After All This Time

MAYA KARIN OPENS UP ON THE LONGEVITY OF HER CAREER AND HOW SHE HOPES TO CHANGE MALAYSIANS FOR THE BETTER. 

- Poon Li-Wei

Maya Karin needs no introduction. After all, she’s still Izzah from Ombak Rindu in the hearts of many after having gotten her first big break with the Pontianak series. Although, I confess to her that my personal favourite is still the laugh fest that is Pisau Cukur and she echoes the same sentiments. While she’s enjoyed an illustrious 17-year career, the roles that have catapulted her to stardom are as diverse as they are empowering – a one-trick pony, she is not. In fact, unbeknownst to many, she’s a triple threat: actress, singer, and property developer all rolled into one (yes!). And as our interview unfolds and her personality comes out, it quickly becomes evident that Maya Karin is a woman of exacting standards who isn’t afraid to tell it as it is.

OUT OF THE BLUE

With such a repertoire under her belt, it’s rather ironic that entering the entertainment industry never once weighed on her mind growing up: “I didn’t know what I wanted to do. When I was 14 or 15, my dad told me I was good with people and that I might want to look into marketing.” In college, she started dabbling in modelling and beauty pageants, mostly for the fun and the pocket money, but more interestingly, for the challenge of juggling her career with her studies. Things took a turn when she hit 20 and received a call to audition for a job as a TV host. The only catch? It wasn’t meant for her. “It was for my sister. But since she wasn’t in the country, they asked if I looked like her, which really, is just them asking if I have the looks for TV,” she titters. Deciding to take it on for extra money, she promptly landed the job – with no fancy clothing or much makeup at that, too.

ESTABLISHING HER NAME