DEWI Liana Seriestha may not be a familiar face to some, but she has been part of the entertainment scene for more than 20 years.
At 16, she made her television debut when she entered TV3's reality programme 'Mentor' in 2005.
Five years before that, she won the national singing competition 'Bintang Kecil RTM'.
Aside from making a name for herself in singing, the Kuching-born artiste, who also dabbles in modelling, was a beauty queen.
She was crowned Miss Malaysia World 2014 and represented Malaysia at Miss World 2014 in London, where she was one of the Top 25 quarter-finalists and became the first Malaysian to win the Miss World Talent award.
Now 35, Dewi, who is of Chinese, Indonesian and Bidayuh heritage, is set to portray a role familiar to many Malaysians — Puteri Hang Li Po.
Hang Li Po was a Chinese princess from the Ming Dynasty, sent to Melaka to be the bride of Sultan Mansur Syah in the 15th century.
Dewi plays the lead in the upcoming 'Puteri Hang Li Po The Musical', staged at Encore Melaka from today to Oct 6.
While feeling honoured, the actress admits feeling pressure as the production, inspired by historical events between the Chinese empire and the Malay Sultanate of Melaka, requires her to speak Mandarin in a setting based on the Ming Dynasty.
Taking on the lead role in a musical production marking the 50th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Malaysia and China is no easy task, particularly as Dewi does not speak Mandarin, despite being half-Chinese.
"This theatre is being restaged after 20 years to celebrate the diplomatic ties between Malaysia and China, and the production quality is certainly a key focus.
"But I don't speak Mandarin at all. Although my father is Chinese, he doesn't speak Mandarin as he is originally from Indonesia.
"There's a scene in the palace where I need to speak the old imperial Chinese language, which is quite challenging. But this is a golden opportunity and I don't want to waste it."To improve her command of the language, Dewi has been watching old films and listening to classical Chinese songs.
Fellow cast member Jeffrey Chew, who plays the Chinese emperor, has also been coaching Dewi and the other cast members whose lines are in Mandarin.
Dewi adds: "Another challenge is memorising more than six solo and duet songs.
"However, I am grateful that since rehearsals began in June, Chew has been very helpful, sending voice notes and correcting my pronunciation tirelessly, even though it's not his job."
Istana Budaya director-general Zubaidah Mukhtar says restaging the masterpiece after two decades (which originally featured actress Soong Ai Ling in the role of Puteri Hang Li Po) presents the challenge of maintaining the same high-quality, if not better while giving the original script a fresh touch.
"Istana Budaya, as one of the agencies that promotes world-class excellence in performing arts, has been given a significant role and responsibility to celebrate this diplomatic occasion through performing arts and culture.
"This also supports the efforts of the Malaysia Madani government, particularly through the of Tourism, Arts and Culture Ministry," says Zubaidah.
The latest 'Puteri Hang Li Po The Musical' will feature 32 musical compositions, including songs,
dances and storytelling melodies, all revived with a fresh, modern touch to complement the storyline.
These songs, Zubaidah says, will be performed live by an ensemble of 49 musicians from the Malaysian Traditional Orchestra, the National Symphony Orchestra, and guest musicians under the direction of Mohd Yazid Zakaria as the music director.
"The two-hour theatre production will also feature two musicians from China collaborating with Istana Budaya musicians, symbolising the harmony between the two nations.
"The audience will be treated to an enchanting performance that celebrates the heritage and culture of both countries, showcasing a unique blend of beauty and diversity through dance, costumes, martial arts, and linguistic elements."
The musical will also feature Luqman Hafidz as the Sultan of Melaka, Brian Chan as Admiral Ming You, Hairi Safwan as Tun Perpatih Putih, Datin Louisa Chong as Kembang Cina, Amyza Aznan as Mak Inang and Saifullah Ghaz as Minister Di Po.