# The Last Madame
**The Last Madame** is a 2019 English-language Singaporean period drama series produced by Ochre Pictures, in which a present-day banker inherits a shophouse and uncovers the life of her great-grandmother, the last brothel owner in 1930s and 1940s Singapore.[1](https://www.imda.gov.sg/-/media/imda/files/who-we-are/corporate-publications/media-brochures/tv-brochure-2021.pdf) It was created by Jean Yeo, with Adeline Foo as researcher and creator, and stars Joanne Peh as the brothel madame Fung Lan and Fiona Fussi as her great-granddaughter Chi Ling.[2](https://www.sinema.sg/2020/06/02/see-what-see-last-madame/) • [3](https://biblioasia.nlb.gov.sg/all-sections/vol-15-issue-4-jan-mar-2020-when-women-were-commodities/) The series was the first M18-rated show to air on Toggle, Mediacorp's streaming service now known as meWATCH, and it won Best Asian Drama at the 2020 Asia Contents Awards held alongside the Busan International Film Festival.[4](https://cnalifestyle.channelnewsasia.com/entertainment/fang-rong-joanne-peh-sisters-night-last-madame-363411) • [5](https://www.ochrepictures.com/news)
| Key fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Format | 12 episodes x 30 minutes, English language, released 2019 on meWATCH (Toggle)[1](https://www.imda.gov.sg/-/media/imda/files/who-we-are/corporate-publications/media-brochures/tv-brochure-2021.pdf) |
| Producer / distributor | Ochre Pictures; distributed by Mediacorp in Asia and LGI Media outside Asia[1](https://www.imda.gov.sg/-/media/imda/files/who-we-are/corporate-publications/media-brochures/tv-brochure-2021.pdf) |
| Setting | Dual timeline: a brothel in 1939 to 1940 Singapore and 2019, where Chi Ling returns from Hong Kong to settle an inheritance[6](https://www.lgimedia.com/tv_program/the-last-madame/) |
| Lead roles | Joanne Peh as Fung Lan, madame of the House of Phoenix; Fiona Fussi as Chi Ling[7](https://mothership.sg/2019/07/joanne-peh-toggle-m18-drama/) • [8](https://contentdistribution.mediacorp.sg/collections/mythical-period/products/last-madame) |
| Rating | First M18-rated drama on Toggle[4](https://cnalifestyle.channelnewsasia.com/entertainment/fang-rong-joanne-peh-sisters-night-last-madame-363411) |
| Top award | Best Asian Drama, 2020 Asia Contents Awards, shared with the Korean drama When The Camellia Blooms[5](https://www.ochrepictures.com/news) |
| Follow-up | Prequel *Last Madame: Sisters of the Night* premiered on meWATCH on 13 July 2023[9](https://sgmagazine.com/entertainment/of-sisterhood-and-survival-exclusive-sneak-peek-into-sisters-of-the-night-prequel-to-mediacorps-last-madame/) |
## Spoilers
### Premise and structure
The series runs on two timelines. In 2019, Chi Ling, a successful but cold-hearted Singaporean banker living in Hong Kong, returns to Singapore to claim an inherited, run-down shophouse. As she investigates the building, she learns that her great-grandmother Fung Lan was the last madame of a brothel there, and she must decide the fate of the property while reconciling with her family's history.[8](https://contentdistribution.mediacorp.sg/collections/mythical-period/products/last-madame) • [6](https://www.lgimedia.com/tv_program/the-last-madame/)
The historical thread follows Fung Lan, the mistress of the House of Phoenix brothel in 1940s Singapore. A former prostitute who escaped a dark past, she reinvented herself as a ruthless madame who sought to protect the women under her and, in the show's framing, beat men at their own game.[7](https://mothership.sg/2019/07/joanne-peh-toggle-m18-drama/) Reviewers noted that the back-and-forth cutting between past and present followed the structure of *The Little Nyonya*, the earlier [Mediacorp](https://www.edgepedia.org/mediacorp) drama in which Peh also starred.[10](https://mothership.sg/2019/09/joanne-peh-scene-last-madame-toggle/)
Sources describe the historical setting slightly differently: Mediacorp's distribution page places the brothel in early 1940s Singapore, LGI Media's sales page gives 1939 to 1940, and some coverage says the 1930s.[8](https://contentdistribution.mediacorp.sg/collections/mythical-period/products/last-madame) • [6](https://www.lgimedia.com/tv_program/the-last-madame/) • [11](https://www.mediacorp.sg/business/production-venue/success-stories/hbo-go-to-stream-award-winning-mediacorp-titles-for-the-first-15386976)
## Production
The project originated in Mediacorp's WritersLab program under the title *The Last Madame of Temple Street*, commissioned from writer Adeline Foo with Ochre Pictures as production house, in a 30-minute, 12-episode drama format with a tentative premiere of March 2019.[12](https://www.imda.gov.sg/-/media/imda/files/about/media-releases/2017/annex-b---information-on-commissioned-projects-from-writerslab-programme.pdf) Foo, a scriptwriter and adjunct lecturer, is described in the National Library Board's *BiblioAsia* as the researcher and creator of the series, drawing on her study of the 1930s brothel scene in Singapore.[3](https://biblioasia.nlb.gov.sg/all-sections/vol-15-issue-4-jan-mar-2020-when-women-were-commodities/)
