It seems like only yesterday that I was still fangirling over Ivy Lee on the small screen. And honestly who could blame me?
Beautiful, charismatic, great at acting. She was the very personification of the word crush.
Alas, she retired in 2007 before moving abroad to Hong Kong, and we never really saw much of her after that.
Until now.
With her twin sons back in Singapore to serve their mandatory military service, Ivy Lee has, too, returned to our shores.
Former Actress Ivy Lee Back in Singapore to Send 2 Sons for NS
In an Instagram post on 6 July 2023, veteran local actress Hong Huifang unveiled the aesthetic family’s comeback in true picturesque fashion.
Translation: “I have seen the both of you from the time you were born, I have watched the both of you grow up. Even though you lived a far distance away, we still kept in touch through phone calls and short gatherings. But now that the both of you have returned to serve the army, we can finally get along properly now.”
Apparently, the twins are Hong’s godsons, as indicated by her first hashtag.
Various notable local artists have since liked the post, with several also leaving heartening comments.
While it’s unclear whether Lee will be back for good, or at least for the duration of the enlistment, it’s reasonable to assume that she will be, at the very least, be back for a certain period of time.
And though she has “retired”, one can’t help but hope that she will once again grace the small screen again.
You can view Hong’s heartfelt post here.
Those who’ve followed Lee’s Instagram account throughout the years would know that she has not just three, but four very good-looking children.
Her eldest daughter Miki, who turns 26 this year, looks a lot like her mother.
Her sons, Nik and Dash, have also grown well over the years.
And her youngest daughter Leah, who constantly looks like a bundle of joy.
Interestingly, Lee’s Instagram handle is @mndlmummy, which reflects the first initials of her children’s names.
And of course, her director husband whom she tied the knot with back in 1997.
For those unaware, Lee got married to Hong Kong director Raymond Choy back in 1997.
After her retirement in 2007, she moved to Hong Kong with her children in 2009 so that they could be closer to Choy.
In 2018, they moved to London, where her children were studying.
In July 2022, Lee was in Paris when she met fellow actress Sharon Au.
Au described Lee as her “idol”.
And in Feb 2023, Lee actually paid a short visit back to Singapore.
Throughout the course of her acting career, Lee managed to clinch the coveted Best Actress award three times.
By the way, is it just me, or do you feel old, too?