Christine Hakim facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Christine Hakim
Hakim in 2012
Born	Herlina Christine Natalia Hakim (1956-12-25) 25 December 1956 (age 68) Kuala Tungkal, Jambi, Indonesia
Occupation	Actress, producer, activist
Years active	1973–present
Notable work	Cinta Pertama Badai Pasti Berlalu Eat Pray Love
Spouse(s)	Jeroen Lezer ​ (m. 2000)​
Children	1
Awards	9 Citra Awards

Herlina Christine Natalia Hakim (born December 25, 1956) is a well-known Indonesian actress, film producer, and activist. She was born in Jambi, Indonesia. Christine grew up in Yogyakarta. She first dreamed of becoming an architect or a psychologist.

However, her path changed in 1973. Director Teguh Karya discovered her for his movie Cinta Pertama. This role won her a Citra Award for Best Actress. This award convinced her to become an actress. Since then, she has starred in many films. These include Badai Pasti Berlalu (1977) and Tjoet Nja' Dhien (1988). She also had a small part in the 2010 Hollywood movie Eat Pray Love.

As of 2011, Christine Hakim has won six Citra Awards. She also received a special lifetime achievement award. She has even been a judge at the famous Cannes Film Festival. In 1998, she started working as a producer. She produced films like Daun di Atas Bantal and Pasir Berbisik. She also makes documentaries. Christine is an activist for education and helping people with autism. Since 2008, she has been Indonesia's goodwill ambassador for UNESCO. She focuses on education issues in this role.

Christine Hakim's Life Story

Christine Hakim was born on December 25, 1956, in Kuala Tungkal, Jambi. She was raised in Yogyakarta. Her parents were Oma Nurhadiaty and Hakim Thahar. Her family has roots from many different places in Indonesia and the Middle East. Even though her parents were devout Muslims, they named her Christine and Natalia. This was because she was born on Christmas Day. In 2023, Christine shared that her name came from a German doctor. This doctor helped her mother give birth in a remote area.

Becoming an Actress

Christine Hakim did not plan to be an actress at first. She wanted to be an architect or a psychologist. But director Teguh Karya saw her pictures in a magazine. He then cast her in his 1973 film Cinta Pertama. She was only modeling to help a friend. She did not want to act. But she could not say no to Karya. She found him to be a "warm and friendly" person. She later said Karya "reeled [her] in, slowly, slowly, like a fisherman." She even thought about quitting acting after the movie.

But her work in Cinta Pertama earned her a Citra Award for Best Actress. This award made her decide to continue acting. The next year, she starred in another Karya film, Kawin Lari (Elope). This experience helped her understand acting better. She felt it made her "see life from a different perspective."

Early Film Successes

After Kawin Lari, Christine starred in Sesuatu yang Indah (Something Beautiful) in 1976. This film was directed by Wim Umboh. Sesuatu yang Indah was the first movie where Christine used her own voice. Before this, her voice was often dubbed by another actress, Titi Qadarsih. People thought Christine's own voice was "too heavy." The next year, she starred in Badai Pasti Berlalu. She appeared on the movie poster and the soundtrack album cover.

Christine Hakim signing autographs at the 1982 Indonesian Film Festival

In November 1983, Christine presented 14 Indonesian films. This was at the Nantes Three Continents Festival. She had acted in half of these films. Two years later, she attended the Cannes Film Festival. There, she started working with Pierre Risient. He later helped her bring her films to Cannes.

One of these films was Eros Djarot's 1988 movie Tjoet Nja' Dhien. In this film, Christine played Acehnese guerilla leader Cut Nyak Dhien. The movie won an award at the 1989 Cannes Film Festival. It was screened in Le Semaine de Critique. Christine said this role was a "huge honour" and "very challenging." She felt this role helped her understand her own identity. The film was also sent to the 62nd Academy Awards. It was Indonesia's entry for the Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film.

Producing and International Roles

Ten years later, Christine showed her first film as a producer. It was Daun di Atas Bantal (Leaf on a Pillow). This film was shown at Cannes during Un Certain Regard. When making this film, she chose a young director named Garin Nugroho. She believed he was very talented. Christine also played the main role in the film.

Another film she produced was Pasir Berbisik (Whispering Sands) in 2001. This film went much more smoothly. Christine co-produced this movie and played the main role. It was shown at the Deauville Asian Film Festival. The next year, she was chosen to be a judge at the Cannes Film Festival. She judged alongside Michelle Yeoh. In 2005, she received a special honor at the 7th Deauville Asian Film Festival.

