# Steven David Lim > Mediated Wiki article. Canonical URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Steven_David_Lim > Markdown URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Steven_David_Lim.md > Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Steven_David_Lim > Source revision: 1331615451 > License: Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/) **Steven David Lim** (born 4 September 1973), also known as **Steven Lim**, is a Singaporean actor, photographer, and restaurateur best known for his role as David Tay in the long-running drama series *[Growing Up](/source/Growing_Up_(Singaporean_TV_series))* on [MediaCorp TV Channel 5](/source/Channel_5_(Singaporean_TV_channel)). He is of [Peranakan](/source/Peranakan) origin.[1][2] ## Career ### Acting career Lim gained prominence for his role in *[Growing Up](/source/Growing_Up_(Singaporean_TV_series))*, where he appeared in all six seasons of the show.[3] In 1998, Lim appeared in the Malay drama series *Soldadu* as [National Service](/source/National_service_in_Singapore) member Su Kiong and appeared speaking in Malay.[1] His command of Malay in the drama improved during the drama's five-episode run.[1] He reprised his role in the second season in 2000. In 1998, Lim made his film debut in *[Forever Fever](/source/Forever_Fever)*.[4] In the same year, he starred in *[The Teenage Textbook Movie](/source/The_Teenage_Textbook_Movie)*.[5] In 2001, Lim left Singapore to attend [London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art](/source/London_Academy_of_Music_and_Dramatic_Art) in [England](/source/England). After completing his drama school education, he took on acting jobs over the years in the United Kingdom.[3] He played the lead role in the 2005 feature film *[Cut Sleeve Boys](/source/Cut_Sleeve_Boys)*,[6] and made a guest appearance on the British sketch comedy series *[Little Britain](/source/Little_Britain_(TV_series))*.[7] In 2013, Lim left the United Kingdom for [Bangkok](/source/Bangkok), [Thailand](/source/Thailand), Lim continued with acting.[3] Additionally, he took on supporting roles in the gay web series *People Like Us* and *[Getaway](/source/Getaway_(web_series))*.[3][8] For his performance in *People Like Us*, Lim was honored with the Best Supporting Actor award at the 2017 Indie Series Awards.[9] In 2023, Lim opened up about the bullying he endured on the set of *[Growing Up](/source/Growing_Up_(Singaporean_TV_series))*, after becoming the target of a co-star's animosity. Lim suspects the co-star tried to get him fired at the end of the first season.[10] Although he refrains from naming the co-star, he praises co-star [Jamie Yeo](/source/Jamie_Yeo) for rallying behind him.[11] ### Other career After moving to Bangkok, Lim opened a cafe, Luka Bangkok, and a restaurant, Luka/Quince at Siri House.[3][12] He also took on photography.[3] ## Filmography ### TV series Year Title Role Notes Ref 1996 – 2001 Growing Up David Tay [3] 1998-2000 Soldadu Su Kiong [1] 2016 People Like Us [3] 2022 Getaway Sam's dad Web series [3] ### Film Year Title Role Notes Ref 1998 Forever Fever Boon [4] The Teenage Textbook Movie Daniel Boon [5] 2005 Cut Sleeve Boys Melvin Shu [6] 2025 The Client Richard Short film [13] ## Personal life Lim spent his childhood and early teenage years in [Kuala Lumpur](/source/Kuala_Lumpur) until he moved to Singapore at age 15. Taking Malay as the second language instead of Mandarin, he excelled in the O- and A-level examinations.[2] His Malay worsened when he studied at the [National University of Singapore](/source/National_University_of_Singapore).[1] During season 2 of *Growing Up*, Lim successfully applied for Singapore permanent residence status and was enlisted to National Service.