{
  "id": 19582308,
  "title": "#SHOWBIZ: Jo Kukathas goes beyond language and limits",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/11/12/showbiz-jo-kukathas-goes-beyond-language-and-limits",
  "topic": "culture",
  "section": "Culture",
  "published": "2026-11-12T01:28:50.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "New Straits Times",
    "slug": "new-straits-times",
    "url": "https://www.nst.com.my/lifestyle/groove/2026/11/1575891/showbiz-jo-kukathas-goes-beyond-language-and-limits"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Renowned actress Jo Kukathas' role in Sayang Sayang transcends the boundaries of mere film credit. Trapped in delays and funding challenges for nearly a decade, the role finally found her in Peninsular Malaysia's east coast. The story first caught her attention ten years ago when a woman running a school for deaf children inspired her. Taiwanese director Tang Hsiang-chu later brought the project to life, and Jo, without an audition, was cast as Nancy, a character who runs a charity home and speaks Tamil. Jo, who does not speak Tamil, learned the basics with the help of a Tamil teacher and an actor, even though she had never spoken the language before. She also shaved her head for the film's scene, feeling liberated and finding the experience liberating. Jo's character, Nancy, returns to her hometown to start a sign language class with her deaf teenage son, Ajay, and befriends two deaf girls, Mina and San San, whose lives are shaped by family and societal expectations. The Malaysian-Taiwanese co-production has earned five nominations at the upcoming Golden Horse Awards. Jo remains active in theatre, directing and performing in Mandarin, Cantonese, English and Bahasa Malaysia, and has started teaching acting and directing at Taylor's University. She continues to embrace unfamiliar territory, as seen in Sayang Sayang, which brought a long-awaited character to life and highlighted the rewarding nature of long-awaited roles.",
  "summary": "FOR renowned thespian Jo Kukathas, ‘Sayang Sayang’ is more than just another film credit.",
  "key_points": [
    "Jo Kukathas played Nancy in Sayang Sayang, a Tamil-speaking character.",
    "Jo learned Tamil basics for the role, shaving her head for the film.",
    "The Malaysian-Taiwanese film earned five Golden Horse Award nominations."
  ],
  "editors_take": "Kukathas’s commitment to learning a new language and physical transformation underscores a career dedicated to breaking cultural barriers through immersive, cross-border cinematic collaborations.",
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}