- Maya Karin
-
Maya Karin 
Born Maya Karin Roelcke
October 29, 1979
GermanyOccupation Actress, singer, Channel V VJ Years active 2001–present Maya Karin Roelcke (born on October 29, 1979) is a Malaysian actress, television personality, and singer. Commonly known as Maya Karin, she is largely known for her roles in supernatural horror and thriller films.
Contents
Background
Maya was born in Bayreuth, Germany. Her father, Gottfried Roelcke, is German. Her mother, Che Zan, is from Penang, Malaysia, and is of Malay, Chinese and Indian parentage.[1] She is the oldest of three siblings. Her brother is Armin, and her sister is Irina. Growing up, Maya did some theatre work in Indonesia. She later graduated from Limkokwing University Of Creative Technology in media and marketing.
She was married to Steven David Shorthose from Manchester, England, but the couple divorced on 16 July 2010.[2] Their wedding was held in August 2008 in Italy. The couple met in 2001 when Steven was her brother's high school teacher at the Garden International School in Kuala Lumpur. Steven, who was born in 1969, converted to Islam in 2004, and is also known by his Muslim name Muhammad Ali (after the boxer). He is a mathematics teacher at The Alice Smith School in Seri Kembangan, Selangor.[3]
Career
Maya began her entertainment career as an endorsement model for brands such as Pantene (hair care brand), Wella (hair care brand) and Halle and Yishion (fashion apparel brand). She also experimented in theatre productions, and was involved in plays for Actor’s Studio such as Mahna Mahna and In the Mind’s Eye. Now she star in the hit theatre Natrah and later Natrah The 2nd.
Television and film
In 2000, she was cast as a television show host for Malaysia’s TV3 lifestyle entertainment programme Wavelength, which began her mainstream career and exposure. She began to receive film offers within a year and was soon cast in her first film role as one of the leads in Aziz M. Osman’s Sri Dewi Malam. The role brought her significant public and media acclaim, and lead her to win the Best New Popular Artist Award at Malaysia’s Anugerah Bintang Popular (or the Popular Star Awards) and the Anugerah Media Hiburan (Media Entertainment Awards) in 2001.
In 2003 she was involved in film Mr. Cinderella 2 opposite established stars Erra Fazira and Yusry (KRU). Other films filmed followed, including Metrowealth Pictures’ Tujuh Perhentian (7 Stops), which resulted in her being nominated for the Most Popular Female Artist Award at the Anugerah Bintang Popular (Popular Star Awards) in 2004.
In 2004, her praised performance as the lead female role in Pesona Pictures’ Pontianak Harum Sundal Malam enhanced Maya’s position as one of the leading Malaysian and regional talents. She received international awards including the Best Actress at the 49th Asia Pacific Film Festival 2004 (Fukuoka, Japan) and the Best Actress Estepona Fantasy and Terror Film Festival 2005 (Malaga, Spain). In 2005, she won the coveted Most Popular Actress Award at the Anugerah Bintang Popular (Popular Star Awards).
Despite her growing feature film career, Maya continued her involvement in television, and in 2004 was invited by Channel [V] International to join their VJ team. In 2006, she was voted Best VJ in Star Buzz Editor’s Choice Awards 2006. Other shows that she has hosted are the bridal programme ‘Ratu Sehari’ (Queen for a Day) in 2004 for Malaysia’s ASTRO Ria channel and the travelogue programme ‘Beauty Secrets From The East’ in 2005 for Malaysia’s local TV3 channel.
In 2005, Maya reprised her role as the lead in Pontianak Harum Sundal Malam II. Maya received critical acclaim for her portrayal, and received the award for Best Actress at Penghargaan Seniman Pelakon Wanita Terbaik 2006 (Malaysian equivalent to the Screen Actor’s Guild Awards) and a nomination for Best Actress at Pilihan Persatuan Pekerja Filem Malaysia (PPFM) (Malaysian equivalent of the Academy Awards).
In 2007, Maya played the lead in Pesona Pictures’ Waris Jari Hantu, Persona Pictures’ 1957: Hati Malaya and Tayangan Unggul’s Anak Halal, Maya won Best Actress in Festival Filem Malaysia 21 (Malaysia Film Festival) in 2008 for her role as a tomboy girl in Anak Halal. In 2008's Duyung, she plays the title role, a mermaid. In this film, Maya did all the underwater scenes on her own in the open sea of Sipadan Island.
