#SHOWBIZ: Indonesian star Caitlin Halderman eyes Malaysian career after Viu horror debut

KUALA LUMPUR: Indonesian actress Caitlin Halderman hopes her debut in horror drama series 'The Hidden Hand' (Dia Perempuan Sialan) will mark the start of a successful acting career in Malaysia.

The 26-year-old star spent over a month in the country filming the drama.

She shared that she felt right at home with the local culture, sparking a strong desire to return for future projects.

"I love working in Malaysia because the people are so warm and welcoming. It truly feels like home.

"I visited Malaysia about four years ago, but only for three days, so I didn't get to experience much. This time, I got a taste of daily life," she said after a recent appearance on Bernama Radio's Fokus 30 programme at Wisma Bernama.

Caitlin, who is of Dutch and Minangkabau descent, admitted that language posed a minor challenge during filming — the script was written in Bahasa Malaysia while her character was Indonesian. However, her castmates made her feel instantly at ease.

The 12-episode series, which premiered on the Viu streaming platform on Sept 18, also stars Meerqeen, Hannah Delisha and Datin Seri Umie Aida.

Caitlin said the cast and crew were eager to exchange ideas and share insights into the Malaysian entertainment industry.

"I also shared details about the Indonesian scene with them. We chatted almost every day and there were no barriers between us, apart from the language. But even that wasn't an issue as I'd ask how best to adapt my lines into natural Indonesian," she said.

Among the toughest moments on set were the possession scenes, which demanded immense physical stamina and emotional intensity.

"Those scenes were completely new to me, so they were definitely the hardest part. Horror demands a lot of energy and raw emotion because of the action and intense moments," she explained.

She added that her background as a former water polo player came in handy, giving her the discipline, patience and physical endurance needed for demanding shoot days.

Her path into acting actually started by chance with a simple commercial audition.

"I landed the role, and soon after, I was invited to audition for a feature film — which I also got. That was when I thought, 'This is actually really fun,' and decided to step into the industry," she said.

In 'The Hidden Hand' Riska is determined to take revenge on the family she blames for ruining her mother's life — infiltrating their home by disguising herself as their domestic helper.