levels something at either of us, we’ll be up in arms.’
This Dog has tamed the cat
TIGER AND DOG
Lina Ng, 36, and Mike Lam, 40
Married for 10 years
IN the wild, cats and dogs aren’t exactly the best of friends. But it turns out, a Tiger and Dog complement each other in a relationship.
Lina, who now freelances, admits she has been quick-tempered and domineering.
But the Dog, it seems, can easily tame the Tiger because it understands the latter’s impatience.
This, Lina says, is true. A level-headed Mike, with whom she has two sons aged 4 and 6, has kept her grounded.
‘He’s very down to earth and simple. He has taught me to appreciate many things, especially when I was younger and the entertainment industry can be deceiving.
‘He’s also a good observer. He will keep quiet while I continue to roar. Then he will come in at the right time and hush me up. He’s gentle and doesn’t bite. He just barks and I shut up.’
Mike, general manager of the Singapore Sports School’s Bowling Academy, added that Lina has mellowed.
He said: ‘I don’t know if it’s to do with her zodiac sign or the nature of her job as an artiste. When she was a full-time artiste, she was more temperamental. It could be an occupational hazard because actors need to harness different emotions for different roles.
‘Now she’s changed 180 degrees. I attribute it to maturity and her not being full-time artiste.’
Lina was last seen in local straight-to-DVD flick Aunties United. She is setting up a children’s enrichment school.
But one Tiger trait Lina still possesses is her domineering personality – she likes to be in control. Mike said: ‘I’m a big picture person while she’s all about the nitty-gritty. She’s very orderly while I’m easy-going.
‘I guess that’s why we complement each other.’
‘She’s more like a koala or a tortoise’
TIGER AND RAT
Evelyn Tan, 36, and Darren Lim, 38
Married for six years
AN affectionate Darren calls her ‘my mu lao hu (Mandarin for tigress)’, but this Tigress does not seem to possess many Tigress traits.
The couple have three children between 6months old and 5 years old.
Evelyn is mild-tempered, predictable and not the nocturnal animal that tigers usually are.
Darren, who is currently acting in Channel 8 drama series Happy Family, joked: ‘She’s more like a koala or a tortoise. She’s so predictable that I can read her mind. Or maybe I’m just clever, like a Rat is, to have figured her out.
‘While I usually sleep at 2am, she’s an early bird and sleeps by 9pm.’
That said, beware of her claws as you wouldn’t want to step on her tail, Darren said.
He added: ‘You have to be smart enough to know how to manoeuvre your way around her. I think that’s instinctive of me.’
While Tigers are supposed to bring excitement in the relationship, Evelyn says Darren was the one who unleashed the adventurous side in her.
She said: ‘I’m such a laid-back person. He’s the one who spices things up and looks for activities to do together. When we were dating, he took me to non-traditional dating places. Our first date was at Pulau Buloh.’
So far, the typecast has been off the mark.
But it was spot-on with the Tiger’s temperament.
Evelyn admits she has the occasional mood swing which Darren has patiently tolerated. ‘He can take my nonsense.’
The optimism that a Tiger-Rat couple supposedly shares also rings true for them.
Evelyn said: ‘We always look forward and think positive. Plus I forget about the bad stuff quite easily.’
TIGER LOVERS…
Are sexy people, beautiful to most people and sensually romantic. They are spontaneous lovers who never lose their creative spark or flare for an evening of passion.
Will not bore their partners. Instead, they offer their partner a hint of danger and exhibit a curiosity for the unknown.
Are trustworthy, passionate, polite and sponatenous. They’re generous, intelligent anda lert. Tigers are also very charming and well-liked.
Are born to lead and can be stubborn when they realise they’re not in charge. Once a Tiger has committed himself to you, he tends to want to dominate or lead you. This is a natural nurturing mechanism and must be kept under close watch to avoid complete control.
Need someone who can keep up with all they want to do and see as they love excitement. Their partners must also be able to take the mood swings.
The NewPaper