[HL] Golden Horse nominee Mhia Firdaus puts Malaysian talent in the spotlight, eyes bigger challenges ahead

Malaysian actress Mhia Firdaus stars as Mina, a deaf girl who develops an interest in Muay Thai, in the Malaysian-Taiwanese production ‘Sayang Sayang’. — Picture courtesy of Astro Shaw

By Ian Jeremiah Patrick

First Published: Saturday, 07 Nov 2026 7:00 AM MYT

KUALA LUMPUR, Nov 7 — From taking her first steps in the film industry to earning recognition on one of Asia’s most prestigious cinematic stages, rising Malaysian actress Mhia Firdaus is proving that her journey is only just beginning.

The young actress, who first caught attention through her performance in the critically acclaimed 2019 film Roh, has now achieved a significant milestone, becoming the first Malay actress to receive a nomination at the Golden Horse Awards for her role in Malaysian-Taiwanese production Sayang Sayang.

While she may initially have been recognised as the daughter of actress Farah Ahmad, Mhia has steadily established herself as a talent in her own right, taking on roles that challenge her abilities and allow her to explore different dimensions of acting.

Directed by Taiwanese filmmaker Tang Hsiang-Chu and produced by Malaysian filmmaker Jin Ong, Sayang Sayang is a social family drama in which Mhia portrays Mina, a deaf girl from a Muslim family who develops an interest in Muay Thai.

Beyond requiring her to undergo physical training, the role also challenged Mhia to communicate her character’s emotions through sign language, facial expressions and body movements rather than spoken dialogue.

Speaking to Malay Mail about her Golden Horse nomination, Mhia described the recognition as an almost unbelievable moment, admitting that she needed time to fully process the achievement.

“Honestly, it felt like a fever dream.

“It took me some time to process everything because it was never something I imagined would happen to me, especially at this stage of my journey.

“Personally, it means a lot because I know how much work, sacrifice and faith have gone into getting here.”

For Mhia, the nomination represents more than just a personal achievement.

She credited her family and the people who had stood by her throughout her journey, particularly those who continued to believe in her even when others questioned her abilities.

She also hopes the recognition will create more opportunities for Malaysian performers and encourage greater international appreciation of the country’s stories and filmmaking talent.

“I’m grateful to be part of that conversation,” she said.

Stepping into Mina’s world

What initially attracted Mhia to Sayang Sayang was the opportunity to step into the life of someone whose experiences were vastly different from her own.

Mhia Firdaus, the first Malay actress to earn a Golden Horse Awards nomination, is now looking ahead to more challenging roles as she continues to expand her acting repertoire. — Picture courtesy of Astro Shaw

Rather than approaching Mina simply as a character to portray, she wanted to understand the circumstances that shaped her, including her emotions, struggles and perspective on the world.

“I wanted to understand her, her circumstances and the emotions that shaped her, rather than simply play her from the outside.

“One of the biggest challenges was preparing myself physically and mentally for the role.

“I had to learn Muay Thai and diving, which were things that pushed me beyond my comfort zone.”

Filming during Ramadan added another layer of difficulty, as Mhia had to manage her energy throughout the demanding production schedule.

She also turned to her mother for discussions about Mina, seeking different perspectives to better understand the character’s motivations and emotional journey.

Perhaps the most demanding aspect, however, was learning to express Mina’s emotions through sign language.

Without spoken dialogue to rely on, Mhia had to communicate through subtle facial expressions, gestures and body language, placing greater importance on the smallest details of her performance.

“It pushed me to become more aware of the smallest details in my performance and reminded me that acting is not always about how much you say, but how honestly you can communicate something without words,” she said.

Learning to push beyond her limits

With Sayang Sayang having arrived in Malaysian cinemas on November 5, Mhia looks back on the production as an experience that has left a lasting impression on her.

Beyond the Golden Horse recognition, the experience taught her to recognise her own capabilities and embrace challenges, even when they initially seemed overwhelming.

“Sayang Sayang taught me that I’m capable of more than I sometimes give myself credit for.

“There were moments when I questioned whether I could keep up with the physical demands of the role, especially while learning things I had never done before.

“But I learnt to trust the process, put in the work, and allow myself to grow through the challenges.

“It also reminded me that being an actress means being willing to learn, to make mistakes and to be uncomfortable sometimes.

“I don’t think this project suddenly made me feel like I’ve become a completely different actress, but it gave me a better understanding of what I’m capable of when I commit myself to something,” she said.

Mhia Firdaus, as Mina, appears alongside fellow Malaysian actor Amir Ahnaf, who portrays her on-screen brother Aman, in ‘Sayang Sayang’. — Picture courtesy of Astro Shaw

Looking ahead, Mhia hopes to take on bigger and more challenging roles while remaining grounded and open to new experiences.

Reflecting on her journey, including her earlier appearance in Roh, she believes each production has played a part in shaping her as an actress, allowing her to understand her characters more deeply and discover new aspects of herself.

Her Golden Horse nomination has also given her a confidence boost, serving as encouragement to continue working hard and exploring her potential rather than resting on the recognition.

For a young actress still finding her footing in the industry, the nomination marks an important milestone.

But if her journey so far is anything to go by, it may only be the beginning of what she hopes to accomplish.