10 Sep – Actress Datin Umie Aida, who plays a witch doctor in her latest movie "Jwanita", admitted that she played the role similar to the way she portrayed her witch doctor character in an older movie, "Dukun". "I took five percent of my "Dukun" witch doctor character and adapted it into "Jwanita", it compensates for my disappointment when my older movie "Dukun" did not get any screening," said the actress during the preview of "Jwanita" at GSC Nu Sentral, KL Sentral. Previously, the Dain Said-helmed 2007 horror movie "Dukun", which is based on the high-profile case involving Mona Fandey – an alleged witch doctor who was convicted of the murder of politician Datuk Mazlan Idris, was banned from being screened as it was deemed insensitive toward the family of the individuals involved in the case.
The 42-year-old added that she enjoyed working with "Jwanita" director Osman Ali as she is given the freedom to really explore her character. The actress also voiced her disappointment with current TV dramas, which seem to be recycling their storylines. "I'm sorry to say this, but I am very disappointed with the dramas currently playing on TV because they're all the same story, only the actors keep changing." According to Umie, an actor, once given the trust by the producers and director to play a role, must give an impactful performance that will stay with the audiences.