Wanna Ali wants to go into producing one day. Photo: Wanna Ali/Instagram
Growing up, singer-actress Wanna Ali often followed her producer mum – Datuk Normashayu Puteh of production house Pencil Pictures – to film sets and events.
Even at that young age, Wanna became aware of the dark side of the entertainment industry ... which was why she never seriously thought about a career in showbiz.
It was only at her mum’s suggestion that she made her debut at the age of 15.
Wanna – whose full name is Nor Syazwana Mohd Ali – released her first single Lepaskanlah in 2012.
That same year she appeared in the film Aku Ada, Kau Ada???, co-starring Shaheizy Sam and Kamal Adli.
Wanna, who turns 27 on Dec 25, recalled to StarLifestyle that she found acting to be tough at first.
“Luckily, I got a lot of help from the director (Rahila Ali). And I had a lot of scenes with (co-star) Yana Samsudin who guided me on how to say my lines, and to make it natural,” she added.
While Wanna took a shining towards acting more than singing, she placed more importance towards her studies at that time.
After completing her SPM, scoring 7As and 2Bs, she went on to pursue a degree in business management at the University of Nottingham Malaysia.
“It was only after university that I decided that I was 100% in (showbiz). Like this is my career,” she shared.
However, thanks to all the exposure, Wanna went into showbiz with her eyes wide open ... well aware that there are many opportunists in this business.
In recent years, her mother was cheated by a fraud investor. Her company was sued for “failing to fulfil the conditions of a drama production contract”, a claim Ayu fought back.
Pencil Pictures also faced loss when its 2020 film Ada Apa Dengan Dosa was pirated and distributed illegally.
“I’m not oblivious,” Wanna said.
“I’m very observant. So I know if a person is trying to take advantage when talking to my mum.”
This wariness ensured her own circle of friends remained small and are made up of people mostly outside the industry.
“My closest friends are like friends I made when I was seven or eight years old. Or those I befriended in the university.
“I have very few friends in the entertainment world, just a few people who are older than me with whom I have business partnerships.”
A scene from the film Ada Apa Dengan Dosa that has Wanna Ali (right) in the lead role. Photo: Handout
Wanna’s maturity comes through in this conversation as well.
Speaking eloquently, she credits the person she is today to both her role as the oldest daughter among her siblings, and her early start as an artiste.
“Starting in the industry so young, I had to learn to stand up for myself early on ... I had to prove I wasn’t just some kid to be pushed around.
“It made me mature faster and adapt to an environment where I needed to stay composed but also be vocal about my opinions.
“And being the eldest daughter, I was already used to taking responsibility and being assertive.”
Another lesson she learned along the way was to separate her work and personal life.
Her 325,000 Instagram followers know that Wanna posts mostly work-related experiences, such as filming projects, promotional activities and collaborations on her account.
“I try not to share much about my personal life because I don’t want to give anyone the opportunity to gossip about my private matters.
“I believe this approach has helped me manage my personal life and keeps me free from external pressure when people talk about me,” she said.
The actress (centre) is close to her mum (right) and her siblings. Photo: Wanna Ali/Instagram
Wanna’s composure as a celebrity who has to face gossip came into light as recently as last month.
Her name was dragged into the Fattah Amin-Nur Fazura controversy after photos of her with Fattah from the set of their drama Lelaki Melayu Terakhir, were uploaded to her Instagram on the very day that Fazura filed for divorce.
Taking the high road, Wanna explained that the promotional photos were scheduled to be shared on Instagram.
When enraged netizens remained unsatisfied, Wanna chose not to escalate the situation further and told the media: “I’m sorry, but I really do not want to answer any more questions regarding this issue.”
Wanna didn’t delete the photos and, instead, she doubled down by sharing more photos and videos from the drama set after that date.
One of the photos Wanna Ali posted from 'Lelaki Melayu Terakhir' on her Instagram which caused tongues wagging. Photo: Wanna Ali/Instagram
Starring in at least two dramas a year, Wanna knows only too well that working opposite attractive leading men tends to spark speculations, whether it’s the harmless “shipping” fans do or some unfounded goss.
For Wanna, her approach to handling such matters is to just “not take things too seriously”.
“Fans will always talk, and we can’t stop them from ‘shipping’ us.
“But for me, it’s all temporary.
“Whatever hype is happening now will eventually be forgotten, especially as other popular dramas come along. It’s just a matter of time,” she said.
“Of course, we appreciate the support and admiration from fans, and we actually want them to ship us as a couple and support our on-screen relationship.
“It helps make the drama more believable.
“So, I don’t have any issues with that,” the actress added.
Commenting on her personal life, Wanna said anyone she has been in a relationship with has always understood the realities of being with someone in the public eye, knowing what it means to date an actress.
“It’s all about having the right mindset.”
That mindset was especially helpful when her marriage plans to a businessman fell apart last year.
Reflecting on it presently, she simply said that it didn’t work out and that everything happened for a reason.
According to reports, the busy actress was planning to leave showbiz to focus on her partner and their business plans.
Wanna revealed to StarLifestyle that while she enjoys her work now, she sees a different path in the long run.
“For me, marriage means focusing on starting a family. My intention was always to have a husband and build a family.
“Because of that, when planning for marriage, I didn’t mind stepping back,” she explained.
“At the time, my partner didn’t want me to be as involved in the industry, and I was OK with that. I knew I had to shift my focus to family life and the business ventures I was working on with him.”
Describing herself as family-oriented, Wanna said she hopes to find a partner who shares her family values.
“For me, how a man treats his family, particularly his mother, is crucial ... because I am like that.
“I started supporting my mum and siblings from the moment I began earning my own income. My mum raised us on her own, and now that I have a stable career, I continue to help ease her burden by supporting my siblings’ studies.
“I expect a future partner to share this commitment to family, understanding that family comes first and contributing to shared responsibilities is essential.”
Wanna Ali and Haidar Hasanudin in the drama series Mawar Dahlia. Photo: Wanna Ali/Instagram
Her commitment to easing her mother’s burden naturally extends even to her work.
Wanna has appeared in several Pencil Pictures’ films including Ada Apa Dengan Dosa, Aku Ada Kau Ada??? and Autumn In Wales as well as drama series like this year's Mawar Dahlia.
When StarLifestyle asked whether she can win an argument with her mother, Wanna answered: “Of course. My mum respects me as a person.
“But, working with family can be difficult sometimes, as we both have to compromise a lot.
“I understand what she goes through as a producer – it comes with huge risks, and it can take a long time for everything to fall into place. I’ve always known that this is part of the industry.”
Although Wanna enjoys being on set and interacting with her colleagues and fans, she also confessed that she doesn’t think she’d be an actress forever.
“I don’t see myself as an actress in my 40s.”
While there is no concrete plan at the moment to quit acting, Wanna hopes to shift toward producing or taking over her mother’s company one day.
The Angkara Cinta actress added: “The entertainment industry demands long hours and a lot of energy, which can be physically and mentally exhausting.
“As you get older, it takes an even greater toll. I’ve seen that firsthand, and it’s not something I want to continue into my 40s, maybe not even past my 30s.”
Lelaki Melayu Terakhir is available on Tonton. Mawar Dahlia is streaming on iQiyi.
