Xie Shaoguang won't attend Star Awards 2026, hopes spotlight will be on other actors instead

"The Gift of Time", the Mediacorp Channel 8 series which stars actors Xie Shaoguang and Chen Hanwei, is one of the nominees for the Best Drama Serial for the Star Awards 2026.

While Xie was considered a frontrunner for best actor, he was not named as one of the nominees. He has come out to explain why.

According to media reports, Xie reportedly declined to participate in the nomination process and will not attend the awards show.

Semi-retired

In an Instagram post from Feb. 26, he expressed his gratitude for the encouragement and recognition he has received in his acting career, but stressed that he is already semi-retired.

Thus, he shared his hope for the spotlight to be given to other outstanding actors who are still active in the industry so they have more opportunities to shine.

"I fully understand what awards mean to every fellow artist still climbing the path — they are a testament to the sweat and perseverance, and more importantly, a stepping stone towards the next opportunity," he said

Xie also credited the crew, saying that a character lives up to the audience's expectations because of the professionalism and support of the entire team.

Return to acting

In September 2024, Mediacorp announced Xie's comeback to showbiz after 19 years.

Xie started his acting career in 1989 and won five Best Actor awards at the Star Awards before he left the industry in 2005.

He was ordained a Buddhist monk in Malaysia in 2013 but renounced his monkhood in 2016. He then became a chef at a vegetarian restaurant.

In 2017, he conducted acting classes for Mediacorp actors.

In 2025, Xie starred as Lin Huoyan in "The Gift of Time".

He plays the role of a wealthy but lonely tycoon battling terminal cancer, along with Lan Shuimiao (Chen's character), help other terminally ill patients in their remaining days.

Top image from Mediacorp