Lights, Camera, Action! Our May 2024 cover star Alicia Amin on her different identities
Alicia Amin is back again with us and this time, we zoom into her other talent as an actress with multiple roles lined up for the year 2024.
You started your acting career in 2018. How has the journey been?
The journey has been crazy! I would mainly describe it as such for the transition from modelling and to get people to accept me as an actress-cum-model. There were always two questions posed to me: “Can Alicia Amin act?”. Disclaimer: I cannot at the beginning. I was horrible and I would never give the title of the first show I acted in [laughs].
The second was “This new actress Alicia is modelling?”. At that time, the way I was modelling, from styling to aesthetics and the amount of skin I was showing, was confusing to people who didn’t know the industry and the work I did. I received a lot of criticism for everything but I do think it was a fun journey. I love the learning aspect of acting and how I’ve grown from it. When I first started, I didn’t know anything and I had no clue what to do but now I feel like when I’m on set, I have control of my character and scene, and I am confident with my acting.
Between acting in movies and TV dramas, which do you prefer more and why?
Generally, I prefer things that are well-planned with a decent budget and enough time to rehearse. I’ve been in drama series and movies that have everything and also ones without any of the things I mentioned. So, I don’t have a preference for either because I enjoy adapting to the different processes in the respective genres.
As an actress, what do you think is your biggest breakthrough in acting?
I don’t think I’ve gotten my big break in acting yet. I think there are a lot of people who don’t know or forget that I am an actress, and there are a lot of people who haven’t seen my work yet. At least, I think many people around me in this little “urban bubble” we are in don’t pay attention to the local scene that much. It is really tough for the local industry to compete with all these international platforms like Netflix, Disney+ and Prime.
That said, I have been involved in several amazing productions, like my most recent work, That Cover Girl (a Prime Video Malaysian original show), where the production, story and theme are very different to what you’d normally see on local TV stations. I wouldn’t say this is my biggest breakthrough but it felt like a validation for me when I got this role especially after being told it was written with me in mind. Everyone who watched it said they understood and empathise with thecharacter I played who I think is nothing like me in real life. I feel so proud! As for my “big break”, I think it will be when I am nominated for an award in a leading role and winning it.
What is your most memorable role thus far?
It’s quite an old show which I think a lot of people might have watched. It’s called Ren & Bo, which is a simple threeminute per-episode series that lasted two seasons. It was super fun and I played Ren, a very bubbly and girly character. She is a character that I would play for the rest of my life.
You’ve played various roles and characters, from a villain to a femme fatale and a soft, feminine female lead. What kind of role do you wish to play next?
I genuinely want to find a role where I could be someone like Rosamund Pike in Gone Girl or Angeline Jolie in Girl, Interrupted. I don’t think I have the skills yet for a biopic but I would love to work towards that.
On acting, what is your goal or where do you see yourself in five years?
My goal previously was to get nominated (which I did but did not win). So, my next goal is to win an award for a character that I played. I want to establish my acting career more like Cara Delevingne, who has stepped off from modelling to move on to acting and theatre. I don’t have a clear path that I want to walk on yet as modelling will always be a part of me, but I think I am ready to grow further as an actress.
What is a piece of advice you would give young aspiring actors and actresses?
For those of you who are like me who don’t have a natural talent for acting, just keep working hard and study your script. Get invested in what your character needs to do and wants to do to make the story work as it should. It might not be standard practice here and not everyone would want to do it, but try your best to find ways to talk to the director and everyone who is involved with your character about how you can improve and realise your role. Generally, when you show your passion and willingness to perform, most people are morethan willing to help you with it.
Who is one actor or actress that you’d love to work with?
I would love to share a scene with Heath Ledger (rest in peace, king!) because I am in awe of his commitment to method acting and what it would feel like to act with someone like him. Another would be Angeline Jolie. She will definitely outshine me by a million years but I just want to look at her (laughs) and be immortalised next to her in a film of some sort.
What is your favourite genre in movies and drama?
For me to act in? I think it’ll have to be a romantic comedy. I am such a rom-com girlie and so far, I have never been in anything like that before and I would love to see myself in one. So, please cast me in a fun rom-com series!
If you could leave a message to young Alicia back in 2018 when she started her first acting role, what would it be?
When people tell you that you are “kayu” (stiff) when you first start acting, don’t be disheartened. It’s your first time and you got the script in the morning of the shoot and had no rehearsals. It’s fine and stop beating yourself up. Keep your head up, and the acting classes you’ve been thinking about, just go and do it. Where we are now, it is pretty good. I am very proud of how far we’ve come.
What’s next for Alicia Amin?
I have an Osman Ali series that will start filming in May, I think… and I have three movies coming up very soon. So, yeah, it will be a very fun year ahead. Fashion-wise, I am grateful to the fashion family around me and hopefully, L’OFFICIEL will come knocking on my door for more shoots. I am so busy with my acting gigs that I miss being in editorial shoots. So, call me, OK? (winks)
Cover credits
Editor-in-Chief John Ng
Photography Nelson Chong
Creative direction & styling Colin Sim
Words Calvin Chong
Makeup PLIKA Makeup
Hair Cody Chua
All outfifit and accessories SAINT LAURENT
All jewellery BULGARI
