Tiara Jacquelina Eu Effendi is a Malaysian actress, film producer, musical theater producer, and the proud founder of The Enfiniti Academy of Musical Theatre and Performing Arts, an institution that aims to nurture creative talents in Malaysia. She is well-acclaimed for her role in Puteri Gunung Ledang, the biggest budget movie ever produced in Malaysia up until 2005, in which she played the lead character and sang the theme song, "Asmaradana". Aside from appearing on stage and on camera, Tiara Jacquelina also serves as the managing director of , a Malaysian arts, entertainment, and television production company.
Early life and career
Jacquelina was born as Jacqueline Eu in October 1962 in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia to a Burmese Chinese father and Indonesian Chinese mother. She has been involved in the arts at a very early stage, and while at school, Jacquelina took part in the Theatre Society, the Literary Society, and was the President of the Film Society. She began her film career in 1988. In 1995, Jacquelina co-starred with Academy Award winner, Frances McDormand, who played the lead role in the movie, Beyond Rangoon. In the 12thMalaysia Film Festival later that year, she won the Best Actress Award for her role in the film Ringgit Kasorrga, a social drama concerning a sex scandal involving a politician and young models. In 2004, she played in and as Puteri Gunung Ledang, a legendary Javanese princess in Malay culture, which gained her soaring recognition due to her stellar performance. The movie was submitted for the Best Foreign Language Film category at the Academy Awards in 2004 but was not nominated. Following the success of the film, she later staged it as a musical at Istana Budaya in 2006 with the title, Puteri Gunung Ledang: The Musical. Recently, in March 2018, Jacquelina adapted and directed , a theatrical musical that was staged at Istana Budaya and has received positive reviews from both the media and its viewers. The musical was staged after the movie, Ola Bola, after marking its success in Malaysian cinematography in 2016 where the story revolves around the history of Malaysian national football team in their journey of paving their way into the 1980 Summer Olympics
Personal life
Jacquelina converted to Islam in 1993 and was previously married to actor and celebrity Hani Mohsin, from 1993 until they divorced in 1998. She is the mother of two children, Hani Karmila and Mohd Eridani. She later married Sarawakian businessman Mohd Effendi Norwawi, who also formerly served as a senator and Minister in the Prime Minister's Department.
Awards
Achievements
Executive Producer of the multiple-award-winning film Puteri Gunung Ledang which has garnered 11 awards at the Malaysian PPFM Oscars 2004 including Best Film, Best Producer, Cinematography, Best Actress, Costume Design, Art Direction, Best Sound b) Best Producer at the Asian 1st Films Festival 2005 c) 5 awards at the Malaysian Film Festival 2004 including best director, best screenplay, best art direction, best music score.
Executive Producer of Puteri Gunung Ledang the Musical which won 8 wards at the 2006 Boh Cameronian Arts Awards for Best Director, Original Script, Best Lighting Design, Set Design, Music and Sound Design, Costume Design, Supporting Actor, Audience's Choice Award for Theatre.
Executive Producer of P. Ramlee the Musical which won 6 awards at the 2007 Boh Cameronian Arts Awards for Best Director, Original Script, Set Design, Music and Sound Design, Best Supporting Actor, Audience's Choice Award for Theatre.
