Erra Fazira

Erra Fazira (born Fazira Wan Chek 9 February 1974) is a Malaysian actress, singer, fashion model, TV Host, film producer, as well as former beauty queen.

She rose to fame in the early/mid 1990s following her roles in Sembilu, Sembilu 2, Maria Mariana and Pasrah. She received critical acclaim and a Malaysia Film Festival award for her portrayal of "Nora" in the film Hingga Hujung Nyawa. She received another three Malaysia Film Festival award nomination for her performance in Soalnya Siapa?, Persona Non Grata, and Anak.

Fazira was born in Sungai Choh, a small town in Selangor, Malaysia, the first child and the only daughter of Wan Chek and Azizah Zaik. Her parents were of Chinese and Bangkahulu origin. Fazira was an active student during her school days and developed a passion for acting, which she showed an interest in at a very early age. She also joined many school's clubs and societies such as Scouting, St John Ambulance of Malaysia, the English Language Society and the Culture Club. She was also an active sports student back then and has represented herself and her school in Netball. She said that the learning and involvement she did in those clubs played an important role in her later career.

Fazira attended several different schools including SMK Putri Melawati, Kuala Lumpur.

As a beauty pageant participant

At the age of 18, Fazira went to take part in the 1992 Malaysian beauty pageant after being persuaded by her aunt. She competed against thirteen others and eventually won the title of Miss Malaysia/World 1992. As Miss Malaysia, Fazira went on to compete in Miss World 1992 pageant, representing Malaysia which was held in South Africa.

Erra then represented Malaysia in Miss South East Asia 1992/1993. She took the third places in Miss South East Asia 1992/1993.

Acting career

Fazira was approached by director, Yusof Haslam, to star as the lead role in Sembilu. The film opened in cinema on 18 August 1994. The film also marked the first time Erra worked together with her then former dating partner, Awie. Other films roles followed including a sequel of Sembilu the following year, where Fazira reprised her role as Wati.

From 1996 until 2000, Fazira starred in four of Yusof's directed films including the portraying of Maria Zakaria in both Maria Mariana and its sequel Maria Mariana II. In the 2000 film Soal Hati, Fazira starred played the character of Nurul Ain. Fazira won the Malaysia Film Festival Award for Best Actress for her role in the film.

Starting 2001, Fazira began to work with many different directors for her films including Ahmad Idham for Mr. Cinderella (2002) and Abdul Razak Mohaideen for Cinta Kolestrol (2003) among others. In 2004, Fazira went on to star opposite her then former husband, Yusry bin Abdul Halim, in the 2004 film Hingga Hujung Nyawa, also directed by Abdul Razak. Through this film, Fazira once again was awarded the Malaysia Film Festival Award for Best Actress as for the portrayal of Nora Halim in the movie.

In 2002, Fazira acted in a telemovie and hosted the show, Fesyen Tempo.

Studio albums

• Erra Fazira (1994)
• Aku dan Dia (1995)
• Menyanyi Bersama (1996)
• 2.5 Sayang (1997)
• Kini (1999)
• Sampai Bertemu (2002)
• Kini Kembali (2003)
• Ya atau Tidak (2006)

Compilation albums

• Koleksi Klasik (1998)
• Best of Erra Fazira (2001)
• Koleksi Istimewa Buatmu(2001)
• Keunggulan Erra Fazira (2007)

Feature films

Television