HE IS MALAYSIA’S ON-SCREEN IT BOY AND SHE’S A FORCE OF NATURE IN FRONT OF THE CAMERAS. WE SPEAK TO THE ACTING DUO ABOUT BUILDING THEIR CAREERS AND STICKING TO THEIR GUNS THROUGH IT ALL.

Being two of Malaysia’s most beloved on-screen personalities, it’s no wonder Sean Lee and Rubini Sambanthan are naturals in front of the lens. They snap into “model mode” within a split second and work their way around one another, finessing angles, and facial expressions—all of these signs of seasoned talent. Armed with charm, aptitude, and unwavering passion, these two represent what it’s like to forge your own path in your careers. In a way, they embody exactly the kind of talent Chopard—a partner of the Cannes Film Festival since 1998—aims to discover in the filmmaking world: bold and creative.

Sean got his start in the industry before most of us could even fathom the concept of ambition. As a young boy, he got his first taste of acting with church plays, which sparked the beginning of his passion for the profession. “Working with actors from ‘The Footstool Players’ ensemble was the foundation for my acting career,” recalls Sean. “When I came into the industry, there was no specific class for me to follow, so this was my introduction to it.”

On the flip side, Rubini’s push into the acting world came as a surprise to the established model. While becoming an actress was always an aspiration of hers, she stumbled into this side of the industry rather unexpectedly. “In 2019, my manager, at the time, overheard me speaking in Bahasa Malaysia and asked if I was up to attend a casting,” explains Rubini. “So I went and got the part in my first series for Viu, called Devoted!”

Rubini’s aforementioned acumen in front of the camera can be attributed to her extensive experience as a model. Having been one for years before her acting career blossomed, Rubini was comfortable in her ways. However, to her, something was always missing. “I’ve always wanted to be on stage and acting was the one thing that was always in the back of my mind since I was a kid,” shares Rubini.

In fact, despite her rather unanticipated entrance into the film and TV world, Rubini’s time as a model helped cement her desire to give acting a go. “When I started modelling, I wanted to learn to be more expressive,” divulges Rubini, who exudes a bright and cheerful energy despite just wrapping our 12-hour long shoot day. “For models, sometimes we’re just a canvas for the brand, so acting has always been something I’ve wanted to do but hadn’t had the opportunity. Eventually, when I started my first series, I knew right then that acting was my thing.”

Getting a start in the industry is one thing, but wanting to carry on with this cutthroat profession is another. For Rubini, her endurance as an actress boils down to nothing but an undying drive to do more and better. “I’m always hoping for a bigger opportunity in the acting world,” she says as she fiddles with one of the three stunning Ice Cube rings on her fingers. “I feel like I have a lot more to give.”

MULTIFACETED TALENT

Sean has also been around cameras and productions for much of his career (and his life in general). When I asked about how he got his professional start in the industry, I knew I was in for a hefty storytime—and I was right. With his start in school and church plays, Sean’s career trajectory seemed to be aimed at the film and TV industry from the get-go. “To be honest, I was more of a theatre buff growing up,” chuckles Sean. “I studied film and theatre in college, where I was introduced to working with cameras.”

His time in school taught him the ins and outs of the world behind the scenes, prompting him to set up his own YouTube channel. “I started it to practise my filming and editing skills,” adds Sean. “At that time, there were a lot of YouTubers from the UK making it big, so I thought maybe I could do that in Malaysia.”

Sean eventually transitioned into appearing in front of the camera more regularly. “The Internet was changing at that time too,” reflects Sean. “There were apps like Vine and Musical.ly coming up around then, but I just stuck to Instagram.” Plus, by then, the young talent had already been scouted for commercials and making shorter, snappier videos was the only type of content he had time to produce. From there, he was on the path to stardom as the industry started recognising him with his undeniable and comedic charisma. Before he knew it, Sean was starring in several web series and landing jobs in mainstream dramas as well as movies.

A LIFE AROUND CAMERAS

Through our conversations, it’s clear that Sean and Rubini carry the weight of the world on their shoulders when on the job. Not only are both completely self-made success stories in their own right, but the duo have successfully broken into the Malay film and television landscape—a reward that didn’t come without its challenges.

While Rubini may have had a steady stream of jobs as a model and actress, she admits that it hasn’t been all that easy. “There are tons of competition for roles in general,” explains Rubini when discussing her biggest challenge. “Being Indian in a Malay-dominated industry, I constantly deal with a lack of opportunities or rejection. In my first role, I was extremely timid and unsure of what to do.”

Not to mention, scrutiny from the public eye is a beast that never sleeps. Yet, Rubini manages to keep her head high through it all. “I try to take criticism well because I believe it gives me the space to grow,” maintains the 33-year-old actress. “If I’m playing the role of an antagonist, and I get hate, then it all worked because my character got to them!”

“When I did my first big role for Astro, the audience started hating me on Twitter,” recounts Rubini with slight amusement on her face. “At first I was like, ‘Oh, was it bad?’ and then I realised I did my job right because I had to embody that character. So, it showed me that I can take the public’s opinion into account, but not too much. I have to remember not everything everyone says is right. I learned to judge and trust myself.”

NOTHING COMES EASY

For Sean, assimilating into the industry early in his career was also a learning curve. “I always wanted to be an actor, but my initial ambitions were very Americanised because of what I grew up watching,” Sean reveals. “I was attracted to the lifestyle that I was shown, but obviously, nothing turned out to be the same.”

