THE ENTERTAINERS

COMEDIAN NIGEL NG

Nigel Ng, born in Kuala Lumpur, started his stand-up comedy in the US while pursuing an engineering degree at Northwestern University in Illinois. Afterwards, relocating to

London, he continued performing at open mic nights while balancing a job as a data scientist. However, in 2019, he made the pivotal decision to fully commit to comedy, a choice that proved immensely successful for him.

In the annals of comedy history, 2020 will forever be remembered as the year Nigel Ng burst onto the scene. His portrayal of “Uncle Roger,” a middle-aged Asian and food critic giving an entertaining review of an egg fried rice video went positively viral. Uncle Roger’s brutally honest approach earned admiration even from renowned chefs such as Gordon Ramsay.

Ng is one of the very few Malaysian entertainers with a widespread influence on the global entertainment landscape. His online presence is staggering, with over four billion views on his Youtube channels and a combined following of more than 30 million “nieces and nephews” across his various social media platforms.

Ng’s ambition extends beyond the confines of the internet. He embarked on a world stand-up tour, performing in over 100 shows and captivating audiences of more than 100,000 across the US, Canada, Europe, Australia, and Asia. Subsequently, he released his recorded comedy special on the TVOD platform Moment House, generating widespread acclaim from around the world, along with commercial success.

Exciting projects on the horizon include a sitcom with ABC Signature, a television project with Studio Ramsay, an animated series with Propagate Content, a feature film, a culinary venture, consumer packaged goods, and an exclusive line of collectibles.

ACTOR TAN SRI MICHELLE YEOH

An iconic actress who has done Malaysia proud, Tan Sri Michelle Yeoh began her career in 1984, appearing in a string of Hong Kong action films that eventually saw her rise to fame. From 1990s films like Police Story 3: Super Cop (1992) and Wing Chun (1994), she made the transition to Hollywood and appeared in the James Bond film Tomorrow Never Dies (1997). Other films of note include Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon (2000), Memoirs of a Geisha (2005), and Crazy Rich Asians (2018), where she was lauded for her performance as Eleanor Young. The veteran actress’ blockbuster year began in March 2022 when she was named in Time magazine’s list of 100 Influential People. In December, Time once again honoured Yeoh by naming her Icon of the Year. Her role in Everything Everywhere All at Once, as a harried laundromat owner navigating the multiverse, proved to be a major breakthrough not just for herself, but for all Asian actors. Yeoh took home the award for best actress in a comedy or musical at the 80th Golden Globes held in January 2023, followed by the award for best performance by a female actor in a leading role at the 95th Academy Awards in March, becoming the first Asian to win the category and the first Malaysian to win an Oscar. Not resting on her laurels, she will be seen next in Wicked: Part One, Wicked: Part Two, Avatar 3, and Avatar 4.

ACTOR, TV HOST, ENTREPRENEUR AWAL ASHAARI

An entertainer with a charismatic personality and boundary-pushing sense of style, Awal Ashaari has always been interested in performing since young. At school, he eagerly volunteered to act, recite poetry or sing in the choir for a chance to be on stage. His ultimate desire, however, was to become a television host, a dream he realised by hosting reality TV series like Malaysian Idol and One in a Million. He cites David Beckham as his style icon, placing importance on quiet luxury and everyday comfort, just like the famous footballer. In 2023, he ventured into the F&B space with The Great Coffee Club, providing an inviting space for people to socialise.

THE INSTANT CAFÉ THEATRE COMPANY JO KUKATHAS

Jo Kukathas is a multi-talented individual, encompassing roles as an actor, writer, director, and activist. Her theatrical endeavours have seen her traverse the globe, with performances, directorial work, workshops, and participation in conferences spanning countries such as Singapore, Japan, Brazil, Australia, the USA, Germany, Korea, India, Taiwan, China, and the Philippines. She also writes and performs one-woman shows and stand-up comedy in various personas. In May 2020, she penned an insightful article on the state of arts and culture in Malaysia. The article’s significance led to its publication on the arts portal, Arts Equator, and it is now included in the arts curricula of some lecturers.

ACTOR, DIRECTOR, PRODUCER SUSAN LANKESTER

Actor, director and producer Susan Lankester has worked tirelessly over the last 40 years in Bahasa Malaysia, Cantonese and English productions within Malaysia and Singapore. She became a household name with the 1983 movie Mekanik, which then led her to be involved in the iconic Malaysian sitcom 2+1 and win the Comedienne of the Year award in 1993. She has starred in various numerous Malay telemovies, dramas and films, and is especially proud to be involved in the 2015 film Redha—a film about autism and a subject matter close to her heart.

She produced and acted in an independent film in 2014, Take Me to Dinner, written and directed by Gavin Yap. She also produced a series of short films for Seeing Eye Films, a trilogy revolving around women, written and directed by women, which is available on the Seeing Eye Youtube channel. Lankester’s theatre work includes Natrah, where she played Adeline Hunter Bertorgh and Pearl of the Eastern & Oriental where she played the title role, Pearl. She has also worked extensively with The Actors Studio Theatre, Istana Budaya and Kuala Lumpur Performing Arts Centre.

In 2018, she decided to try corporate life, joining Vuclip Malaysia (Viu.com) as consultant head of production to start up the production arm for its original online content. She has, to date, seven show titles under her belt.

Lankester is now back on track as an actor and producer, working with various production companies in front and behind the camera, including the much-anticipated Rain Town, scheduled for release in February 2024.

ACTOR, MODEL, TV HOST SCHA ALYAHYA

Scha Alyahya, recognised as onehalf of Malaysia’s celebrity power couple, holds a dominant presence on Malaysian social media, boasting 6.6 million followers on Instagram. With her flair for fashion, this consummate style icon is one of the most sought-after influencers in the country, frequently gracing the front rows of both local and international fashion shows. Her most recent appearance at the Venice Film Festival showcased a stunning local Alia Bastamam gown on the red carpet. Notching up nearly two decades in the entertainment industry, Scha continues to stun audiences with her on-screen versatility, notably seen in the recent action blockbuster Air Force The Movie: Selagi Bernyawa.

SINGER-SONGWRITER YUNALIS ZARAI

Award-winning singer-songwriter Yuna is one of the first musical talents in the region to successfully break into the competitive US music industry and establish a career. She was the first Malaysian to be nominated for a BET Award for her breakout single Crush, and her album Chapters was one of the best R&B albums of 2016. With critically acclaimed albums and collaborations with heavyweights like Usher, Pharrell Williams and Jay Park under her belt, she is now grooming homegrown artists under her record label. October 2023 marked a special occasion for Yuna, as she finally held her highly anticipated homecoming concert, Yunaverse, at Sungei Wang’s Mega Star Arena.