Here’s something we definitely didn’t have on our 2026 bingo card: Che Puan Sarimah Ibrahim could have appeared in Netflix’s Wednesday.
And the revelation came rather casually, in a Threads conversation with fellow Malaysian actress Sharifah Haneesya.
Haneesya had jokingly asked how she was supposed to break into Hollywood after people kept telling her to pursue acting there. After all, she couldn’t exactly show up at a production house and announce she was there to act.
Sarimah replied with some advice from experience.
She recommended getting an international acting coach and an agent, sharing that after years of trying online casting platforms, it was only after securing representation that she began getting self-tape auditions.
She also suggested breaking into regional productions first as another way of getting noticed.
But getting the audition is only part of it.
Sarimah Was Shortlisted for Wednesday
Sarimah revealed that she had received several callbacks for international productions, including being shortlisted for Netflix’s Wednesday.
She ultimately chose not to proceed because the role involved a close-up kissing scene, something that crossed her personal boundaries.
And that wasn’t her only major international opportunity.
Sarimah said she was also shortlisted for Nine Perfect Strangers, starring Nicole Kidman, but turned it down because the role involved a kissing scene and wearing a bikini.
Her advice to Haneesya was candid: breaking into Hollywood is tough, and actors may encounter roles that ask them to compromise on personal or religious boundaries.
Still, there’s something pretty cool about this whole exchange.
Sarimah tried. She trained, got representation, landed auditions and made it far enough to be considered for some very big productions, and now she’s passing what she learnt on to another Malaysian actress finding her way.
As for Haneesya? Girl, keep going. The world is your oyster, and we hope we get to watch you shine wherever that journey takes you.
And CP Sarimah? Hollywood or not, some stars don’t need an international credit to prove they shine and you are timeless.
Timeless looks pretty good on you.
Disclaimer: This article is for general entertainment and public interest purposes only. Information is based on publicly available reports at the time of publication.
