10 Talented Malaysian actresses you have to get to know

1/10
Diana Danielle
This 25-year-old has won the genetic lottery with her mixed parentage, where her unique features stem from her American father and Malaysian mother. She was offered a role as an actress at a mere age of 9 and rose to fame after her debut role in Air Mata Maria. The young Gol & Gincu actress is also a mother of two, and is currently pursuing her studies in fine arts.
Photo: Diana Danielle Facebook
2/10
Nora Danish
This petite actress of Burmese descent has been in the industry for more than a decade. She first gained prominence when she played the lead role in a comedy sitcom called Puteri, and ever since then, Nora has been an active actress, starring in films such as blockbuster hit Polis EVO and television series Mak Cun! and Mak Cun! 2.
Photo: Nora Danish Facebook
3/10
Carmen Soo
Carmen Soo has left her name and talent all over Asia, playing roles in Hong Kong blockbuster hits, Malaysian movies, and even television series in Singapore and the Philippines. The multilingual judge of the current cycle of Asia's Next Top Model is not only active in this industry, she also co-owns a boutique, Kushi, in Bangsar.
Photo: Carmen Soo
4/10
Nur Fathia
Born in Penang, Nur Fathia is best known for her role as Ummu Hani in the hit 2010 Malaysian television drama Hani, and has also starred in many other Malaysian television shows, such as Nur Kasih, and in telemovies as well. She also has her own clothing brand, Dara, which primarily focuses on a wide variety of fashionable tudungs.
Photo: Nur Fathia Instagram
5/10
Nelydia Senrose
With Siamese and Malay blood coursing through her veins, this stunning actress made her debut as an actress when she was only 13 with her role as a daughter, Melissa in Spa Q 1. Since then, she's acted in the popular drama Setia Hujung Nyawa as Ersalina and is currently active as an actress in many television series.
Photo: Nelydia Senrose Facebook
6/10
Sharifah Amani
The second daughter of veteran actress Fatimah Abu Bakar is of Malay, Chinese, Arab and Bengali parentage, which has left her with some stunning features. She was a writer for the New Straits Times in her teenage years and also dabbled in theatre briefly. Sharifah Amani is now best known for her role as Okred in Sepet and Gubra, and is active in both film and television.
Photo: Sharifah Amani Instagram
7/10
Emma Maembong
The 9th daughter out of 11 siblings, Emma is the child of Maembong, a well known national arts artist. She began her debut in 2012 with Kau Yang Terindah directed by Fatima, and now she is blooming as an actress in a multitude of Malaysian shows. She is best known for her roles as Munirah in Kau Yang Terindah, and Nawwal Husna in Projek Memikat Suami.
Photo: Emma Maembong Instagram
8/10
Liyana Jasmay
The gorgeous Liyana Jasmay has previously won awards such as the Best Actress Award for Malaysian Film Festival 2009 for her role in the box-office movie, Papadom and KAMI. The mother of two has also undergone classes for six months at the New York Film Academy in both acting and screenwriting.

Photo: Liyana Jasmay Facebook
9/10
Nurul Elfira Loy
Elfira Loy has been super accomplished ever since she was a young girl, having started her acting career as a child star, where her first role was a schoolgirl in the telemovie drama Cinta Itu Buta. Nowadays, the actress is not as active as she is pursuing her tertiary education, but there are often updates on her Facebook page.
Photo: Nurul Elfira Loy Facebook
10/10
Fasha Sandha
Fasha Sandha was crowned the most popular actress at the 2005 Anugerah Bintang Popular for her breakout role in television drama Natasya, and won again in 2011 for Chinta. This actress is not only active in the movie and television industry, she is also the ambassador of Dhaja perfume, a best-selling novelist and an avid cat lover on Instagram. Photo: Fasha Sandha Instagram

We’re all familiar with the big names of Angelina Jolie, Jennifer Lawrence, Emma Stone and the likes of these Hollywood bigwigs, but how many Malaysian actresses do you know off the top of your head? Stop obsessing over reaching Hollywood’s red carpets to catch a glimpse of your favourite actresses, because there is homegrown talent right here in Malaysia. Get to know 10 of these unbelievably talented and striking actresses and discover their other lesser known talents too.

Besides acting, Fasha Sandha is also famous for her best-selling novel, Sumpahan Fasha (Fasha’s Curse), and Nur Fathia has a stunning collection of shawls and headscarfs in her very own clothing line. Didn’t know all that? Flick through our gallery to discover these 10 brilliant Malaysian actresses. If you become addicted to the television shows they’ve starred in after reading this, you can thank us later.

Winnie Tan

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