Having played “sweeties” in all her previous works, actress Janna Nick is set to surprise her fans by playing an antagonist in Michael Ang’s directorial feature film debut Kimchi Untuk Awak.
“I’m a bad girl. A really mean one for the first time, and I love it!” she told the New Straits Times recently.
“My biggest fear of playing a female villain is getting pelted with rotten eggs or fruits,” said Janna, who experienced such nightmares before deciding to play the baddie.
“Fortunately, my fellow cast members and close friends assured me things will turn out right. Playing a evil character shows I’ve got guts,” she said.
Kimchi Untuk Awak is a romantic drama based on the novel of the same name by Suri Ryana.
Scheduled for release in April, it tells of Zara (played by Janna) who schemes to break up lovebirds Danial (Aiman Hakim) and Bella (Emma Maembong).
Danial and Bella are an unlikely couple who coincidentally meet
on a flight from Seoul to Kuala Lumpur.
He was once engaged to her elder sister Maya, who died of an illness.
Love blossoms between them, but Danial’s ex-girlfriend Zara soon catches up with him and lands him in hospital after serving him food that he is allergic to.
Janna, whose real name is Nurul Jannah Muner, has starred in a string of hit television series and telemovies.
Among them are Cinta Vlog, Aku Bukan Orang Gaji, Bila Cinta Berbunga, Syurga Nur, Kau Aku Kita, Hidayahmu Ramadan, Mek Kelate and Abang Sado Jemur Kain.
The Sungai Petani-born starlet, who won the Choice Actress award at last year’s Anugerah Drama Festival Kuala Lumpur, said Kimchi Untuk Awak marked her the second movie. Ang encouraged Janna to “become someone different” to take her acting to the next level.
“He told me, it’s always good to play people who are the opposite of my cheerful self. Zara is a real witch who does not hesitate to poison Danial!”
Janna believes that her “baby-faced” appearance makes her more suited for good girl roles, but playing the occasional villain is always exciting.
“Hollywood’s leading actresses play good and bad characters and are praised by fans around the world. The best among them move between good and bad like fluid,” said the 22-year-old who also put out a single titled Mungkin Saja last year.
Janna’s first film Kerja Kahwin, directed by Anwardi Jamil, was screened last year.
In it she played Farah, a modern village girl preparing for her wedding.
“Farah was all sugar and spice, a contrast to Zara. I’m confident viewers will detest her mean ways and enjoy the new movie.”