She’s unconventional, doesn’t suffer fools and has no trouble speaking her mind. Actress and (mum-of-two) Nanu Baharudin speaks about turning 40, and her new role as a film producer.

Nanu Baharudin is truly in a happy place now more than ever before. With the dual role of actress and co-producer in a new movie called HAQ to be released in the first quarter of 2010, Nanu is the definition of someone who has finally come into her own. “I never thought I’d be co-producing at the age of 40,” she admits. “Acting, sure, but the two? No way! And it would have stayed that way if it hadn’t been for Juju here,” she says, nudging her friend Jumaatun Azmi. “It was one of those projects I couldn’t wait to begin without even knowing anything much about it at first,” she recollects.

FROM PAPER TO FILM
It was a real case of knowing zero to knowing what a gaffer does and what bulk print is. It was such an education for me.” She is a single mother and her two children are her world. All decisions about her career are talked over with them and she listens to what they have to say. As for marriage, Nanu matter-of-factly states, “Whoever wants to marry me has to cope with my life and understand what I want to do and why I love it.” Nanu’s funky new crop is yet another change – chopping off her locks was a great feeling she says and, “…after going through so many challenges, getting rid of my long hair was no problem!”

TAKING CHARGE OF CHANGE
“The prospect of being an achiever gives me such an adrenaline rush and I know I can do so much more.” When she turned 35, everything fell into place. “It became clear to me that I had to do well so I could support myself and my children without having to depend on anyone for anything. I realised that the thrill was to find my own way and earn my keep,” she adds. Nanu says that if people can look at themselves in the mirror and smile at the reflection with a healthy sense of love and respect, then they’ve got it made! As for her plans in 2010, Nanu says with gusto that she wants to transform herself continually and penetrate the moviemaking industry, behind-the-scenes. Nanu has come a long way from an unsure career path to finding her place firmly in Malaysia’s film industry. Reinventing herself has certainly paid off.