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Five Indonesian actors to watch in 2023
Which Indonesian actors will shine the brightest on our screens next year?
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Which Indonesian actors will shine the brightest on our screens this year?
Now that the Indonesian film and entertainment industry is on the mend after the pandemic hiatus, some of the emerging talent in the industry is poised to catch a second wind as well.
From fresh ingenues ready to take up bigger roles to established thespians who started from the bottom and have finally earned top billings, here are some of the promising homegrown actors who have the potential to sweep audiences off their feet in 2023.
Clara Bernadeth
Formerly a supporting actress in horror flicks, the Jakarta native played breakout heroines in 2021's Hujan di Balik Jendela and the 2022 tearjerker Until Tomorrow.
The 28-year-old's profile went to the stratosphere when she closed the year 2022 as an ex-con looking for a second chance in Vidio original series Dapur Napi alongside Asmara Abigail and Poppy Sovia. This year seems brighter – and perhaps, more challenging – for Clara as she will lead the ensemble of the upcoming film adaptation of the Indonesian best-selling novel Ganjil Genap.
Another anticipated project of Clara's, the Herwin Novianto-directed Yang Patah Tumbuh, Yang Hilang Berganti premiered at World Cinema Week 2022, though it is still uncertain whether the film, after its November delay, will ever have a wide theatrical release.
Cut Beby Tshabina
The 20-year-old former child actor and Aceh native managed to impress last year by standing toe-to-toe against veteran actors Deddy Mizwar and Tora Sudiro in the latest entry of the Nagabonar franchise: June’s Naga Naga Naga, for which she received a nod from Film Festival Wartawan Indonesia.
Looking at her future projects, the country's cinephiles might notice that Cut Beby is setting her sights on higher mountaintops. She is set to portray the teenage Sitti Raham, who eventually became the wife of the famed cleric and philosopher Hamka, in a biopic directed by Fajar Bustomi.
More of her upcoming projects include the fashion-themed heist romp Cherish & Ruelle and a remake of the 2008 South Korean film Scandal Makers opposite Citra Award winner Vino G. Bastian.
Elang El Gibran
The two-year global pandemic did not stop Elang El Gibran's rise to stardom. The 22-year-old thespian and the son of seasoned character actor Rukman Rosadi grew from being a peripheral presence in the critically acclaimed Kucumbu Tubuh Indahku to being a first-time Citra Award nominee for his committed portrayal of the late comedian Basuki in 2022's Srimulat: Hil yang Mustahal - Babak Pertama.
His foray into leading roles began with the titular role of Galang opposite Asmara Abigail and Kiki Narendra. The drama, set in the underground music scene, was awarded best Indonesian film at the 2022 BALIMAKĀRYA Film Festival, though the details regarding a possible theatrical release are still under wraps.
Another anticipated feature of Elang's is a film adaptation of the popular rom-com novel Sebuah Seni Untuk Memahami Kekasih.
Jourdy Pranata
Even though the 28-year-old actor had already made his mark on the Indonesian film industry with a minor role in the 2014 dramedy Aku, Kau & KUA, it took nearly eight years for him to finally showcase his acting chops – and bankability – as the country's next leading man courtesy of the 2022 box office hit Kukira Kau Rumah. He has refused to be a passenger on a commercial vehicle, though, as he has also proven himself a fervent champion of the indie film scene.
In October 2022, Jourdy became the festival ambassador for the second edition of Jakarta Film Week and started building a more layered filmography for himself with the Adriyanto Dewo-helmed One Night Stand opposite two-time Citra Award-winner Putri Marino.
With high-profile projects such as Balada Si Roy and the Netflix prequel to the 2020 family drama Nanti Kita Cerita Tentang Hari Ini on his horizon, it seems that the country's cinephiles will see a lot more of Jourdy Pranata in 2023.
Zoe Abbas Jackson
The 19-year-old actress and model seems poised to blossom this year. She might be known as a soap opera actress these days, but when the subscription video-on-demand platform STRO TV announced that the Jakarta native was set to play the late celebrity Nike Ardilla in an upcoming biographical series, it became clear that career-defining roles lay ahead.
Early information about the series hints at a somewhat ominous narrative, though time will tell whether Zoe's performance will reach the same league as the teen idol, who met an untimely death at the same age as the actress portraying her.
Zoe has also started taking a dip into the world of cinema, most recently with her leading role in 2022's Nariti, Romansa Danau Toba.