[1] He speaks in English, Malay, and Hokkien and Teochew dialects.[2] In 2019, Lim came out publicly on *[Dear Straight People](/source/Dear_Straight_People)*, becoming one of Singapore's first openly gay actors.[14] ## References 1. ["Steven Lim 'masuk Melayu'"](https://eresources.nlb.gov.sg/newspapers/digitised/article/beritaharian19980717-1.2.14.1). *Berita Harian (Singapore)*. 17 July 1998. Retrieved 27 October 2024. 1. "Growing up into a Pisang Goreng". *The New Paper*. 22 July 1998. 1. ["What has Steven Lim been up to? Growing Up actor's latest project is Singaporean gay drama"](https://www.asiaone.com/entertainment/what-steven-lim-been-growing-up-actor-latest-singaporean-gay-drama-getaway-paween-nalieng-snooker). *[AsiaOne](/source/AsiaOne)*. 18 June 2022. Retrieved 18 June 2022. 1. Elley, Derek (1998-08-03). ["Forever Fever"](https://variety.com/1998/film/reviews/forever-fever-1200454843/). *Variety*. Retrieved 2024-11-26. 1. ["Oh dreamy teacher, please don't go away"](https://eresources.nlb.gov.sg/newspapers/digitised/article/straitstimes19981014-1.2.100.13). *[The Straits Times](/source/The_Straits_Times)*. 14 October 1998. Retrieved 6 November 2023. 1. ["CUT SLEEVE BOYS | Film Threat"](https://filmthreat.com/reviews/cut-sleeve-boys/). 2007-08-25. Retrieved 2019-11-12. 1. Tseng, Douglas (11 June 2020). ["Little Britain Dropped From Streaming Services In Singapore"](https://www.todayonline.com/8days/seeanddo/little-britain-dropped-streaming-services-singapore). *[Today](/source/Today_(Singapore_newspaper))*. Retrieved 6 November 2023. 1. ["Singapore's Dear Straight People drops gay drama set in Bangkok: Coconuts"](https://coconuts.co/singapore/lifestyle/singapores-dear-straight-people-drops-gay-drama-set-in-bangkok-web-series-getaway-lgbt//). *[Coconuts](/source/Coconuts)*. 23 May 2022. Retrieved 23 May 2022. 1. ["8th Annual Indie Series Awards Winners"](https://www.indieseriesawards.com/2017/04/8th-annual-indie-series-awards-winners.html). *Indie Series Awards*. Retrieved 2023-10-28. 1. ["Growing Up actor Steven Lim suspects fellow cast member tried to get him fired from show"](https://www.asiaone.com/entertainment/drama-growing-up-actor-steven-lim-suspects-fellow-cast-member-tried-get-him-fired-show/). *[AsiaOne](/source/AsiaOne)*. 18 September 2023. Retrieved 26 September 2023. 1. ["Steven David Lim Opens Up About The Bullying He Endured On Growing Up"](https://dearstraightpeople.com/2023/09/18/steven-david-lim-growing-up//). *[Dear Straight People](/source/Dear_Straight_People)*. 18 September 2023. Retrieved 18 September 2023. 1. ["Out Of The Closet: Steven David Lim Shares His Story: Dear Straight People"](https://dearstraightpeople.com/2019/06/23/steven-david-lim//). *[Dear Straight People](/source/Dear_Straight_People)*. 23 May 2022. Retrieved 23 June 2019. 1. ["The Client (Short Film) – starring Steven David Lim & Chris Fitnoyz"](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EiIE5IiBrBE). *YouTube*. Dear Straight People. Retrieved 2026-01-07. 1. Lim, Bryan (2022-07-04). ["'I was in love with somebody, I couldn't tell my parents': Growing Up actor Steven Lim on coming out to family"](https://www.asiaone.com/entertainment/i-love-somebody-couldnt-tell-parents-growing-up-actor-steven-lim-coming-out-gay-singapore-section-377a-getaway). *AsiaOne*. Retrieved 2024-11-25. ## External links - [Steven Lim](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0510597/) at IMDb --- Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Steven David Lim](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Steven_David_Lim) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Steven_David_Lim?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.