Actress Siti Khadijah Halim dreams of becoming an action star one day. Photo: Art Chen/The Star
Actress Siti Khadijah Halim dreams of becoming an action star one day.
With her latest drama, Wanita Syurga, she is one step closer to realising this dream.
In the second episode of the series, Khadijah gets to show off her Muay Thai skills as her character is an enthusiast of the martial arts.
However, the actress – who goes for Muay Thai and judo classes during down-time in pursuit of her dream to be an action star – didn’t expect it to be such an uphill task.
“I’ve always wanted to shoot an action sequence, so I was looking forward to filming the physical scenes for this drama.
“But, as we were filming, I realised just how difficult action sequences are to shoot,” she told StarLifestyle recently.
“I sweat very easily and with the hot weather and all, it was definitely a challenge because every time (we had to stop) to touch up (my make up).”
Siti Khadijah Halim loves her job. Photo: Art Chen/The StarAt the same time, Khadijah – who entered showbiz after taking part in the talent show Gadis Panca NR 2017 where she was crowned the champion – admitted that she loved discovering all the different elements that come with acting.
“I really love my job,” the Ash & Aish star said with a smile.
Besides the physical task she faced in Wanita Syurga, Khadijah also spoke of the emotional upheavals she tackled for the series – one of which she’s totally unfamiliar with.
The still-single actress turns 27 next week but in the drama, she plays a mother of two young children.
“In all my previous dramas, I have never played a mother. So that part really challenged me because I am not a mother myself.
“I am the last child in my family. Although my sister has a child, I have hardly spent time with her baby. So, I don’t really know how to take care of kids,” said Khadijah.
When asked how she managed to pull off playing a mother for Wanita Syurga, Khadijah said that her maternal instinct came naturally to her on set.
“My sister has told me that before having children, she didn’t know how to change diapers or do anything. But it all came to her naturally when she became a mother.
“So when I was portraying this character, I became quite protective of the kids who were playing my character’s children.”
Khadijah added that she looked at her own parents and her sister to get a better idea of how to play a mum in the show.
“Any mother wants to protect their children and in this show, my character fights for the right to take care of her children.”
'Wanita Syurga' stars Siti Khadijah Halim and Redza Rosli. Photo: Handout
In Wanita Syurga, Khadijah plays Ardini who grew up as an orphan, with nothing to her name and nobody on her side.
When Amar (Redza Rosli) enters her life, she’s elated as she finally gets to have her own family and a shoulder she can lean on.
Unfortunately, her perfect life is shattered when Amar betrays Ardini’s love and takes on a second wife (Riena Diana) without her knowledge.
With the support of Amar’s mother, Ardini decides to gain full custody of her two children and gain control of her life.
“Ardini is a strong person, with an unwavering will. But it’s a hard character to portray as I go through many emotions playing her.
“We are still shooting the drama and it will end nine days into Ramadan. I just hope I will have the energy to push through all the emotional scenes ... they do take a lot of energy out of me.
“This a heavy drama and for those emotional scenes, I end up sweating a lot too,” shared Khadijah, laughing.
After a short break in Ramadan and celebrating Syawal with her family in Kuala Lumpur, the self-confessed Taylor Swift fan will fly off to Saga, Japan, to film the second season of Viu’s popular drama From Saga With Love along with Sophia Albarakbah.
Wanita Syurga airs weekdays at 6.58pm on TV3, and is available an hour later on iQiyi.
