SHE gets nightmares after playing terminally ill characters.
Four years ago, the 32-year-old played a newlywed stricken with breast cancer in the television drama series Kerana Lelaki Itu and found it very challenging.
“The scary thing about playing a patient is that I get nightmares about the disease I portrayed on screen,” said actress Siti Elizad Sharifuddin at a press conference for Anugerah Drama Festival Kuala Lumpur 2017 in Seri Pentas, Bandar Utama, Petaling Jaya, recently.
“To endure the month-long shooting of the drama series, where (my character) spent a lot of time being bedridden, I had to always think positively and of pleasant things to keep my spirits up.”
When asked how she finally got out of the “funk”, Siti Elizad said she consistently reminded herself that the sick woman was a character she was playing, and that the real Siti Elizad was “fitter, healthier and happier”.
“By telling myself that I was in good shape, and that I had a strong, resilient immune system, I completed the nightmare-inducing job.”
Siti Elizad recalled visiting cancer-stricken relatives and friends over the years, but these moments were nothing compared with the experience of playing a cancer patient.
In August, Siti Elizad will take on a role of a cancer patient in a yet-to-be-titled drama series.
“Unlike Kerana Lelaki Itu, this drama focuses more on the thoughts and feelings of the patient as she fights her disease.
“It’s going to be a lot more challenging because I’ll be spending more time on the hospital bed and in the operating theatre.”
Siti Elizad’s newfound love of singing also helps her cope with “scary” TV roles.
Since she won Astro’s talent show Gempak Superstar last year, she has been hooked on singing.
Finding music therapeutic as it calms her nerves, she bursts into song when she is on set to keep focused on acting.
Siti Elizad is in the running for Choice Actress for Lambaian Ramadan at the Anugerah DFKL 2017, which will be aired live from Putrajaya International Convention Centre on Sunday on TV3 at 9pm.
In the TV3 drama that aired last year, she plays Shila, a mother of three, whose husband, Adam, has an affair with a woman named Warda. To make matters worse, one of their children has a dangerous disease. It also stars Adi Putra, Reen Rahim and Puteri Balqis Azizi.
TV3 and TV9 general manager for group brand management and programming Siti Nurlisa Mohd Nadzri said DFKL, now in its fourth year, had four components — a short film competition, pitching session for drama ideas, talent search and workshop.
“This year’s theme is ‘Cerita Kita’ (Our Story). We encourage the production of dramas and short films that are closely connected to our everyday lives.”
The awards are divided into 11 categories, including Choice Actor, Choice Actress, Choice Antagonist, Choice Drama, Choice Theme Song, Choice Script, Choice Couple, Choice Short Drama and Choice Director.
Primeworks Studios entertainment manager Mohd Sufian Isa said a new award category, Choice Radio Drama, would be introduced to cater to the demand for quality radio dramas.
Kool FM radio announcer AG and TV host and actress Sherry Al Hadad join actress Rita Rudaini Mokhtar as co-hosts for the awards.
Artistes who will serenade fans in the showcase include Azira Shafinaz, Dayang Nurfaizah, Nora Danish, Johan Asari and Aiman Tino.
Among the presenters are Aliff Aziz, Gambit Saifullah, Azrel Ismail, Janna Nick, Irwansyah, Elvina Mohamad, Zahirah MacWilson and Ayda Jebat.
The top prize for short dramas is RM10,000, with four consolation prizes of RM2,000.
For more information, visit www.dfkl.com.my.