In 2003, Christine started working on a TV show. It was called Untukmu Guru (For You, Teacher). This show was with RCTI and Metro TV. Five years later, Christine became Indonesia's voluntary goodwill ambassador for UNESCO. She uses this role to promote education. She also works to improve education in Indonesia. She helps with disaster relief programs in Southeast Asia.

Christine's first Hollywood experience was in 2010. She played Wayan in Eat Pray Love. Wayan was a Balinese jamu seller. Christine acted alongside Julia Roberts in the movie. She arrived in Bali three days before filming. She quickly read the script and got ready for her role. She also met the real person her character was based on.

Christine is also a documentary filmmaker. She has made a documentary about Indonesia's UNESCO World Heritage Sites. In 2011, she produced a documentary about autism. This film was made to "educate the public." It was released on World Autism Awareness Day. As of May 2011, she was making a documentary about the Dayak people of Kalimantan. She is also thinking about making a fiction film based on their culture.

In 2020, Christine Hakim won a Citra Award for Best Supporting Actress. This was for her role in Joko Anwar's horror film Impetigore. This was Christine Hakim's first horror film.

Activism and Helping Others

Christine Hakim became an activist in the early 2000s. She focuses on education. After the 2004 Indian Ocean earthquake and tsunami, she went on many trips to Aceh. She helped people there. She later started the Christine Hakim foundation. This foundation helps teach the public about autism. She has asked the government to correct wrong ideas about autism. She believes that not accepting autistic students in public schools is "a violation of human rights."

Personal Life

In 2000, Christine Hakim married Dutchman Jeroen Lezer. He is an actor, film sales director, and writer. They live in Cibubur, East Jakarta. Christine's mother and daughter, Shena, also live with them. Their home is described as a "lush secret garden."

Legacy and Recognition

Christine Hakim is often called the "grande dame of Indonesian cinema." She is also known as "Indonesia’s foremost actress." She has received a lifetime achievement award. This award was given at the Cinemanila International Film Festival. Christine has been asked many times to be on the jury for the Asia Pacific Screen Awards. However, she has not been able to due to her busy schedule.

Filmography

• Cinta Pertama (First Love; 1973)
• Atheis (Atheist; 1974)
• Ranjang Pengantin (Wedding Bed; 1974)
• Kawin Lari (Elope; 1975)
• Si Doel Anak Modern (Doel the Modern Child; 1976)
• Hapuslah Airmata Mu (Shed Your Tears; 1976)
• Sesuatu yang Indah (Something Beautiful; 1977)
• Badai Pasti Berlalu (The Storm Will Surely Pass; 1977)
• Petualang-Petualang (Wanderers; 1977)
• Pengemis dan Tukang Becak (The Beggar and the Pedicab Driver; 1978)
• Dr. Siti Pertiwi (1980)
• Seputih Hatinya, Semerah Bibirnya (As White as the Heart, as Red as the Lips; 1982)
• Di Balik Kelambu (Behind the Screen; 1982)
• Ponirah Terpidana (Ponirah is Convicted; 1984)
• Kerikil-Kerikil Tajam (Sharp Pebbles; 1984)
• Tjoet Nja' Dhien (1988)
• Sleeping Man (1996)
• De Gordel van Smaragd - Netherlands (1997) (The Tropic of Emerald; 1997)
• Daun di Atas Bantal (Leaf on a Pillow; 1998)
• Pasir Berbisik (Whispering Sands; 2001)
• Puteri Gunung Ledang (Princess of Mount Ledang, 2004)
• Merantau (Find Oneself; 2009)
• Jamila dan Sang Presiden (Jamila and the President; 2009)
• Eat Pray Love (2010)
• Sang Kiai (2013) (The Clerics; 2013)
• Pendekar Tongkat Emas (2014) (The Golden Cane Warrior; 2014)
• De Reis - Netherlands (Short) (2014) (The Journey; 2014)
• Guru Bangsa HOS Tjokroaminoto (2014) (HOS Tjokroaminoto: Teacher of the People; 2014)
• Ibu Maafkan Aku (2016)
• Boven Digoel (2016)
• Kartini (2017)
• Perias Mayat (2017)
• Dancing in the Rain (2018)
• Impetigore (2019)
• A Perfect Fit (2021)
• Sri Asih (2022)
• The Last of Us (episode "Infected") (2023)
• Sara (2023)
• Grave Torture (2024)

Awards and Nominations