Azizah Mahzan Rejects International Drama Role to Stay True to Her Faith and Principles
Veteran actress and television personality Azizah Mahzan has revealed that she recently turned down an international drama project involving a collaboration with Dutch producers because the role required her to remove her hijab.
For Azizah, the decision was not difficult to make.
Despite recognising the prestige and opportunities that could come from participating in an international production, she believes there are values that should never be compromised, regardless of how attractive an offer may appear.
The actress said she was approached earlier this year and was initially intrigued by the project, which was set during the Second World War and involved a joint production between Malaysia and the Netherlands.
However, her excitement faded when she learned that the character she was expected to portray would require her to appear without a hijab to match the social setting of the 1940s.
Rather than negotiate or reconsider, Azizah politely declined the offer.
“The offer came this year and I was told that I would need to remove my hijab because the story was set during the Second World War.
“I declined politely. It is not something I want to do, especially when it involves removing my hijab. I believe it goes against my principles as a Muslim woman,” she said.
Azizah explained that throughout her career, she has always tried to strike a balance between artistic expression and personal values.
According to her, acting is an important form of storytelling, but it should never come at the expense of one’s identity or beliefs.
She admitted that as she grows older and gains more experience, she has become increasingly selective when choosing scripts and projects.
The actress said she often turns down stories that she considers too liberal or those that conflict with her understanding of religion and morality.
“I am more selective these days because I am afraid of accepting stories that are too liberal.
“Perhaps I am not part of the current generation, and it is not that I cannot adapt to modern storytelling.
“But some of today’s stories are simply beyond my comfort zone,” she said.
Among the themes she tends to avoid are stories involving infidelity, love triangles or narratives that portray negative stereotypes about Malay society.
Azizah believes films and dramas have a powerful influence on audiences and should be used responsibly.
She said she does not want to participate in projects that, in her opinion, contradict Islamic teachings or present Malays in an unfavourable light.
The actress also highlighted another challenge facing performers today — the lack of transparency in script development.
According to her, some production companies do not provide full scripts before filming begins, leaving actors unaware of certain scenes until they arrive on set.
“There are times when you only realise what kind of scenes are involved after filming has started.
“That is why I have become much more careful about the projects I accept,” she said.
Looking back at her career, Azizah admitted that she never planned to become an actress.
Her journey into the entertainment industry began almost accidentally while studying accounting at Universiti Teknologi Mara.
As part of her studies, she had to choose an elective subject and selected theatre without giving it much thought.
That seemingly small decision eventually changed the course of her life.
She discovered a passion for acting and performance, learning under respected theatre figures who shaped her understanding of the art form.
While many of her peers grew impatient waiting for acting opportunities, Azizah chose to remain and focus on learning.
She said she was fascinated by the creative process and wanted to understand every aspect of theatre rather than chase fame.
“I loved the process.
“I wanted to learn everything about theatre, and that is why I stayed when others left. For me, it was always about passion,” she said.
From theatre, Azizah gradually expanded into television, becoming a newsreader and presenter before establishing herself as an actress.
Yet despite her achievements and popularity, she has never allowed fame to define her.
Instead, Azizah views her career as a platform to contribute positively while staying true to her faith and principles.
For her, success is not measured solely by awards or international projects, but by the ability to remain authentic in an industry that is constantly evolving.
And that, she believes, is a legacy worth preserving.
