Lina Ng’s son discovered her fame through a Google search, revealing a hidden past as a ’90s star

Key facts

• Lina Ng was first runner-up of Star Search 1993.
• She left full-time acting in 2004 after Mediacorp’s merger with SPH MediaWorks.
• Ng’s eldest son Jeriel Lam, 22, did not know she was an actress until he Googled her at age 11.
• Ng and her husband Mike Lam have three sons: Jeriel, Joel (20), and Samuel (15).
• Ng once caned Joel for lying and shifting blame, an incident that still makes her cry.
• Ng counts her ‘real’ comeback as Lion Mums 2 in 2017, her first English-speaking role.

A Google search that upended a childhood assumption

Jeriel Lam, 22, grew up believing his mother was a stay-at-home parent. He never questioned why strangers occasionally approached her for photos. Then, at age 11, he typed “Lina Ng” into a search engine and discovered a different woman: a celebrated actress from the late 1990s. “Huh? This person is my Ma?” he recalled on the podcast DNA, hosted by Rebecca Lim. Ng, now 52, had deliberately kept her past hidden. She never told her sons about her career, wanting them to grow up without the weight of her fame. When Jeriel asked what she did for a living, she pulled out a photo album of old acting stills and showed him clips on CD-ROMs.

The abrupt end of a promising acting career

Ng first entered the spotlight as first runner-up of Star Search 1993, becoming one of Singapore’s most recognisable actresses. In 2001, she moved to SPH MediaWorks, but her career was derailed when the company merged with Mediacorp in 2004. “I wasn’t given the option to continue my trade,” Ng said. “I was given the option to work in the marketing department.” Knowing she would not enjoy a desk job, Ng chose to leave the industry entirely. At the time, she had just given birth to Jeriel. With her husband’s encouragement, she became a full-time mother, though she admitted it was hard to walk away. She still took occasional roles but considers her “real” comeback to be Lion Mums 2 in 2017, her first English-speaking part.

A ‘tiger mum’ who enforced strict rules

Ng’s parenting style is unapologetically strict. She confiscated her sons’ handphones after school on weekdays, a rule Jeriel now credits for his success as a water polo player. Without a phone, he took afternoon naps and felt well-rested for training. “She’s very strict with us, but we love it,” Jeriel said. “To have a mother who is so targeted in looking after us … it makes us feel lots of love and affection.” Ng also set a “no dating before 18” rule. When she discovered a love letter from a girlfriend when Jeriel was 15, she secretly read it. The incident became a family story, highlighting her hands-on approach.

A caning that left lasting scars

Ng recalled one regretful incident with her second son, Joel. The family values honesty above all, and Joel had lied repeatedly. When he lied about an incident and blamed an innocent party, Ng decided to cane him – her first use of physical punishment. “I didn’t want to embarrass Joel, I brought him to the room, closed the door – and I just whacked him,” she said. She told her husband to apply medication afterward. Ng still cries over the memory. “I regret the way I did it, but not the intentions,” she explained. Jeriel, who heard his brother’s screams and helped heal his wounds, said the incident made him realise how important family values were. “I remember this very clearly,” he reflected.

The sons who thrived under a watchful gaze

Despite the strictness, Jeriel and his brothers flourished. Ng’s targeted attention made them feel loved. Jeriel, now a medical student, credits his mother’s discipline for his work ethic. Joel, 20, and Samuel, 15, are also doing well, though Ng acknowledges that her parenting was not always perfect. The family’s dynamic is close-knit. Ng and her husband, former national bowler Mike Lam, have raised three sons who respect their mother’s rules. Jeriel’s discovery of Ng’s fame has only deepened his appreciation for her sacrifices.

A legacy of fame kept at arm’s length

Ng’s decision to shield her sons from her celebrity status was deliberate. She wanted them to have a normal childhood, free from the pressures of her past. Even now, she rarely discusses her acting career at home. The podcast with Jeriel was one of the first times they spoke publicly about it. For Jeriel, the revelation has been a source of pride. He now understands why strangers ask for photos. But for Ng, the focus remains on her family. “I’m proud to have been a tiger mum,” she said. Her sons, she believes, are proof that her methods worked.

The bottom line

• Lina Ng’s eldest son discovered her acting career through a Google search at age 11.
• Ng left showbiz in 2004 after a merger left her without acting options, choosing motherhood instead.
• She enforced strict rules including no dating before 18 and confiscating phones after school.
• Ng once caned her second son for lying and blaming an innocent party, an incident she still regrets.
• Her sons credit her strictness for their discipline and success, with Jeriel becoming a medical student.
• Ng’s return to acting in Lion Mums 2 marked her first English-speaking role and a new chapter.