Bryan Wong Yuan Lee

Note : Not to be confused with Bryan Wong Lok Kiang
Bryan Wong Yuan Lee () is a Singaporean actor of MediaCorp. He was first discovered through the popularity-cum-acting contest Star Idol, held in 2005, where many had recognized him as the hunk, most muscular and most handsome.
Before competition
Bryan was an air steward with Singapore airlines before he joined Star Idol, the acting competition held at the end of 2005 and finishing in early 2006. He had attended Temasek Info Tech School, earning a diploma in Information Technology. Bryan had wanted to become an actor at the age of eight and was often described as fun-loving, diligent and analytical.
Star Idol
Bryan entered the Top 8 with other contestants like Kang Cheng Xi, Leo Lam, Lincoln Khoo, and Jacqueline Sue, and had to star in the competition television series Who Is It?, where on each episode one contestant goes missing till there is one left (the contestant with the least amount of votes goes missing and the last one is the winner and Star Idol 2005/06).
After the first episode where the first female, Lilian, was booted out, Bryan was next. However, a revival round brought him back to the competition, surpassing eliminated Lilian, Leann and Lincoln. Bryan joined Jacqueline, Alicia Neo, Cheng Xi and Leo as they carried on the competition.
As Bryan stayed on in the competition, his acting skills became better, and on the finals against Leo Lam, Bryan succeeded in being the better actor and took the crown as the first Star Idol, garnering 61% of the overall votes. (He had not had many votes during the start and it was announced halfway through the finals, probably urging Bryan's fans to vote more.)
Star Idol finals
During the finals, Bryan was the only contestant to strip to his underwear in front of national television during a fight against a hooligan. This was on Part 1. In a more detailed way, Part 1 shows Bryan playing as a man auditioning to become an actor. He is chosen to play a role where his wife is kidnapped by the leader of the underworld. Bryan points his gun at him, and the leader (played by Adam Chen), sends for his henchmen to beat him up. They strip him nearly naked until Bryan stops them by fighting them, left with his jeans and underwear. Some said that the underwear was translucent. When the leader's henchmen are all out of energy, the leader takes off his shirt and battles Bryan. (This scene is said to be the most sexual one in the whole competition because two 'hunky and muscular guys' are wrestling.)
On Part 2, Bryan played a lover alongside Felicia Chin who talks about their romance while singer Kelvin Tan performs.
On Part 3, Bryan has to compete against Leo in a dance, where many agreed that Bryan was more stiff that Leo (Leo was thinner but was less muscular).
Criticism
There have been some criticism towards Bryan on how he uses his looks and body to appeal to the audience. This was felt unfair towards his rival contestant Leo Lam, who was not as muscular as Bryan. Leo had once mentioned that if he could garner more votes, he would go to the gym and get a six pack now, in which Bryan had. Another contestant, Kang Cheng Xi, was also given a stripping scene where he was required to wear cartoonish red boxers. The judges mentioned that Cheng Xi was not very muscular, and somewhere later, he was eliminated.
After competition
Many months after the competition, Bryan appeared in his first role - it was to many not considered as a supporting role, and a rather minor role at that. Nevertheless, his appearance in An Enchanted Life, a drama, surprised many. Bryan also appeared in minor roles of several dramas - Happily Ever After, Kinship and Metamorphosis. He has been compared to the 2nd runner up of Star Idol, Kang Cheng Xi, who also has a 2-year contract with the television station Mediacorp. Cheng Xi has been offered several roles that are more significant than those of Bryan's.
It is rumored that Bryan Wang had decided not to renew his contract, having been disappointed by the fact that he was not offered any lead roles in spite of being Star Idol champion. (sourced from an interview with The New Paper sometime between February and March 2008)
Filmography
2005 to 2006- Who Is It? - Bryan - Invited along with his girlfriend Jacqueline to an island resort. He is one of the only two survivors among the eight that have arrived, the other being a man named Cheng Xi.
2006 - An Enchanted Life - Shu Tang - A policeman who has been in love with friend Meiya
2007 - Happily Ever After - Lan Caihe - An effeminate immortal who passes as the best friend of reincarnated Yang Tianying, Ah Cai. Instructed by Yang Jian to prevent Tianyang from crossing paths with Tianqin aka Zhinu.
2007 - Kinship - Qian Duo Duo - Works for Chen Anping in Da Ying Ja foot reflexology center, he has an open crush on Anping's daughter Yusheng.
2007 - Metamorphosis - Leon - A male prostitute, he was found dead in a dumpster, naked and castrated. He is a character of a story arc.
Trivia
*Bryan wins a 2 year contract with Mediacorp and an $80,000 diamond for winning.
*Bryan was known to be the most sexually attractive contestant of the competition.

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See Also

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