NO pain, no gain, as Jane Fonda famously said. The relatively unknown Fify Azmi can attest to this.
The 29-year-old Johor artiste underwent martial arts training — which she found “hellish” — to prepare for her first big-screen role in the action film Wira last year.
She had to ditch her long, brown locks to fit the tomboy (“pengkid” in her words) look the role of Zainab, or Zain, demanded.
“It was so painful emotionally. I cried to myself and kept staring in the mirror, saying ‘this can’t be me’,” recalls Fify, when met at the launch of Anugerah MeleTop Era 2020 in Damansara Utama, Petaling Jaya recently.
Nevertheless, Fify rose to the challenge and saw it as an adventure of a lifetime.
“A decade ago, I took part in the game show Fear Factor and it exposed me to physical activities like rock-climbing.
“It toughened me up, and Wira became Fear Factor Part Two!”
Fify was trained in mixed martial arts (MMA) on the set of Wira by three of her cast members — Indonesian action hero Yayan Ruhian, who played one of the villains, Indonesian actress Ismi Melinda and the film’s main star Hairul Azreen, who invited her to audition for the role of Zain.
“It was a bruising three weeks of hard training. But the three of them understood my limits, so I wasn’t severely beaten up while sparring with them.
“Before this, I only had girl-next-door roles which were largely forgettable, so I want to thank them as well as director Adrian Teh for making a Wonder Woman out of me.”
Wira also saw Fify “join” the Royal Malaysian Air Force (TUDM) for the first time.
“I didn’t actually get to fly a fighter plane. I just sat in it. But when I was inside, I remember thinking ‘this is just like Top Gun’,” she says.
The fear of getting hurt on the set of films always gives Fify the shivers. However, she is confident that working with good directors like Teh places her in safe hands.
“Now that I’ve done an action film, I’m a lot braver than before. I’m game to star in more such films,” adds Fify.
“Not only that, I’ve also conquered the fear of losing my girlish looks, so I’m prepared to play women who are not attractive on screen.”
Is there any acclaimed director that Fify would like to work with?
“Dain Iskandar Said, of course. I love his thought-provoking movies such as Bunohan, Dukun and Interchange. Besides being a great director, he is an equally brilliant actor. He’s such a superb menacing villain in Wira.”
On any new projects, Fify says her schedule has several dramas and telemovies later in the year.
“I didn’t initially like Zain because of what she did to my hair but I love her now! If all goes well, Adrian may bring her back in another cinematic adventure since she is now with the RMAF. That would be my golden chance to fly on screen.”
Fify, a onetime Dewi Remaja finalist, is in the running for the MeleTop Film Star award, and it is her first nomination for an entertainment award. So, there’s some gain to Fify’s Wira pain.
Set for April 12 in the Axiata Arena, Bukit Jalil, Kuala Lumpur, the Anugerah MeleTop Era, co-hosted by Nabil Ahmad and Jihan Muse, is in its seventh year and has 15 categories including Versatile Artiste and Influencer.
Besides Fify, the nominees include singers Ernie Zakri, Haqiem Rusli, Sarah Suhairi, Khai Bahar and Wany Hasrita, actors Namron, Datuk Rosyam Nor, Shaheizy Sam, Syafiq Kyle and Hairul, and actresses Erra Fazira, Mira Filzah, Syatilla Melvin, Amyra Rosli and Mimi Lana.
The nominated films include Ejen Ali The Movie, Upin & Ipin: Keris Siamang Tunggal, Pusaka, Sangkar and Wira.
