KUALA LUMPUR - Quality scripts and the ability to bring something different to every role are among the key considerations for actress Datin Sofia Jane in building a lasting career in the entertainment industry.
Drawing on more than three decades of experience, Sofia, 54, said choosing a project was not simply a matter of accepting an offer, but also involved assessing the quality of the writing and whether she would be working with a team that understood the demands of the script.
"I think a good actor demands a good script. That’s why they want to see who is writing what.
"If you really love what you do and you want to be here for a long time, you have to know what you need to do that is going to be different than the next person,” she told reporters on the sidelines of her first solo theatre performance, Thrown, here today.
The winner of the Best Actress award at the 21st Asian Film Festival in Rome, Italy, in 2024 for Maryam Pagi ke Malam said the assessment of a work was subjective and depended on each actor’s judgement and personal taste.
"If the writing is good and I know I will be working with people who also understand the demands of a good text, of course I would want to work with them.
"But what one person considers good writing may not be the same for someone else. Likewise, what I consider good may differ from another person’s assessment. That is my choice,” she said.
Commenting on the challenges faced by newcomers, Sofia acknowledged that they might have limited choices when accepting acting offers, as they needed to earn a living. However, she stressed that every opportunity could still be used to showcase their individuality.
She said that even when a story seemed less compelling or bore similarities to other works, actors should find their own approach to bringing their characters to life to demonstrate their abilities and establish their identity.
She added that actors needed to balance the need to earn a living with considerations for their career development, while demonstrating commitment in every performance.
Sofia also stressed the importance of getting to know writers and directors, including watching their previous works to understand their styles and storytelling approaches before accepting an offer.
She said discussions with directors, writers and fellow cast members were also important to ensure that the characters they portrayed resonated with audiences, although the effectiveness of a performance could also be influenced by post-production processes such as editing and music composition.
Sharing her thoughts on Thrown, Sofia said the strength of the script, which explores childhood memories, was what drew her to the production.
She plays a child psychologist who becomes increasingly confused between her own memories and those of her patients.
The work by Jodi Gray marks Sofia’s first solo performance in an English-language theatre production, which runs for approximately an hour. It also marks her first collaboration with director Gavin Yap, with preparations for the role involving readings and close textual analysis with the director.
Presented by Jeffrey Cheah Performing Arts Centre (JCPAC) and produced by Superbear Productions, Thrown will be staged at The Studio JCPAC, Sunway City Kuala Lumpur, from Nov 20 to 22 and Nov 27 to 29. - BERNAMA