New kid on the block

EARLY this year, 22-year-old Klang-born Magnus Liang was nominated for the Best Actor of the Year award at the ADA Drama Awards for his convincing performance as a bad high school boy who hits his teacher in the stage play production Her Story, My Life.

Later, he was cast in the popular Chinese television drama series Shimmering Fireworks.

While the young actor is currently more familiar to local Chinese-speaking audiences, he admits he would love to act in the Malay film industry if given the opportunity.

What motivated you to be an actor?

“When I was 13, I joined the drama society in my school because I wanted to have some fun. I enjoyed the experience very much.

“Slowly, I developed a passion for acting. Later, after leaving school, I wanted to continue my passion for acting. I started to get involved in the Malaysian theatre scene.”

What is your long-term goal?

“Currently, I am teaching maths in a school in Kuantan. I love teaching the kids. Most people believe Maths is boring. But I try to make the subject interesting.

“My passion lies in acting. My long-term goal is to go back to acting again.

“I also have a desire to sit in the director’s chair in future. A director has the power to shape how the production will look like and can share his knowledge with his cast and crew.”

You have a bachelor’s degree in psychology. Do you plan to become a psychologist?

“I have no plans to be a psychologist. But I have no regrets studying psychology. I am curious to explore the human mind and human behaviour. Studying psychology fulfils this need.

“The best thing is my knowledge in psychology makes me understand my characters better. When you understand your character, you perform better.”

How do you get into your characters?

“The first thing I usually do is ask my director and the screenwriter what are their feelings about the character I am portraying.

“I think the most important thing for an actor is to observe everyone and everything around them. Observation makes you a better actor.”

You act on both screen and stage. Which medium do you prefer?

“I love them both. But I was exposed to theatre first. I must say I love theatre a little more than the screen. In theatre, you cannot retake your scenes.

“You have to thrash everything out in your rehearsal process. The best thing about the stage is that you will know immediately if the audience loves or hates your performance.”

Some Malaysian actors have based themselves overseas. Do you have similar plans?

“I do not mind acting in films overseas. But I want to be based in Malaysia. I love my country.

“A lot of people like to put down Malaysian films. But over the years, there has been a lot of improvement. We have seen some good actors, good directors and good storylines.”

Describe your childhood.

“My mother is a primary school teacher while my dad is a businessman. I am the youngest in the family and I have two older sisters.

“There is a large age gap between my sisters and I. My older sister is 32 while my second sister is 29. Both of them work in banking.”

Did you face any objections from your parents due to your career?

“My parents and I do not really talk about my career choices. But I think my parents are secretly proud of my achievement. I have caught my parents watching my TV drama series.

“Last year, for the first time, they came to see my performance on stage. They even brought along my sisters.”

Some believe acting is not a stable career in Malaysia. What is your opinion?

“Some have told me that I am making a mistake by choosing a career where one has to struggle, and which sometimes does not pay well. If I have to make a choice between a job with a high salary and a job that I like, I will always choose a job that I like.

“Life is too short and I want to have a happy life.”