On the topic of navigating what seems to be a public life, Sean appears to have his balance figured out. He puts a conscious effort into protecting his own privacy. For example, he just recently revealed his marriage to Bay Doucet after keeping eight years of dating under wraps. However, it took some years of learning the ropes of navigating the online waters.

“Once social media became a thing, it really affected the careers of actors,” shares the newlywed. “It got confusing when we were hired for jobs because we would ponder whether we were chosen for our talent or for the free publicity that came with it. Also, the constant need to make content to build my career burnt me out and I think I lost myself in it for a while.”

“Despite seeming like an extrovert, I’m also very much an introvert,” continues Sean. “I’m not the kind of artist that craves controversy or drama. I don’t want to be remembered that way and I don’t want to be the actor that got his break because of a certain scandal or story. I generally don’t want to give anyone anything to talk about. I try to just live in my own world and do my own thing in that sense.”

Despite their careers taking entirely different paths to get them to where they are today, the two stars can agree on the most important thing that has kept them committed to their jobs—themselves.

“As an actor, you’re trying to please so many parties,” starts Sean while adjusting the Ice Cube necklaces around his collar. “There are your fans, parents, directors, netizens, and the industry as a whole. However, being a people pleaser has its consequences and the only person who would face them is you. I saw that happening to myself, so I consciously slowed down with certain things—like social media—and consistently tried to keep myself calibrated on my acting path, reminding myself of what I’ve worked for since I was so young.”

STAYING STEADFAST

As cliché as it might sound, staying true to herself has been Rubini’s number one priority through the years and it seems to have paid off. Take it from me. At the time of our conversation, I had only known Rubini for the better part of 12 hours, but I could already see why her disposition had gotten her this far in her career. “From the beginning, I feel like my personality has stayed the same,” beams the starlet. “It might have cost me some opportunities—plus the fact that I don’t know how to suck up to people nor do I party—but I believe that your talent will speak for you.”

But what happens when the talent speaks too much? What do you do when opportunities arise that just don’t fit, whether it be you or your schedule? “Learn to say no,” affirms Sean. “I was certainly brought up with the mentality of taking every chance I could get, but simply never saying no made me question myself a lot more. It made me feel like I was working for others more than I was for myself.”

He elaborates by explaining that the roles aren’t just there as a job, but also as chapters in his career. “I had to learn to balance my priorities and stand up for myself when I feel like I’ve done a role that was too similar or feels like there’s no challenge that comes with a role. However, I’ve also learned to explain why I turn down roles. Each job helps with carving my career path. As we grow older, we lose the luxury of time, so every moment and job counts. It can be hard to explain to some, but I’m always thankful for those who understand and don’t tutup periuk nasi (close the door to opportunities).”

Similarly, Rubini has learned to draw boundaries when it comes to accepting roles and what she would do in them. Though, holding her own in this respect could sometimes end up being a double-edged sword. “I’ve got my own set of principles,” Rubini emphasises. “There is a set list of things that I don’t think I’d do as an actress, but I think that can also be my downfall. However, I am aware of that and it’s a constant fight between going against my principles and staying true to myself.”

Rubini’s quest to find balance in her career also extends into the realm of social media. “At the beginning of my career, I really felt like I needed it because it seemed like nobody knew of my existence in this acting world,” Rubini divulges. “It seemed like everything was being expressed on social media and it started to feel like a competition. But I didn’t want to compete, I just wanted to express myself and show an unseen side of me. To this day, I’m still trying to navigate things in this sense. I’m always pondering if I want to be reserved and be that actress or if I should really put myself out there.”

Ironically, as much as Sean and Rubini place importance on holding their own, there is still something that brings more joy to them than immersing themselves into the role of somebody else. I got a glimpse of this thrill as they dressed up in their different looks for our shoot, each paired with the Chopard’s Ice Cube Collection. With every ring and necklace added to their look, the two lit up as if they were ready to bring another character into action for the lens.

“Being somebody else and taking on their persona is one of my favourite parts about this job,” smiles Rubini. “Not everyone knows that some of the acts I put on are most likely based on my own experiences too. I usually look back at my encounters and bring parts of me into my character.”

“I genuinely love this job and the processes that go into it,” Sean expresses. “I enjoy embodying another character and being able to live like someone else for a short period of time. In a way, this job allows me to have a ton of jobs. Through my roles, I get to explore so many walks of life and listen to so many stories.”

A SENSE OF PURPOSE

As unpredictable as a career in this relentless industry can be, Sean and Rubini continue to be driven by the gratification their careers bring them. “Acting feeds the creative soul in me,” gushes Sean. “It makes me feel whole and like I have a purpose.” For Rubini, acting has given her fulfilment in ways she never thought possible. “Modeling was something I initially ventured into unexpectedly,” she reflects. “But acting has allowed me to learn so much about myself, like how I can channel my emotions and be smart with them.”

Before leaving our conversations, I asked both Sean and Rubini what words of encouragement they’d share with budding actors in the early stages of their careers. “There are many things we can’t control in our profession, but the one thing we can control is our reaction to things,” notes Sean. “So, go with the flow and manage your responses at the same time.” Rubini, meanwhile, went for the relatability factor. “Your story is going to be out there, inspiring other people with the same background. It will give other girls insight into what they could be.