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Actors Nadiah M Din and Erwin Shah Dawson can't get away from each other

Nadiah M Din and Erwin Shah Dawson are the cutest couple on TV. And they just can’t seem to get rid of each other.

Nadiah M Din and Erwin Shah Dawson are the cutest couple on TV. And they just can’t seem to get rid of each other.

The BFFs will be back for the second season of the MediaCorp TV Channel 5 drama Mata Mata, in which they play police officers Hani and Sadeeq. The new season shifts the action into the ’70s and they are now married and expecting a child.

“A lot of people liked us as a couple — I think that’s why they made us husband and wife in Season Two,” laughed 24-year-old Nadiah.

Coincidentally, she and Erwin became close friends after playing a couple in the highly successful 2012 MediaCorp TV Suria series, Anak Metropolitan 3. Their chemistry was inescapable.

“Now, it’s funny because for all my photo shoots, when I ask, ‘Who am I with?’ ‘You’re with Erwin.’ I go to castings: ‘Who’s my boyfriend?’ ‘Oh, it’s Erwin.’ I’m like, ‘Why is everything with him now’?” she said.

Erwin, 25, chalks this up to physical compatibility. “We’re pretty much known as the a** couple,” he chipped in. “Particularly her, lah, but people started to notice that I’ve also got a big butt. In fact, there was one scene in last season’s Mata Mata when I had to open the door and rush out. I opened the door, stretched out my leg — rip! — my pants had torn and everyone was laughing.”

 

BEST FRIENDSTERS

 

These bosom “butt-ies” go way back — to the days when Friendster was the social media in-thing.

“I don’t think teenagers today would know what that is,” said Erwin, who had taken the initiative to send her a message. “You know how it works in social media — you see a girl and a lot of guys will try to go after her. I was one of the many. I didn’t know she was an actress.”

The first time they met in person has an indelible memory for Nadiah. “It was at the underground tunnel on Orchard Road, between Tangs and Shaw House. I heard someone call my name,” she said. “I was like, ‘Hi. You are ... ?’”

“Because she had so many guys wanting her back then,” Erwin interjected.

“We were both slightly chubbier —but he still found me attractive,” Nadiah giggled.

As fate would have had it, they kept kept “bumping into each other in weird places”, such as on MRT platforms.

“And I was with a different girl every time,” Erwin added.

Their friendship solidified on the set of Anak Metropolitan 3, leading to speculation about their relationship. “Some of my friends asked me, ‘Do you have anything going on with her?’” said Erwin. “I said, ‘No lah. Even though we’re close, we don’t even go out. We’re close only when we meet on set’. (But) even my girlfriend has said I look compatible with her — and more than once!”

The chums know each other so well that “if we’re in a group and something weird or funny happens, we’ll have this telepathy, like, ‘I know what you’re thinking’”, Nadiah said.

“She laughs a lot,” Erwin said. “The moment she starts, you’ll have to wait five or 10 minutes. And the more you ask her what’s wrong, the more she’ll laugh.”

“I really don’t know why I laugh,” said Nadiah. “Once, I was laughing until I was tearing ... and it’s really horrible as an actor — the pressure of people waiting for you to stop laughing and start acting.”

“Sometimes I wonder if she’s sane,” Erwin said.

Nadiah shot back: “He likes to come on set sniffling, with a super stoned look, as if he’s on drugs.”

Erwin burst out laughing. “Some people think I’m on drugs. But I’m not — I have sinuses, lah!”

 

GOING PLACES

 

Their easy rapport belies the fact that things are really taking off for these two. Nadiah plans to be involved in more work across the Causeway and, having earned the interest of an Italian director, will be heading to Verona in September, to play one of three leading ladies in the movie, Le Badanti (The Caregivers).

“I’m taking up Italian now,” she said. “It’s very tough but I’m blessed with a good memory.”

Meanwhile, she can be seen in the telemovie, Raya Sempurna, which airs on July 27 at 8.30pm on Suria. She is also busy with rehearsals for the Malay-language play, Wanita, which will run from Aug 28 to 30 at the Esplanade. Nadiah also features in a supporting role in the musical film Sinaran: The Movie, starring Malaysia’s Lisa Surihani and Indonesia’s Evan Sanders. Directed by Ombak Rindu’s Osman Ali, the movie is slated for a December release.

On his part, Erwin is going to Malaysia next month to film the movie, Warna Cinta Impian. But though his career is blossoming, the Anugerah Skrin 2010 winner shared that he is at a crossroads in life.

“I’m considering not pursuing acting. I’m considering spirituality, maybe,” he said. “(For) personal reasons, I feel like I might not want to pursue media full-time any more. Initially, my plan was to go all out in Malaysia. But now, I’m not too sure if that’s what’s going to bring me happiness. I mean, I am happy (when I’m) acting. I am definitely passionate about what I do. It’s just that I’m still deciding whether I want to do it all out or here and there. I don’t think I’ll be here for the long run until I’m old.”

Right now, though, both stars are taking some much-needed time away from working this Ramadan.

“For now, I really just want to relax during the fasting month,” Erwin said.

Nadiah agreed: “There’s no filming at the moment, which is good — it’s what I need.”

 

The second season of Mata Mata starts on Sept 1 at 8pm on MediaCorp TV Channel 5.

 

 

CREDITS

Photography: Jason Ho

Hair and makeup: Joanna Ang, Sono Bello (96953772) using Make Up For Ever

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