Cover Award-winning director of ‘Tiger Stripes’, Amanda Nell Eu (Photo: Daniel Adams)
Award-winning director of ‘Tiger Stripes’, Amanda Nell Eu (Photo: Daniel Adams)
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In the glow of Oscar winner Michelle Yeoh’s success, here are other Malaysian women in the film industry that you should know
In the vibrant tapestry of Malaysia’s film industry, the representation of women in front of and behind the camera has been steadily rising. The influence of women in the film industry in recent years cannot be denied, evolving from silent pioneers to outspoken trailblazers, reshaping the narratives and setting new standards of creativity and excellence.
From award-winning actresses to Oscar-hopeful directors, these are Malaysia’s leading female creatives who have held their own in the highly competitive film and entertainment landscape abroad.
Read more: Malaysian songstress Yuna on overcoming prejudice and stereotypes to make an impact
Tan Chui Mui
Above Tan Chui Mui in her film 'Barbarian Invasion'
(Photo: Instagram / @dahuangpictures)
Tan Chui Mui in her film 'Barbarian Invasion' (Photo: Instagram / @dahuangpictures)
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Tan Chui Mui is an acclaimed Malaysian filmmaker and actress. Her latest movie, Barbarian Invasion, won the Best Film award at the ASEAN Film Festival in August 2023, beating out six other Southeast Asian contenders. The film also won the Jury Grand Prix trophy at the 24th Shanghai International Film Festival's (SIFF) Golden Goblet Awards two months prior.
The film follows Moon Lee (played by Tan), a divorced and exhausted actress offered the chance of a cinematic comeback as the lead of a do-your-own martial arts film, with her ex-husband as co-lead. Drawing on motherhood and her love for martial arts as her source of inspiration, Tan made Barbarian Invasion feel personal to viewers.
Amanda Nell Eu
Above Photo: Daniel Adams/Tatler Malaysia
Photo: Daniel Adams/Tatler Malaysia
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Known for her twist on the Malaysian horror film genre, Amanda Nell Eu premiered her critically acclaimed movie Tiger Stripes at the 95th Cannes Film Festival earlier this year.
Eu is known for drawing on Malaysian folktales and superstition, twisting them into horror to create a movie that audiences can resonate with. In the case of Tiger Stripes, Eu directs a film that follows a young girl through her journey of puberty in a world where it is seen as a taboo. The movie became the first Malaysian production to be awarded the Grand Prize at the Critics’ Week Grand Prix 2023 at the Cannes Film Festival, making Eu the first Malaysian (and Southeast Asian) director to win such an honour at the festival. Tiger Stripes is also a nominee for the Best International Feature Film at the 96th Academy Awards.
See also: Amanda Nell Eu—The first Malaysian female director to win Cannes’ Grand Prix 2023
Adele Lim
Joy Ride is Tatler Asia’s Most Influential honouree, Adele Lim’s latest Hollywood sensation. Prior projects Lim has worked on include Crazy Rich Asians, Academy Award-nominated Raya and the Last Dragon, and various projects on American TV.
This year, however, Lim chose a different genre of film, releasing a lighthearted comedy about self-expression and identity centred around four girls who embark on an unplanned trip. The film has scored an impressive 91 per cent on Rotten Tomatoes, and the cast received the Comedy Ensemble of the Year Award at CinemaCon in April 2023.
Don't miss: ‘Joy Ride’: The Adele Lim movie that’s making waves in Hollywood
Sangeeta Krishnasamy
Sangeeta Krishnasamy is a name well known in Malaysian television. A model and actress, Sangeeta’s most popular films include Adiwiraku and Vennira Iravuggal, for which she won multiple awards. She has been cast in many Malaysian films, both in Tamil and Malay languages. Krishnasamy was the first Malaysian-Indian actress to win the Best Actress award at both Kuala Lumpur Film Critics Awards and Malaysia Film Festival in 2017, paving the way for her to enter Malay-language cinema and star in hit dramas like Daulat, Air Force: The Movie - Selagi Bernyawa, and Kudeta. Interestingly, her early career saw a foray into Kollywood (the Tamil language film industry), with a small but defining role in Indian director Venkat Prabhu’s popular film Goa. This year, she was named Best Leading Actress of the Year at the Indian Achievers Malaysia Awards 2023.
One of the top actresses in the local film industry, Sangeeta took on her first role as producer for Astro Shaw’s Gemencheh Boys, a film based on a true story about a Malaysian teacher who inspires his school's primary school cricket team in Gemencheh, Negeri Sembilan to succeed against the odds. Sangeeta will also don the producer’s hat for Adiwiraku 2.
Amanda Ang
Another notable actress hailing from Malaysia, Amanda Ang, has a versatility that serves her well, now more than ever. Having started with comedic roles, she has taken up various projects, from theatre to drama, crediting her knack for adapting to her Malaysian roots.
Nominated for the Best Performance by an Actress at the New York Festivals TV and Film Awards 2023—having won an award in this same category at the festival two years prior in 2020 for her performance as Sor Fan in the Singaporean drama series Last Madame—Ang has proven herself to be a force to be reckoned with on the international stage.
Nuha Jes Izman
As an up-and-coming actress, Nuha Jes Izman is sure to make her name known worldwide. Her career started with a bang with a role in the second season of Showtime's highly anticipated drama series Yellowjackets, the cable network's second-most streamed series ever with seven Primetime Emmy Award nominations.
Taking place in both the past and future, the show details the story of high school female soccer players who descend into savage clans after their plane crashes in the remote wilderness. In the latest season, Izman plays the mysterious theatre kid, Crystal.