Music
In 2002, Maya recorded her debut music album, Erti Cinta (Definition of Love). The album garnered her nominations for Best New Singer and Best Video awards[citation needed] at the Anugerah Industri Muzik (Malaysia's version of the Grammy Awards). Her second album is Bukan Qalamaya (2004). Another album is in production.[citation needed]
Endorsements
Maya’s mass popularity as an actress and entertainer led to her appointment as the first Malaysian Ambassador and Power Icon for local telecommunications giant Celcom in June 2006. By 2007 she is also the only female brand ambassador for Celcom, a role she shares with other celebrities such as Steven Gerrard, Michael Owen, Leehom Wang, Robert Pires and Indonesian popular band, Peterpan. In August same year Maya was appointed spokesperson for L'Oréal Paris Malaysia and endorsee of its 2006-2007 skincare and cosmetics line. In 2008, Maya shares the role for Celcom brand ambassador together with popular local actors Rita Rudaini, Aaron Aziz, and Fahrin Ahmad.
Conservation activism
Maya Karin, environmental ambassador
Having been influenced by her father, Maya has been very passionate about the environment from a young age. Maya is actively involved with the World Wildlife Fund (WWF). Maya Karin and WWF are in the midst of planning an Elephant Collaring Expedition so as to garner more information about our local elephants in order to help these animals from becoming extinct.
Filmography
- Sri Dewi Malam (2001)
- No Problem (2001)
- Mr. Cinderella 2 (2003)
- Pontianak Harum Sundal Malam (2004)
- Tujuh Perhentian (2004)
- Pontianak Harum Sundal Malam II (2005)
- Waris Jari Hantu (2007)
- 1957: Hati Malaya (2007)
- Anak Halal (2007)
- Duyung (2008)
- Punggok Rindukan Bulan (2008)
- Pisau Cukur (2009)
- Taming Sari (2010)
- CUN (2011)
- Magika
Television performances
- Wavelength, TV3 (2000)
- Ratu Sehari Astro, RIA (2004 — )
- Beauty Secrets From The East (2005)
- Channel [V] (2004–2007)
- Nona, TV3 (2010 - )
Endorsements
- Pantene
- Wella
- Yishion
- Halle
- MYEG
- Tag Heuer
- Celcom Telecommunications
- L'Oreal Paris
- VONO
- BRAND'S InnerShine
Discography
- Erti Cinta (2001)
- Bukan Qalamaya (2004)
Awards
Year Awards 2001 - Anugerah Bintang Popular Berita Harian: Best New Popular Artist Award
- Anugerah Media Hiburan: Best New Popular Artist Award
2004 - 49th Asia Pacific Film Festival: Best Actress
2005 - Estepona Fantasy and Terror Spain Film Festival: Best Actress
- Anugerah Bintang Popular Berita Harian: Most Popular Female Artist Karaoke
2006 - Penghargaan Seniman Pelakon Wanita Terbaik: Best Actress
- Star Buzz Editor's Choice Awards: Best VJ
2008 - Malaysian Film Festival: Best Actress
- Anugerah Bintang Popular Berita Harian: Most Popular Film Actress Award
References
- ^ Kamin, Azhariah (14 May 2004). "The Lady and the Vamp". The Star Online. Archived from the original on 10 July 2007. http://web.archive.org/web/20070710072708/http://www.kahlil.org/newsroom/article0048.html. Retrieved 10 July 2007.
- ^ "Maya Karin and hubby divorced". The Star Online. http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2010/7/16/nation/20100716202302&sec=nation. Retrieved 2010-07-16.
- ^ "Maya Karin to marry English beau next month?". The Star Online. http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2008/7/5/nation/21744451&sec=nation. Retrieved 2008-07-05.
External links
Categories:- 1979 births
- Living people
- Malaysian actors
- Malaysian female singers
- Malaysian people of Chinese descent
- Malaysian people of European descent
- Malaysian people of German descent
- Malaysian people of Indian descent
- People from Bayreuth
- Malay-language singers
Wikimedia Foundation. 2010.
