NOT many can declare that they have acted alongside the Academy Award-winning Hollywood star Jodie Foster or even Hong Kong film star, Chow Yun-Fat, in a big budget movie. One beautiful Malaysian actress, however, did so many years ago. And despite the huge recognition, Deanna Yusoff, who still looks gorgeous in her late forties, remains humble and true to herself.
The multi-talented actress rose to stardom when she won the Best Actress Award at the Malaysian Film Festival way back in 1992 through the film Selubung. But her talents did not stop there. Deanna blossomed into a singer with two studio albums under her belt, and became a TV presenter. The classic beauty of Swiss and Malay descent, has also worked as a model locally and abroad. Her last big-screen appearance was in a 2007 local horror movie called Chermin, where she portrayed an evil spirit in a cursed mirror.
Not long after that, however, it looked as if Deanna had slowly vanished from the scene. In fact, some of today’s younger Malaysians aren’t at all familiar with her name.
“I never disappeared actually. I have always been around. It’s just that I haven’t been doing things which are widely publicised. Perhaps that may also explain why the newer generation have not heard of me,” laughs Deanna.
According to the actress who speaks fluent English, Malay, French, German and Spanish, she has been busy with activities that are totally unrelated to entertainment.
“Apart from emceeing corporate shows and singing for private functions, I have also been busy managing my tourism and Swiss chocolate businesses. And some of these projects require my presence overseas. So, I have been in and out of the country quite regularly. What more with my family being in Switzerland, I do go there rather often. But, Deanna Yusoff is still here. I never left or migrated like what some people thought. I have just been busy doing things away from the limelight,” explains the charming star cum entrepreneur.Deannayusoff2
As an actress, Deanna has noticed a huge difference in the local entertainment scene compared to what it was 20 years ago when she first started.
“Things have really changed. During those days when I was starting out, we didn’t have social media to share our every move. To get recognition or even to get noticed was not easy. We had to work really hard to get where we wanted. There were no reality shows or Youtube to get discovered. You really had to work your way from the bottom and that’s a good thing, as we learn to appreciate what we achieve later. It is sad to know that some rising stars today are just in it for the fame and fun, and are not really passionate about pursuing a career in the arts. I mean, I have agents in Europe to facilitate my career, but even then, it is still not that easy.”
Deanna says that sometimes being Pan-Asian does not work to her advantage as producers abroad have a problem finding a role for her.
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Although she has been busy with less glamorous affairs, her fans should be happy to know that Deanna is making a comeback in the local movie industry through a new movie called C.E.O. Although she is not playing a very big role in the movie, she felt very happy about taking up the offer.
“I have always been slightly picky with the roles that I play. When the script came to me, I was very happy with the role they were offering as I don’t want to play the same type of characters that I have tried my hand at. In C. E.O., I play a lawyer, but not just an ordinary lawyer. I would like to reveal more but it would take away the element of surprise. So, you will just have to wait for it at the cinemas,” says Deanna about her latest movie.
C.E.O. sees Deanna playing one of the supporting roles and acting alongside current film stars such as Remy Ishak, Christina Suzanne and Beto Kusyairy. The film will be showing in all local cinemas starting Jun 12.
Pictures by Olivier Henri and Peter Bannan courtesy of Deanna Yusoff
