INSPIRED by the groundbreaking triumph of Tan Sri Michelle Yeoh, the spotlight now falls on rising star Amanda Tan Pei Fern, as she embarks on a journey to emulate the Oscar-winner's success.
Having recently secured her first leading role in an upcoming local movie, Tan is solidifying her position in the entertainment world, fueled in equal parts by determination and ambition.
At 30 years old, Tan, in an exclusive interview with The Vibes, revealed that she is a prominent member of the cast of OPPA, a groundbreaking collaboration between art house production company Dream Film and the Royal Malaysia Police (PDRM).
This pioneering 'awareness film' aims to shed light on the prevalent issue of love scams that plague the country. Anticipated to hit local cinemas from July onwards, the movie aspires to educate and alert audiences about this pressing concern.
Just like Yeoh, Tan hails from Perak, and interestingly, both attended the same Main Convent in Ipoh during their secondary school years. Tan expressed her admiration for the Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon star, reminiscing about the time when Yeoh's photos adorned the walls of her school.
Yeoh's Oscar win has served as an inspiration, with Tan finding solace in Yeoh's achievements, affirming that dreams can indeed become reality.
"People did not really talk about Michelle Yeoh as much before the Oscar win, but while I was growing up, I would always see her photos lined up on the walls of my school and she was indeed an idol," Tan said.
"Michelle has definitely paved the way forward for not only Malaysians, but Asians in general, and I am really encouraged by her achievements after she showed that dreams can be made possible."
'I never thought I'd be an actress'
Tan's journey into acting emerged relatively recently, as she delved into the entertainment world a little over three years ago. Her passion for acting blossomed after she graduated from the University of Sydney, where she obtained a degree in Accountancy as a Petronas scholar.
Despite her studious nature, Tan discovered her knack for emceeing events and functions during her stint corporate in the corporate world.
"It was only after I started working in the corporate world that I found myself emceeing for certain events and functions. Then I realised that I may have another calling although I never thought I would ever be an actress," she said.
"But leaving a secure corporate job is also a big risk for me financially, but acting gradually became my occupation after a string of appearances on commercials, telemovies, shortfilms, and the like."
Her participation and success as the second runner-up in the Miss Petite Universe International Malaysia contest in 2020 further fuelled her desire to be part of the entertainment industry.
In 2021, she was also a finalist in the casting for the acting challenge at the prestigious Cannes Film Festival. Tan's talent has graced various productions, including Fightlah Kopitian (2020), the Kg IT. Kg Ampas sitcom on RTM (2022), and the short film 'Kes Ai Ling' aired on Bernama TV this year.
Other productions Tan will be featured in include TV3 Drama Diva Seroja (2023), Tonton Metro Crime Series (2023), Film: The Experts (2023), and more.
Tan was also one of the Top 12 finalists for the 2022 season of reality TV show Fit For Action, Season 1 (2022), a programme aimed at looking for prospective actors and actresses.
Tan will is set to appear as a 16-year-old high schooler on the new TV3 drama series Diva Seroja, which will debut on the broadcaster this Friday (June 9).
However, Tan, a self-taught actress and public speaker, acknowledges the challenges of maintaining a consistent income.
Nonetheless, she remains hopeful that her efforts will bear fruit by the end of the year. With an open mind and a desire to explore diverse roles, Tan's envisions herself taking on various characters, whether in action-packed films or captivating dramas. The versatility she seeks reflects her determination to seize every opportunity that comes her way.
As Tan embarks on this exciting chapter of her career, the echoes of Yeoh's groundbreaking achievements reverberate, inspiring her to persevere and leave her own indelible mark on the entertainment industry. – The Vibes, June 6, 2023
