Awards

Bicentennial Medal - 2019

About Tan Kheng Hua

Tan Kheng Hua received a B.S. in communications from Indiana University. She also began taking elective classes in acting during her time at the university, which provided a significant stepping stone towards a highly successful career in cinematography. After her time as a student, Kheng continued to maintain a connection with IU, and in fact, was the keynote speaker for the 2019 Colloquium for Women of IU.

A well-known and respected award-winning actress/producer from Singapore, Kheng is most recently known for her role in “Crazy Rich Asians,” the Warner Brothers adaptation of Kevin Kwan’s best-selling novel, in which Kheng plays the protagonist Rachel Chu’s mother, Kerry Chu. Kheng is also known for her role in the Netflix original series, “Marco Polo,” playing the Empress Dowager. Additional projects include the 2020 HBO Asia/Astro Shaw movie, The Garden of Evening Mists which has garnered 9 Taipei Golden Horse Award nominations. Kheng also creates and produces for stage and television in Singapore, including the critically acclaimed cabaret act, The Dim Sum Dollies, and creates and produces theatre and festivals outside of Singapore including No.7, an original theatre piece commissioned by the Georgetown Festival 2011 in Penang.

Kheng has received numerous honors and awards for her accomplishments. She was nominated best supporting actress for the (Mandarin) Star Awards, and received a DBS Live! Theatre Award for best actress. Kheng received two Asian Television Awards (best comedic performance for an actress, and highly commended performance by an actress), and received the best actress award from Art Nation. In 2019, Kheng was awarded Indiana University’s Bicentennial Medal, in recognition of her extensive, distinguished contributions, and service to the world of arts.