Former actress Ziela, who is a mother of two, hopes to produce a movie one day.
PETALING JAYA: Actress Ziela Jalil was the epitome of a sexy actress in the 1980s.
Many will remember photographs of her sexily clad in pareo with pouting lips gracing the covers of entertainment magazines.
These days, Ziela has traded the sexy image for a more down-to-earth image – that of a producer.
Ziela, who 'disappeared' from the limelight after she tied the knot with a politician in 1991, however, never turned her back on show business – having quietly set up Pena Creative Pictures Sdn Bhd a few years ago.
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Former actress Ziela, who is a mother of two, hopes to produce a movie one day. |
“I still miss the big screen, somehow. That’s the reason why I’ve never said that I have retired.
“I may not be acting anymore but I have always been active producing dramas and telemovies,” said Ziela.
Ziela has produced more than 20 dramas to date and every now and then makes a glamorous appearance at film functions to catch up with her former peers.
“It’s difficult to detach yourself from show business once you are in it, especially if you have been a part of it for many years,’’ she said.
’’I really love show business,” said the actress, who starred in Driving School, a Julie Dahlan production directed by Othman Hafsham.
Ziela said she would consider going back to acting if a really good script or a suitable role came along.
“I don’t mind acting again but the role has to be a really good one. It's difficult to get a good role these days, one that will test your acting ability to the maximum,” said Ziela, who ''retired'' from acting in 1991.
The determined producer, who likes to give young scriptwriters a chance to prove their talent, has just completed a 20-episode Samarinda (telenovella) for TV3.
“You have to come up with good dramas because that is going to be your trademark. Once you have established that, the rest is easy.’’
‘’You will not even have a problem marketing your product as your track record would speak for itself,” said the 35-year-old actress, whose dramas – Ustaz Sufi (TV3) and Tok Ali (RTM) – have won the Anugerah Seri Angkasa awards.
Ziela, who also produced the award-winning drama Anak Angkat, directed by Aziz M. Osman, is glad that the demand for TV dramas is starting to pick up.
“More producers are offering a lot of good dramas and that is a good sign. In fact, we are competing to do our best, and actors and actresses benefit from this healthy competition,” said the attractive mother of two children.
Ziela, whose real name is Norzilah Abdul Jalil, said she hoped to produce a movie one day.
“I have a few good scripts with me right now. But I am working on improving the standard of my dramas first before I take the next step.
“It’s like having a good brand that no one can refuse. Anyway, producing a movie is also a risky business and I am quite careful with that,” said Ziela.