Jean Yeo, creative director and founder of Ochre Pictures, served as director and head writer, with Rowena Loh and Yo Chen as co-directors and writers including Claire Merquita, Bernice Low, and Sue Tan.[2](https://www.sinema.sg/2020/06/02/see-what-see-last-madame/) The cast also included Jeff Chou, Brandon Wong, Lina Ng, Constance Lau, Amanda Ang, Kiki Lim, Ky Tan, and Alan Wan.[8](https://contentdistribution.mediacorp.sg/collections/mythical-period/products/last-madame)
The M18 rating, Singapore's adult rating for television, reflected the show's depiction of brothel life. Peh's nude scene with co-star Jeff Chou in episode 9 drew press attention; the scene ran about one minute with eight fade-to-black transitions in the broadcast cut.[10](https://mothership.sg/2019/09/joanne-peh-scene-last-madame-toggle/) Peh said in an interview that it was the Toggle Original with the highest number of first-week views at that time.[13](https://mothership.sg/2019/10/joanne-peh-interview/)
## Reception and awards
The series won Best Asian Drama at the 2020 Asia Contents Awards, tied with the [Korean drama](https://www.edgepedia.org/korean-drama) *When The Camellia Blooms*, at a competition held under the Busan International Film Festival.[5](https://www.ochrepictures.com/news) At the New York Festivals TV & Film Awards 2020 it took a Bronze for Best Performance by an Actress and was a finalist in multiple categories, including Streaming Drama, Production Design/Art Direction, Costume Design, and Direction.[8](https://contentdistribution.mediacorp.sg/collections/mythical-period/products/last-madame)
Lina Ng, playing Ah Yoke, the loyal maid of the madame, won Best Actress in a Supporting Role at the Asian Academy Creative Awards 2020 and Best Supporting Actress at the 25th Asian Television Awards; according to a profile in *Salt&Light*, she is the first and only Singaporean artiste to have won both awards.[14](https://saltandlight.sg/news/i-spent-13-years-in-the-wilderness-before-i-found-my-true-purpose-lion-mums-actress-lina-ng-on-leaving-full-time-acting-and-finding-her-way-back/) At the 25th Asian Television Awards the series itself won Best Digital Fiction Programme/Series, and Joanne Peh won Best Leading Female Performance, Digital.[8](https://contentdistribution.mediacorp.sg/collections/mythical-period/products/last-madame)
Singapore's Public Consultation Committee Choice List for 2020 praised the drama for its originality and high engagement value, citing the seamless transition between past and present story arcs, dialogue with a smattering of dialect, and the intricacy of costumes and sets.[15](https://www.imda.gov.sg/-/media/imda/files/regulation-licensing-and-consultations/committee-reports/2020-pac-choice.pdf)
## Distribution
The series appeared on Netflix in August 2021 among 28 Singapore-made titles added to the platform, and it was reported to have spent several weeks on Netflix's top 10 most-watched list in Singapore.[16](https://www.womensweekly.com.sg/your-life/netflix-new-singapore-made-shows-august) • [17](https://www.motionpictures.org/2022/04/behind-the-scenes-with-five-female-singaporean-creators/) From 1 August 2021 it streamed on HBO GO in eight Asian territories: Hong Kong, Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, Taiwan, Thailand, and Vietnam, alongside Mediacorp titles *The Little Nyonya* and *Titoudao*.[11](https://www.mediacorp.sg/business/production-venue/success-stories/hbo-go-to-stream-award-winning-mediacorp-titles-for-the-first-15386976) Later availability included Amazon Prime Video, Tubi, and [The Roku Channel](https://www.edgepedia.org/the-roku-channel) in some markets.[18](https://www.justwatch.com/us/tv-show/last-madame/season-1)
## Sisters of the Night
A prequel, *Last Madame: Sisters of the Night*, premiered on meWATCH on 13 July 2023. It stars Fang Rong as the teenage Fung Lan, whose birth name is Qing Ling, and Gini Chang as the younger Ah Yoke, named Nozomi, set in 1920s Singapore where Qing Ling flees an arranged marriage and Nozomi survives in a Japanese brothel.[4](https://cnalifestyle.channelnewsasia.com/entertainment/fang-rong-joanne-peh-sisters-night-last-madame-363411) Jean Yeo's research for the prequel put the number of brothels in pre-war Singapore at roughly 400 to 500, of which about a quarter, around 109, were Japanese.[9](https://sgmagazine.com/entertainment/of-sisterhood-and-survival-exclusive-sneak-peek-into-sisters-of-the-night-prequel-to-mediacorps-last-madame/) At the World Media Festivals Television & Corporate Media Awards 2024, the prequel won the Grand Award for Best in [Entertainment](https://www.edgepedia.org/entertainment) and a Gold in Entertainment: Continuing Series and Serial Programmes for Ochre Pictures.[19](https://www.mediacorp.sg/awards-accolades/world-media-festivals-television-corporate-media-awards-2024-186566)
