SHE MAY BE A PORCELAIN-SKINNED BEAUTY – SEEMINGLY TOO DELICATE TO THE TOUCH – MATCHED WITH A SWEET, DISARMING PERSONALITY BUT DON’T BE FOOLED. NATALIA NG WILL GIVE YOU A RUN FOR YOUR MONEY ON THE GOLF COURSE!
By Syama Ramasamy
Some may remember Natalia Ng as the first runner-up of the 2013 Miss Universe Malaysia pageant, you might even have caught her in a series of print and TV campaigns for fashion, cosmetics and skincare giants, or remember her infectious personality as a host of Fox Sports Asia TV and Premier League for Singtel TV Mio Stadium in Singapore.
Blessed with an engaging on-screen presence – and acting chops to boot – Natalia, who calls Malaysia and the neighbouring Little Red Dot home, has also starred in several Mediacorp drama series such as Lion Mums (Season 3) and Perfect One. These naturally paved the way for more opportunities for the 32-year-old, catching her biggest break to date in 23:59: The Haunting Hour, a Singaporean-Malaysian horror comedy.
And the Petaling Jaya lass is just getting started, eager and ready for more as she keeps herself primed – and trained.
“My dream is to act in an action comedy. I love action shows and I also love comedies, and since I love martial arts and sports, it’d be awesome to do some fight scenes, plus some comedy.”
The girl means business too, committed to ensuring her fight scenes – in the future, that is – look as realistic as possible.
“I even hired a Muay Thai national champ to train me one on one. I’ve got my gear, boxing gloves, knee pads. I wanted him to train me so I can get the techniques right, in preparation for any future opportunities in action films,” shares Nat, stressing that you need to get the basics right, even if it’s just a photoshoot.
Commitment, passion and a raging fire in the belly. Ultimately three ingredients absolutely vital for one to reap any degree of success – regardless of field of interest. And Nat certainly has got the formula bang on.
With a well-laid foundation in place, her future may seem brimming with red carpets, glam photoshoots and elite soirees lathered in shimmer blush, sky-high stilettos and fancy schmancy cocktails, bathed in the glow of a dozen spotlights, but Natalia’s past is one filled with fairways, golf bags and scorecards.
An up-and-coming golfer in her younger years, spending a massive amount of time honing her skills at both Saujana GCC and Tropicana GCR – “my home clubs when I was training” – with dad Larry by her side, Natalia seemed destined for a long, fruitful career in golf; she was part of the KL golf contingent at the 2002 and 2004 Sukan Malaysia (SUKMA), and a Selangor team gold medallist at the 2006 edition, which “is the proudest moment of my golf career”.
Natalia may no longer be active in the competitive circuits, but the slender 5’8” singer (did we mention she’s released three singles to date? Yes, this one’s definitely no one-trick pony. And she’s got mom Karmilie, an Indonesian singer and vocal coach, to thank for her musically endowed genes) still enjoys getting out there on the course for a round or two – or more, especially now with golf back in the scene.
“I’ve been playing golf – A LOT! I’ve never played so much in such a short period of time!” laughs Natalia, her on-course flair and love for the sport along with multi-faceted off-course endeavours naturally inspiring a partnership with adidas Golf as a brand ambassador.
“At the end of the day, for me, golf is so much more than a skill game, it’s a mental game. Competitive golf requires a tremendous level of mental strength to perform well out there. And you’re on the course up to four, five hours at a time; you’ve got to be super strong mentally.”
Another invaluable perk of golf, Nat says – and golf aficionados would categorically concur – is that there’s no better social platform than a golf course. “It’s an amazing avenue for networking. You really get to know someone over the few hours you’re out on the course, and you get to establish a proper rapport with them. I’ve made some great friends through golf and formed some solid relationships.”
MOST MEMORABLE GOLF EXPERIENCE?
A round of golf at Nirwana Golf Resort, Bali, Indonesia for an adidas TaylorMade golf and travel event. The view was amazing as the course is situated on cliff s next to the roaring ocean and the sunsets in Bali are out of this world! I had such a great time I don’t even remember how I scored, hah!
DREAM FOURSOME?
I hear Celine Dion has her own golf course, so on her course with her ‘person’ and Tiger Woods (I have so many questions!). Oh, and maybe someone hot to share a buggy with like Chris Evans or something.
BUCKET LIST DESTINATIONS?
Initially, one of them was Egypt – the Pyramids of Giza … but I managed to tick that one off my list last year, before the lockdown. Super happy about that. The other one is the Wizarding World of Harry Potter in Orlando, Florida, because I’m a huge Harry Potter fan. Another one is to go on a South African safari. And I dream of playing at the Home of Golf, St Andrews in Scotland – it’d be amazing to fit in a round of golf there with my dad someday.
FAVE SHOWS?
I watch Friends on repeat! Also love Modern Family, Brooklyn 99 and How I Met Your Mother.
FOODGASM
My palate is ultimately very Malaysian. Though I’m vegetarian, I still like to have my roti canai and nasi lemak. And when I come back home after travelling abroad, the first thing I must eat upon touchdown is banana leaf rice!
For the full story on Natalia, grab your copy of the ALL-NEW PARGOLF July-Sept 2020 issue today! (Available at all major newsstands as well as Magzter.com)
