The Art Of Telling Stories

Sofia Jane, Carmen Soo and Low Ngai Yuen are acclaimed powerhouses in the film industry. But beyond entertaining, they seek to inspire change as seen in their film, Orang Itu.

- Orang Itu

THE Timeless THESPIAN Sofia Jane Hisham is a name Malaysians are well acquainted with. Known for her beauty and her versatility in playing diverse roles, this acclaimed actress makes a return to the big screen after many years, playing the main character Mawar in Orang Itu. Sofia now resides in Melbourne, Australia with her three daughters. We find out what she has been up to while being away from the entertainment industry.

You played the main protagonist, Mawar, in Orang Itu. What made you accept the role?

When I think of Orang Itu as a subject matter, it’s not just about the background of the main character being homeless. Isolation for me is a very dominant factor in this character’s story that attracted me because it reveals what it feels like for a person to be very lonely. That really compelled me to say “yes” to the role.

Also, it was a huge change in terms of the kind of offer an actor usually gets. You don’t often see the character, a woman who is in her late fifties or sixties, being the main protagonist in a local film, so I thought that was quite groundbreaking.

What was the most important insight you learned about the homeless?

Oftentimes, public perception of the homeless is that they are drunkards and good for nothing. Most people think that statistically, men are the ones living on the streets, but in actual fact you’ll see many women there too. And being in an environment where you’re in the city – a woman, alone late at night – how dangerous and isolated that can be.