DIANA LIKES IT SOLO

After playing a married couple alongside actor husband Farid Kamil in a telemovie recently, actress Diana Danielle finds more joy playing real-life couple off camera.

FANS of celebrity couple Farid Kamil and Diana Danielle must be dying to watch a film or TV production featuring the both of them. Their wish was granted when Astro aired its Raya telemovie Sedikit Waktu recently, marking the couple’s first onscreen collaboration.

Their explosive chemistry was apparent onscreen, but filming it wasn’t necessarily a pleasant experience for Diana, 24.

“I’m never going to do it again,” she admits with a nervous laugh. “It’s so scary working alongside him!”

Quick to deny that he is quite strict when it came to acting, she adds: “It’s just that he has more experience than I do. His standard is so far at the top, along with the likes of Maya Karin and Bront Palarae.

“I’ve been admiring them all for years now. So when I had to work with him, I felt like I was an incompetent actress in comparison. It wasn’t good for my selfconfidence.”

In the heart-wrenching drama Sedikit Waktu, Farid and Diana play husband and wife Amal and Liza who inadvertently neglects their 8-year-old son Aidin due to their demanding careers.

When Aidin runs away from home, Amal and Liza blame each other for not paying enough attention to their only child.

When Amalis informed that his elderly father is missing from the old folks’ home where he resides, it makes Amal realise that it’s been quite awhile since he last saw his dad.

How Farid and Diana, who tied the knot in 2012, agreed to star in the telemovie is a funny story.

For one thing, Diana was initially told that she would be paired up with Remy Ishak.

“I informed Farid of the filming schedule. He, in turn, told me that he also had a work schedule at a similar time,” she says.

“When we went to the script-reading session, we realised that we were doing the same production. I was filled with dread.”

FIRST-TIME JITTERS

Working with Farid was a roller-coaster ride of emotions for Diana because she initially took his comments about her portrayal personally.

“When he pointed out that I wasn’t acting natural, I was like, ‘Okay, you know everything, right?’,” she admits regrettably.

“I became overly sensitive that I had to constantly remind myself ‘This is work. You’re not his wife, but his co-star’.”

That actually worked for Diana after the third day of filming. Still, she couldn’t help but take offence even though they were being professional on set.

“He must have felt awkward as well during filming, but he just wouldn’t tell me.”

This feeling of uneasiness was un o - edly one of the reasons she initiall di t want to work with Farid in the firs pl . Furthermore, she was intimidated h seniority and vast acting experien h she felt disinclined to share her ide .

Early in the shoot, Diana kept com l ing to Sedikit Waktu director Kabir for not telling her the truth beforeh

“Maybe it was first-time jitters. o this again, maybe it will be a more c table experience,” she says.

Diana quickly adds that it doesn that she will straightaway agree to a project together. “Instead of sayin no, I’ll just say ‘Hmm...’ for now,” sh

Still, it was interesting becaus ously, she hardly saw him in a w mode. “He studied the art of acti could see that he really respects hi she says.

“His discipline is different from He always gives me great input entertainment industry.

MUM AND WIFE Diana has fewer acting projects l she wants to focus on her business, And Bread, a restaurant which ope May, and her Baju clothing line for lit called Che Mad X Danielle launch month.

You would thi she has found her in the business in , and that her life is more organised n “What? Organised? Yeah, right, says, laughing. “It’s natural for my li be more hectic now, especially since I v to take care of my two young kids.”

The couple has two beautiful child Son Muhammad, 3, and 8-month- ld daughter Nur Aurora.

“Still, I consider all these as gifts from God. Hopefully, I’ll be able to manage better in time,” she says.

Diana admits that when she was youngbusiness er, she didn’t like the topic of at all, unlike her mother whom she says is a numbers person.

“But as I grew older, I realised that I couldn’t just rely on my acting jobs to secure my children’s future. At the same time, I want them to see for themselves that if you have a good business mind, you can survive anywhere,” she says.

APPLE OF HER EYE

The Che Mad collection was inspired by Muhammad, who goes along with her to fashion events to promote the brand.

“He used to follow me around for work. It was fun for him. These days, he dreads having to do so. Still, he now knows that it’s not easy to find money. He has learnt a great lesson. For the record, I’m not overworking him, okay?” she says.

When Diana brings Muhammad on set, she says he knows that he needs to be quiet and not run around.

“He’s very observant and is wellbehaved. Even with his sister, he’s not the jealous type. In fact, he is very protective of her and caring.”

Meanwhile, Diana uses her free time to improve her cooking, since Farid likes home-cooked meals.

Her recent attempts include ayam masak asam pedas and rendang daging, while some of Farid’s favourites include ayam masak merah and extra-crispy fried anchovies.

“I’m glad to whip up a dish or two for him because as long as you can make your husband happy at home, then you’ll be fine,” she says with a laugh.

As for Muhammad, he eats everything.

“He loves vegetables, especially the fresh ones.

Recently he’s into sucking on asam boi. We substitute it with pineapples and strawberries, but he still asks for asam boi,” she reveals.

When it comes to Muhammad’s schooling, Diana has been doing research on the Scandinavian school system, said to be one of the best and most successful in the world.

“It has so many features that I like, including no kindergarten years. Very different from conventional schools, it’s quite lenient and does not believe in pressuring kids to do their best,” she explains.

“If possible, I want Muhammad to maximise his childhood. At such a young age, kids are not supposed to be away from their parents. I don’t see the need to force them to be independent when they’re still not ready.

“Thankfully my job is flexible, which allows me to take him around and teach him what I can about life.”

Muhammad is closer to Diana than Farid, but Aurora takes to her father like a bee to honey. “I become invisible instantaneously! Farid used to grumble about how hurt he felt when Muhammad chose me over him. Now I know how that feels,” Diana says. bibiramli@nst.com.my

“I had to constantly remind myself ‘This is work. You’re not his wife, but his co-star’.” Diana Danielle