What does home look like on screen? In Richie Koh’s roles, it comes pretty close. The 32-year-old actor has become a fixture on local screens, chronicling slices of Singaporean life with characters who feel at once grounded and familiar. “Personally, the past month has been a very good break,” he shares. After two years of non-stop filming, the downtime offered a rare pause. But as much as it seems like a lull period, it’s clear that the art of storytelling is still very much front and centre for Koh.
He initially leaned into the distinct style of K-drama acting, but somewhere along the way, something shifted. “After observing the Singaporeans in my life—friends, aunties, uncles, even people I pass by daily—I realised I wanted to portray characters who felt real. People with lifestyles and voices like ours. “I really started enjoying the craft when I began taking on roles that were more relatable. The ones that reflect the people here and how we live.” Two recent characters stand out: Tian Cai, a youth with special needs that he played in the drama series Your World In Mine, and a drag queen in his upcoming movie, A Good Child.
“Sometimes, how I perceive a character might not be how the writer does. So the challenge becomes: how do we meet in the middle? That process of trying to connect, and understanding someone’s perspective, even when it’s far from your own—that’s not easy.” But the results speak for themselves. His performance as Tian Cai moved many to tears and earned him widespread praise for its nuance and depth. He brings a similar care to every role, carefully studying gestures, behaviours and emotional textures to inject as much authenticity as possible into each portrayal.
“I really started enjoying the craft when I began taking on roles that were more relatable. The ones that reflect the people here and how we live.”
When asked what success looks like to him, his answer is seemingly simple yet deeply rooted. “It’s about peace of mind,” he emphasises. “To work hard, not cause any trouble, have a good dinner and be able to sleep comfortably at night.” That relatability is part of what has made his work resonate so strongly with local audiences, both on screen and online. Even his short-form content often captures everyday quirks with the punchy humour most, if not all, Singaporeans know and love. “I try to keep it very Singaporean,” he says. “Very authentic.”
It’s this realness, this honest portrayal of life here, that has made him such a natural representative of home. “I’m happy to be someone who represents that,” he says. “Even when I visit my usual dining spots and the uncles and aunties recognise me, sometimes they kindly offer to treat me to coffee—that’s home to me.” Through every role, Koh continues to portray a melting pot of identities and lived experiences—each a reminder of how layered the idea of home truly is.
So what’s next? “I’m working on a few new roles now,” he shares, hinting at more characters that stretch him beyond what he’s done before. And as for what Koh is interested to explore in the future? “Hopefully something different, maybe an action character. Or someone from another underrepresented group, like a person with disabilities or a completely different background from me. That would challenge me and help me grow as an actor.”
But the star is in no rush. “I always try to settle what’s in front of me first,” he adds, smiling. “One day at a time.” As Koh continues to evolve as an actor, his dedication to authentic storytelling ensures he remains a beloved reflection of Singaporean life, truly and tastefully illustrating home on the big screen.
Photographer Chuen Kah Jun
Stylist Lance Aeron
Hair Eugene Ong
Make-up Dollei Seah
Photographer’s assistant Danial Mirza
Stylist’s assistant Dickson Aw
Vogue Singapore’s July/August ‘Home’ issue will be out on newsstands from 13 July and available to preorder online.
