My Diary MIMI RAHZIA: "Bruneian Rises To Fame In Malaysia's Film Industry"- Borneo Bulletin

Bruneian rises to fame in Malaysia's film industry

By Rosli Abidin Yahya

Mimi taking on the role as Kesuma Dewi in Damak

A Bruneian actress who initially went to Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia to complete her tertiary education has become one of the most sought after actresses in Malaysia. She decided to join the entertainment industry a few years ago after graduating with flying colours.

The proud lass, Mimi Rahzia is currently acting in three television drama series namely; Ritma Kampus on TV2, Cinta Gila on Astro Prima and Samarinda Suria Kasandra on TV3.

Mimi acted as Nadira in 'Cinta Gila', a photo shoot model chosen to represent a company. The series was shot a year ago and produced by Global Station Sdn Bhd, directed by Amie Maziah. She worked alongside Aaron Aziz, Rita Rudiani and Aida Aris.

In the drama series 'Ritma Kampus' for RTM, she was the lead actress Sabariah, a college student counsellor. The 13 episodes, each lasting one hour was produced by Matahari Film Sdn Bhd, directed by Zulkefli M Osman and Man Cheras.

Mimi, the second of six siblings, grew up in Kg Kiarong in Bandar Seri Begawan and has been in the Malaysian entertainment industry for two years now. Her elder sister, Diana Abdullah, is a dancer in Brunei's national cultural troupe.

The actress first started as a host of 8TV travelogue Teman in 2007. At that time, she wasn't aware that she would land her first major movie role entitled 'Bunian: Mahkota Seri Helang', the film which will be shot later this year. Her role will be a fairy princess alongside award-winning actors Rusdi Ramli and Nasha Aziz.

The film is produced by acclaimed composer Adnan Abu Hassan.

Mimi will also appear as a ghost in Momok: The Movie with comedian Nabil Ahmad (Raja Lawak), Faizal Ramly (Akademi Fantasia 4), Rosliza Rosli and Hairina Halim, directed by M Jamil.

The Bruneian actress studied at Sekolah Rendah Kiarong, Sekolah Tinggi Prempuan Raja Isteri (STPRI) and Maktab Duli Pengiran Muda Al-Muhtadee Billah in Brunei before pursuing a business degree at University of Technology Sydney -Taylor's College in Subang Jaya, Selangor.

She has been a model since 18, doing advertisements both in Brunei and Malaysia. She was also a stewardess with Royal Brunei Airlines for four years to save money for her education.

In 1999, Mimi was chosen to be one of the three Jelitawan or Beautiful Faces during the SEA Games in Brunei. In 2005, she joined the Pencarian Wajah Wanita Avon beauty contest and finished fourth.

After the contest she was selected as a host for the 8TV travelogue programme 'Teman' which she now consideres as fun but a painful starting point. "I nearly gave up. I didn't know posing for camera was not easy. But thank God, I carried on and that's why I'm here now, not quite at the top yet but near," she said giggling.

She tried her luck at singing and took vocal lessons from famous composer Adnan Abu Hassan but she admitted she was not good enough.

"I decided to concentrate on acting and gave myself a target -- to have my first major drama role within a year," she said.

It won't be long now and she is really looking forward to it as she believes that "a movie role will make fans notice you. It helps your career," she said. Mimi describes her fairy princess role in Bunian as a dream role.

She said she loved fairytales and wrote her own fantasy stories as a child.

Currently, she is shooting another television serial for Samarinda TV3 entitled 'Kala Hati' which will replace the Samarinda TV3 'Suria Kasandra' with few big names like Adi Putra, Jue Aziz and Fouziah Ghous.

In her latest telemovie 'Damak' shot a few weeks ago, she experienced a bad fall from the back of a horse.

"I hold a leading role as Puteri Kesuma Dewi and act with big names such as Malek Noor, Mustapha Kamal and Abby Abadi as well as newcomer Ubai as the hero.

"The horse was moody at that time as it was pulled to do a scene before it managed to finish its food. I could sense that it felt uncomfortable but we had to finish a simple scene and move on.