Actress Tiara Jacquelina is back at school, but it’s a school with fabulous views. She tells HAFIDAH SAMAT how she’s enjoying student days again, in Tasmania.

SHE sizzled local theatre buffs with the phenomenal P. Ramlee, The Musical: The Life, The Loves & The Inspiration (PRTM) just months ago. Now, actress and producer Datin Seri Tiara Jacquelina is doing something more pedestrian —- going back to school.

Tiara, who is an ardent champion of Malaysian theatre, is currently studying Creative Writing at the School of Visual and Performing Arts at the University of Tasmania, Australia. She began in July.

She was inspired to study again when she accompanied her husband, former minister Datuk Seri Effendi Norwawi, an alumni of the university, on his short study course in World History.

“I guess when you’re living in a varsity town in Tasmania, studying is the natural thing to do. I never thought that at my age, I’d return to school. The experience is different and I’m loving every minute of it,” said Tiara, when we met for a tete-a-tete at her restaurant in Bandar Sunway, Petaling Jaya recently.
Tiara was in Kuala Lumpur on a “brief” study leave.

Said Tiara, her close friends were sceptical about her interest in becoming a student again.

“I am ambitious and stubborn. If I want something, I’ll work for it. I have broken new frontiers and push boundaries,” she said.

Her daily routine as a student is pretty straightforward, she explains. She leaves for her classes in the morning and in the afternoons, she spends her time taking photographs of the beautiful city.

Tiara’s passions are theatre, film, food and people — always in that order. Her idea of working hard is having a good time, and happily for Tiara, they are often one and the same thing. But that in no way belies the hard work that she puts in.

“I love going that one step further,” she confessed, “I guess it boils down to believing in the vibes and energy which ultimately give me strength to make things work.”

The maverick, who was named Best Actress at the 50th Asia Pacific Film Festival has been involved in a string of sold-out stage musicals — including Puteri Gunung Ledang: The Musical (PGLM) and PRTM — both in Malaysia and Singapore.

Her next major project is the re-staging of PGLM at Istana Budaya in February.

Back for the third season (the first and second were staged in 2006), Tiara will be making a comeback as the lonesome immortal princess, Puteri Gunung Ledang. The cast also boasts the London-based theatre personality, Stephen Rahman Hughes, as Hang Tuah.

Right now Tasmania might be home to Tiara but she says nothing beats “the hustle and bustle of KL.”

“I’m falling in love with Tasmania. The apartment where we live is located by the harbour and the view is simply breathtaking. I feel liberated each time I walk around the city incognito. Sometimes, I’d just take a slow stroll to the faculty, something unthinkable if I were in Kuala Lumpur because I’d get stopped by fans,” she said, laughing.

It is a nice city with so many friendly and warm people,” said Tiara.

Even her children, Mila, 11, and Dani, 9, who visited their parents in Tasmania last month, loved the small town.

“Oh yes, they loved it (Tasmania) as much as they love the idea of both of us back in school. And Dani remarked: “Dad, make sure you come home with good grades?” recalled Tiara, bursting into laughter.

Being away from home motivates the actress.

“You meet new people day in, day out and the magic grows on you.”

Tiara celebrated Hari Raya away from her home, her first time.

“I don’t usually cook but I will prepare something for the family on the first day of Raya. I’ve asked for lontong and rendang recipes from my maid,” said Tiara.

Tiara plans to return to KL next month.