## Historical background
The series draws on a documented chapter of Singapore's colonial history. According to *BiblioAsia*, the colonial authorities tolerated and legalized prostitution in the early years, partly because of the low female-to-male population ratio; Japanese women sold into the trade cost 500 to 600 yen on average between 1900 and 1910, while Chinese girls from South China cost between $150 and $500. The 1930 Women and Girls' Protection Ordinance outlawed brothels and vice activities, but the legislation drove the trade underground.[3](https://biblioasia.nlb.gov.sg/all-sections/vol-15-issue-4-jan-mar-2020-when-women-were-commodities/)
## References
1. [IMDA TV Brochure 2021, Last Madame listing](https://www.imda.gov.sg/-/media/imda/files/who-we-are/corporate-publications/media-brochures/tv-brochure-2021.pdf)
2. [SEE WHAT SEE?!: Last Madame, Sinema.SG](https://www.sinema.sg/2020/06/02/see-what-see-last-madame/)
3. [When Women Were Commodities, BiblioAsia (National Library Board)](https://biblioasia.nlb.gov.sg/all-sections/vol-15-issue-4-jan-mar-2020-when-women-were-commodities/)
4. [Fang Rong on playing a young Joanne Peh in Last Madame prequel Sisters Of The Night, CNA Lifestyle](https://cnalifestyle.channelnewsasia.com/entertainment/fang-rong-joanne-peh-sisters-night-last-madame-363411)
5. [News, Ochre Pictures](https://www.ochrepictures.com/news)
6. [Last Madame, LGI Media](https://www.lgimedia.com/tv_program/the-last-madame/)
7. [Joanne Peh is a ruthless brothel boss in Toggle's first M18 English drama, Mothership.SG](https://mothership.sg/2019/07/joanne-peh-toggle-m18-drama/)
8. [Last Madame, Mediacorp Content Distribution](https://contentdistribution.mediacorp.sg/collections/mythical-period/products/last-madame)
9. [Of sisterhood and survival: sneak peek into Sisters of the Night, SG Magazine](https://sgmagazine.com/entertainment/of-sisterhood-and-survival-exclusive-sneak-peek-into-sisters-of-the-night-prequel-to-mediacorps-last-madame/)
10. [Joanne Peh's 'nude' sex scene is 1 minute long with 8 fade-to-black transitions, Mothership.SG](https://mothership.sg/2019/09/joanne-peh-scene-last-madame-toggle/)
11. [HBO GO to Stream Award-Winning Mediacorp Titles for the First Time, Mediacorp](https://www.mediacorp.sg/business/production-venue/success-stories/hbo-go-to-stream-award-winning-mediacorp-titles-for-the-first-15386976)
12. [Annex B: Information on commissioned projects from WritersLab programme, IMDA](https://www.imda.gov.sg/-/media/imda/files/about/media-releases/2017/annex-b---information-on-commissioned-projects-from-writerslab-programme.pdf)
13. [Joanne Peh interview, Mothership.SG](https://mothership.sg/2019/10/joanne-peh-interview/)
14. [Lina Ng on leaving full-time acting and finding her way back, Salt&Light](https://saltandlight.sg/news/i-spent-13-years-in-the-wilderness-before-i-found-my-true-purpose-lion-mums-actress-lina-ng-on-leaving-full-time-acting-and-finding-her-way-back/)
15. [PAC Choice List 2020, IMDA](https://www.imda.gov.sg/-/media/imda/files/regulation-licensing-and-consultations/committee-reports/2020-pac-choice.pdf)
16. [Catch Last Madame, Mr Unbelievable & 26 More Singapore Shows On Netflix This Aug, Singapore Women's Weekly](https://www.womensweekly.com.sg/your-life/netflix-new-singapore-made-shows-august)
17. [Behind-the-Scenes With Five Female Singaporean Creators, The Credits (Motion Picture Association)](https://www.motionpictures.org/2022/04/behind-the-scenes-with-five-female-singaporean-creators/)
18. [Last Madame Season 1, JustWatch](https://www.justwatch.com/us/tv-show/last-madame/season-1)
19. [World Media Festivals Television & Corporate Media Awards 2024, Mediacorp](https://www.mediacorp.sg/awards-accolades/world-media-festivals-television-corporate-media-awards-2024-186566)
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*Topic: Encyclopedia › Arts and culture › Screen and stage › Film and television › Series and fictional screen worlds › Unscripted, reality, and web-native series › Web-native and streaming-original series › Comedy, drama, and general-genre web series › Premiered 2017 to 2021*
*Initially written Oct 3, 2026 · Reviewed: Oct 3, 2026; Oct 25, 2026 · Edited: Oct 15, 2026; Oct 25, 2026; Nov 1, 2026 · Last review: Oct 25, 2026*
*Copyright 2026 EdgeChat AI, a subsidiary of Biostate AI.*
License: Edgepedia Community License 1.0, https://www.edgepedia.org/edgepedia/license