Singaporean actress Hayley Woo faced an unexpected challenge while filming the Chinese New Year movie Baby Hero in Thailand. She contracted COVID-19 during the production, leading to her quarantine and altering her participation in the film. As a result, her character, Leena, was written out of the sole action scene she was involved in. The development required swift deliberation from the director and creative team to adapt the scene without her.
Hayley's involvement in the action scene was significant, as she had undergone training with a professional Thai stunt crew. However, two days before the scheduled filming of the scene, Hayley began experiencing symptoms she initially dismissed as heatiness due to the sweltering conditions on set. The symptoms progressed, leading to a positive COVID-19 test and necessitating her hospitalization and subsequent quarantine.
"I was stuck in quarantine, and being overseas made me even more homesick." – Hayley
During her five-day battle with the virus, Hayley received substantial warmth and support from her family and fellow cast members. Her twin sister Jayley and niece were constant sources of comfort through video calls, while her mother's cooking provided a taste of home that lifted her spirits. Her two-year-old niece Jan also played a pivotal role in cheering Hayley up.
The camaraderie on set was evident as co-star Ya Hui frequently checked on her well-being.
"Ya Hui really looked after me, always asking if I'd eaten my meals and if there was anything she could do for me." – Hayley
Thai actor Vithaya 'Pipu' Pansringarm, along with others, offered emotional support through regular messages.
"I also really appreciate [Thai actor Vithaya 'Pipu' Pansringarm] and the others. They'd always text me and tell me, 'Hey, don't be depressed, don't be sad! We're here for you.' I was in a bad place at that point in time." – Hayley
Despite the setback of missing her first action scene in a movie, Hayley's gratitude for the support she received overshadowed her disappointment.
Leave a Reply