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https://scmp.com/magazines/style/people-events/article/3018599/5-things-we-found-out-about-malaysias-sweetheart Celebrities
5 things we found out about Malaysia’s sweetheart actress Lisa Surihani
Actress Lisa Surihani has a law degree, is a Unicef ambassador and can sing. But why does she see herself as a sponge?
Lisa Surihani is one of Malaysia’s most popular actresses and TV hosts, and has a rich life off-screen too. Photo: LisaSurihani23/ Facebook
One of Malaysia’s most popular actresses and TV hosts, the award-winning Lisa Surihani, has charmed audiences on the big and silver screen. Here are five things you should know about this talented woman.
1. She’s a law graduate
More than just a pretty face, Lisa studied law at HELP University College and graduated with a law degree from Aberystwyth University, Wales, following in the footsteps of her late father, who was a lawyer.
In an earlier interview with The Star, Lisa said that her father instilled a passion for the law and a legal mind in her, and that he wanted his children to always be learning.
“Even today, I see myself as a sponge and I am absorbing as much knowledge as I possibly can as an actor.”
2. She’s the Unicef National Ambassador in Malaysia
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The 33-year-old has been great supporter of social issues for many years. Her latest role as Unicef National Ambassador in Malaysia has involved tackling bullying, with Lisa and other Unicef ambassadors like South Korean boy band Super Junior star Choi Si-won surprising schools in Malaysia, and spreading the message of kindness among the youth.
She was also one of the main faces in the #MPsAgainstPredators campaign for Malaysia to finally enact a law against child sexual grooming, and in April 2017, the Sexual Offences Against Children Bill was passed.
Lisa spoke to child victims of grooming and sexual assault as part of the Predator in My Phone: Survivor Stories documentary series, and even helped call then-Youth and Sports Minister Khairy Jamaluddin during the live launch of the campaign, where she, along with the R. AGE team of journalists and other social influencers and activists such as Paduka Marina Mahathir lobbied MP’s for support.
Lisa is also a champion for our furry friends. She was one of the celebrities who appeared in We Are Family, Malaysia’s first coffee table book produced in aid of animal welfare. All proceeds from the book featuring pets and their owners went to the Homeless and Orphaned Pets Exist (HOPE) building project in Johor Baru.
3. She started acting at the age of 11 and paid herself to sit her A-Levels
Lisa Surihani used her acting royalties to pay to sit her A-levels. Photo: LisaSurihani23/ Facebook
This independent woman used the royalties from her commercials and acting gigs to pay the fees to sit her A-levels.
After her cousin said commercials would be a good way to meet new people and earn money, her entry into the world of television came with a role in a 1997 Ovaltine ad, before she debuted as the lead actress in 2001 in drama series Gergasi.
With her mother’s encouragement, she continued to explore the industry, appearing in advertisements in Indonesia and the Philippines.
She moved into acting full-time only after graduating from university in 2008, and has starred in 24 films, and won seven local film awards.
4. She’s married to Malaysian pop-rock royalty
They started off as friends, before in 2012, Lisa tied the knot with KRU singer Yusry Abdul Halim, saying in a previous interview that it developed from a platonic friendship to a relationship built on respect for one another.
The couple starred together in the 2013 film Ular, and have two children.
5. She can sing
Lisa can hold her own among professional singers, and has sung in commercials and at events. Here, she plays the role of Junaidah in P. Ramlee the Musical. Photo: LisaSurihani23/ Facebook
Lisa’s can hold her own among professional singers, and has sung in commercials, at events, P. Ramlee The Musical and recorded a duet (Kekasih Abidi/Eternal Lover) with her husband.
Based on the life of one of Malaysia’s best-loved entertainers, the award-winning show charted the life of the late P. Ramlee. Lisa played Junaidah, the first of P. Ramlee’s three wives.