Puan Sri Tiara Jacquelina Eu Abdullah (born 3 October 1967) is a Malaysian actress, film producer, musical theater producer, singer and the founder of The Enfiniti Academy of Musical Theatre and Performing Arts. She is well-acclaimed for her role in Puteri Gunung Ledang, the biggest budget movie ever produced in Malaysia up until 2005,Puteri Gunung Ledang musical, Thestar.com, 14 October 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 Enfiniti (M) Sdn. Bhd. (also known as Fairy-Star Studios or trade Elegant Pursuit), registered as Fairy-Star Studios Sdn. Bhd. and Tiara Jacquelina will be branding its television production, film studio and theater, a Malaysian arts, entertainment, and television production company.
Early life and career Jacquelina was born as Jacqueline Eu on 3 October 1967 in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia to a Burmese Chinese father and Indonesian Chinese mother.
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 12th Malaysia Film Festival later that year, she won the Best Actress AwardTiara Jacquelina profile , cinemamalaysia.com.my; accessed 10 December 2017. 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 the title character, a legendary Javanese princess in Puteri Gunung Ledang, which gained her recognition. The movie was submitted for the Best Foreign Language Film category at the Academy Awards in 2004 but was not nominated."'Bunohan' is Malaysia's entry in Oscar race for Best Foreign Language Film, mmail.com.my, 15 October 2012.
Following the success of the film,Puteri Gunung Ledang musical, Thestar.com, 14 October 2005. 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 Ola Bola: The Musical, 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.
Jacquelina is the founder and owner of popular glamping resort Tiarasa Escapes, located in Janda Baik, Pahang.
Personal life
Jacquelina was raised in a Buddhist family, but she converted to Christianity when she was 12. However, she converted to Islam in 1993https://drkokogyi.wordpress.com/2010/09/01/datin-seri-tiara-jacquelinas-grandfather-datuk-eddie-eu-eng-hock-was-a-burmese-chinese/and was previously married to actor and celebrity Hani Mohsin, from 1993 until they divorced in 1998. She is the mother of two children.
She later married Sarawakian businessman Mohd Effendi Norwawi, who also formerly served as a senator and minister in the Prime Minister's Department.
Awards Year Award Result Category Film1995Malaysian Film FestivalWonBest ActressRinggit Kasorrga2005Asian First Film FestivalBest ProducerPuteri Gunung LedangAsia-Pacific Film FestivalBest ActressPuteri Gunung LedangMalaysian PPFM Oscars 2005Best ProducerPuteri Gunung LedangMalaysian PPFM Oscars 2005Best ActressPuteri Gunung Ledang2009Federation for Asian Cultural Promotion (FACP Malaysia)Outstanding Contribution to the Arts
Achievements Executive Producer of the multiple-award-winning film Puteri Gunung Ledang which has garnered 11 awards at the Malaysian Film Festival 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.Tiara's bent on a sparkling life, thesundaily.my; accessed 19 October 2007. Executive Producer of Puteri Gunung Ledang the Musical which won 8 wards at the 2006 Boh Cameronian Arts Awards for Best Director, Original Script (Bahasa Malaysia), 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 (Bahasa Malaysia), Set Design, Music and Sound Design, Best Supporting Actor, Audience's Choice Award for Theatre."Curtains down on 'P. Ramlee The Musical'", ekedai.my, 19 April 2012.
Filmography
Film Year Title Role Notes1988 Irisan-Irisan Hati Ipah First film debut Siluman Kera Sofia Lukisan Berlumur Darah Hannah 1990 Mat Som Che Yam 1992 Yang Disayangi Sabah's last film 1994 Obses Siti1995 Beyond Rangoon San San Ringgit Karsorgga Meera (Almeera Almeida) 1999 Perempuan Melayu Terakhir Theater actor 2004 Puteri Gunung Ledang Gusti Putri, the Mount Ledang princess As producer
Telemovie Year Title Role TV Channel Notes 1994 Hello HazTV3 1996 Darling Sayang Suraya 2017 Kontena Ana — Astro Citra Appreciation
Web series Year Title Role Network 2021 Keluarga Baha Don 3 Ivana Balkanovich Viu
Television Year Title TV channel Notes 1994 MikroskopTV3 Host 1999 Jam 2 Petang As producer 1999–2005 Spanar Jaya NTV7 As producer 2019 Spanar Jaya X TV3 As executive producer
References
External links
New Sunday Times, Malaysia. "Tiara's true to her roles", accessmylibrary.com, 18 September 2005.