Digital Cover #7: Amelia Henderson on setting goals and starting 2024 with a bang

For this exclusive shoot, we sought out 2018 Asian Geographic Photo mobilegrapher winner, Khairul Amin, where we task him with the assignment to capture the beauty of Amelia using the OPPO Reno11 Pro, the latest smartphone by OPPO that features the latest state-of-the-art camera technology.

With her goddess-like visuals and talent for acting, Amelia strike it hot with the cover shoot and even sat down with us to catch up on the year that has just passed and what she has planned for 2024. from the looks of it, she will be topping headlines once again with her latest works.

It’s been  6 months since we last spoke when we had you on our June/July 2023 cover shoot and you’re back with our first digital cover of 2024. How are you, mentally, physically and emotionally?

Firstly, I am so happy to be back again for this shoot with OPPO Malaysia. Thank you so much for having me back even though it’s only been a split second since our last work together. For me, it’s such an honour to be able to start 2024 with such a bang!

Mentally and physically, 2023 has been full of ups and downs, but looking back at it, I still think it was a fantastic year. I learned and grew so much as a person. So, I am very excited for 2024 because I feel like I am going to be able to apply all the lessons I learned to make 2024 as good as, if not better, for me and my team.

Speaking of 2023, what do you think are your biggest achievements for the year?

Oh wow, 2023 saw a lot of achievements for me. Firstly, it is definitely playing a part and attending Cannes Film Festival! Another would be my podcast Studio Sembang. Anything that has to do with my podcast, I will always be exceptionally proud of. 

We won second place at the SYOK Podcast Awards and recently we got to interview director James Wan, who directed the Aquaman franchise and The Conjuring, which will be out by the time this cover shoot is published. I even got the chance to host multiple award shows such as Gempak Most Wanted Award and TikTok Award, which were all amazing experiences.

This shoot marks your last project of the year, what are you looking forward most to wrap up year 2023?

I am looking forward to having a proper break. In our line of work (and I’m sure you can relate to this), even when we are on holiday, we are constantly still connected and distracted with multiple jobs and tasks. So we never really feel like we are taking a break regardless of where we are.

Even in my usual downtime, I will constantly be thinking about what I can do right now. So to wrap up the year, I just want to take five days to switch off from work and from everything digital; and use the time to really be present in my environment,  which resonates with OPPO’s year end theme “Enjoy the Present”, a campaign inspiring everyone to be in the present moment and enjoy quality time with their loved ones - that is what I look forward to wrap up the year with.

Looking back at the past year, do you have any regrets or wish you could do certain things differently?

Honestly, no. I am super satisfied in how the year turned out to be. Regardless of what happened, I got to experience so many amazing things in 2023 that I will never be able to forget.

In 2023, I also learn to stand my ground and not focused on pleasing others or putting them first before myself. For the first time in my entire life, I feel that I am respecting myself, even if it causes adversity in my environment.

Let’s talk about OPPO. You have been working with OPPO Malaysia for a few years now. Why do you choose to work with this brand?

I think for me to have such a successful partnership with OPPO is because their team has always been so accommodating to me and we have a very clear vision of what we want to achieve together.

Obviously, OPPO has such a great reputation of creating amazing smartphones and I believe and love the product so much. If you’ve watch Studio Sembang, you’d know that we have been using OPPO phones for the shoot from the start to the end of every episode.

What makes OPPO amazing is how they can design a beautiful phone while at the same time construct it with such innovative technology that makes content creation so accessible for everyone. Their vision and mindset when creating their product fits perfectly with what I want and it is what makes our partnership a successful one. We both are constantly inspiring each other to be the best in our industry.

Our cover shoot today is done with the OPPO Reno11 Pro, what is your first impression of the smartphone?

I think it is so good! OPPO has never failed to impress me with the cameras on their phones. You can see a real difference in this new smartphone, where they levelled up their game, whether it is the portrait mode or wide-angled shots. With the Reno11 Pro’s ultra-Clear Portrait Camera System, you not only have a studio in your pocket, but also the ability to effortlessly seize those standout moments.

And the design is gorgeous! The design team is very thoughtful in creating a phone that looks and feels like a stylish fashion accessory. The white edition glimmers, shimmers and shines with such a vibe, making it the perfect fashion accessory for any parties or gatherings, allowing you to shine through the crowd. If you’re into fashion or work in fashion like me and you love to take content, what more can you ask for?

With numerous compelling reasons, the OPPO Reno11 Pro has undeniably earned its spot as my top pick, and I can't wait to make it a frequent companion in my daily adventures.

Moving into 2024, do you have any new year’s resolution?

You know what? I think it is good to set goals. I set various goals for my career, business and personal life but in terms of a ‘resolution’, I like to keep those very open-ended because I want to come out from the year feeling like I really accomplished what I've set out to do.

What I’ve realised for me personally, if I become too restrictive or specific with my goals and resolution, I tend to get lost in the process and can’t figure out if I have truly achieved them.

Any big plans for 2024 that you can reveal to us and your fans?

Oh yes! In the first quarter, I have a TV series and a film coming out. Firstly, the TV series is called ID: The Golden Goose for Astro Originals, which I am so excited to show everyone because even though it is only eight episodes, I think the producer and the director are two of the most incredible people that I’ve worked with. The amount of effort they put into this show is just mind-blowing!

For the film, it is a very different direction from what is expected from me. It is called Harimau Malaya and will be coming out in the last part of the first quarter. I’ll try not to reveal too much about this but I play a tomboy-ish character which is a role that I never usually get offered to play.

In 2023, I promised myself to be more selective about the roles I take and to find ones that will show a different side of me as an actress. So, I think in 2024, we will be able to witness a different Amelia.