6-4-2024 (KUALA LUMPUR) From the bustling streets of Petaling Jaya to the glittering lights of Hollywood, Malaysian actress Tasha Lim’s career is taking an exhilarating trajectory. Fresh off the success of her first fantasy film, Damsel, the 25-year-old is quickly becoming a rising star in the realm of fantastical storytelling.
Lim’s journey into the world of acting began at the tender age of four when she followed in the footsteps of her mother and grandfather, embarking on a path of dance and performance. “Performance was always my strong suit. Whenever I danced, people would say that I really enjoyed playing my part as a dancer.”
After receiving her primary education at SJKC Puay Chai and secondary education at Alice Smith School, where she attended her first drama class, Lim’s passion for acting blossomed. At the age of 14, she took adult acting classes at Enfiniti Academy, honing her craft under the guidance of theatre veterans Tiara Jacquelina and Joanna Bessey.
Encouraged by her drama teacher, Lim auditioned for and gained admission to the prestigious Royal Central School of Speech and Drama in the United Kingdom in 2017. Despite graduating during the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, Lim had already signed with a talent agency and landed her first role in an episode of the world’s longest-running medical drama series, Casualty.
While her smooth-sailing journey hit a temporary stumbling block when her debut scene was cut due to the pandemic’s impact on production schedules, Lim remained resilient. “I learned to process the loss, pick myself up and keep auditioning. Consistency is key in this industry,” she shared.
Lim’s perseverance paid off as she made her mark in various projects, including the Hallmark Channel original movie Caribbean Summer (2022), where she played a New York-based assistant journalist. Her talent shone through in sensational films like Saltburn (2023) and Damsel (2024), as well as television series such as The Canterville Ghost, The Power, and Significant Other.
Describing her role in Damsel as a “dream come true,” Lim drew inspiration from her childhood memories of playing princess for her brief yet pivotal appearance as the third bride of Prince Henry (Nick Robinson), who was saved from being sacrificed to a dragon by Elodie (Millie Bobby Brown).
“The costume, hair and make-up helped me to hold my character, and her backstory further solidified the character. I thought to myself, if I was a child playing a damsel in distress with castles and dragons, what would I do? And, I drew inspiration from there,” she explained.
With her next project, Afghan Dreamers, directed by two-time Oscar winner Bill Guttentag, Lim will portray a news reporter in a film inspired by the true story of the first all-girls robotics team from Afghanistan.
As her star continues to rise, Lim hopes to land more substantial roles, particularly in the fantasy genre she has come to love. “Eventually, I want to get more stories from Malaysia heard and seen,” she shared, expressing her desire to bring her homeland’s tales to a global audience.
