SHIVA KALAISELVAN

ACTOR/PRODUCER NEW YORK

What are you currently busy with over in New York? After years of theatre in New York (Brian Kulick’s Nathan The Wise, and Tyne Rafaeli’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream), as well as recurring guest roles on television series such as Gotham and The Originals, I’m finally working on creating my own content right now. I’m in pre-production for a web series that I will be producing. Fingers crossed that we get to go into filming some time this month, with the aim of releasing a finished product by the end of the year.

Which highlight in your career that have come to past would you say you are personally proud of, and which even the people back in Malaysia can be proud of?

I would have to say getting the role in The Originals, in which I played Ivy, a witch and Oracle, in the fifth and final season of the series. Technically, it was my first television series role, so it was a really big thing to me when I got it ‒ everything that I have worked for and fought for was finally acknowledged. It was the first time on a TV set as well, a first for me to learn about how to work in this medium, since I come from a theatre background. It was the dawn of a new era for Malaysia during the General Elections back in May. As a Malaysian residing overseas, how do you think this “New Malaysia” affects you as a Malaysian, and in your career?

I definitely feel more pride than I have before. I’ve always been happy to call Malaysia my home, and it was beautiful to see Malaysians take part in this election, and that we could all come together and make a change that was necessary. Seeing people waking up early, lining up in the hot sun and travelling far just to have a say in the country’s future... I’ve always been proud to be a Malaysian, and will always be too, but I was definitely prouder to be one that day.

What are your personal hopes and dreams for “New Malaysia” in the coming days, months, or even years?

I’m hoping that we can keep one another in check more: call things out that are wrong and unfair, and do what is best for everyone in the country. Perhaps, more investment in the education system, as well as the humanities and arts. Hopefully, this will be a start that leads to equality for all Malaysians.

"I’VE ALWAYS BEEN HAPPY TO CALL MALAYSIA MY HOME, AND IT WAS BEAUTIFUL TO SEE MALAYSIANS TAKE PART IN THIS ELECTION, AND THAT WE COULD ALL COME TOGETHER AND MAKE A CHANGE THAT WAS NECESSARY"