26 Facts About Christine Hakim

Herlina Christine Natalia Hakim was born on 25 December 1956 and is an Indonesian actress, film producer, and activist.

Christine Hakim was born on 25 December 1956 in Kuala Tungkal, Jambi, and was raised in Yogyakarta, as the daughter of Oma Nurhadiaty and Christine Hakim Thahar.

Christine Hakim is of mixed descent, with her relatives coming from Padang, Aceh, Banten, Pekalongan, Madiun, and the Middle East; this caused her to question her identity as a child and teenager.

In 2023, Christine Hakim revealed that her given name was after a German missionary physician who helped her mother give birth to her in a remote area of Jambi.

Originally, Christine Hakim did not intend to be an actress, but an architect or psychologist.

Christine Hakim later described Karya as having "reeled [her] in, slowly, slowly, like a fisherman," and considered leaving acting after wrapping up filming.

Christine Hakim presented 14 Indonesian films at the Nantes Three Continents Festival in November 1983; she had acted in half of them.

One of these was Eros Djarot's 1988 film Tjoet Nja' Dhien, in which Christine Hakim was cast as Acehnese guerilla leader Cut Nyak Dhien.

Christine Hakim later described the role as a "huge honour" and "very challenging"; she has credited the role for answering her questions on her identity.

Christine Hakim screened her first work as a producer, Daun di Atas Bantal during Un Certain Regard at Cannes ten years later.

The film, which Christine Hakim co-produced and played the leading role, was screened at the Deauville Asian Film Festival.

In 2003, Christine Hakim began to work with RCTI and Metro TV on the TV show Untukmu Guru.

Five years later, Christine Hakim was selected Indonesia's voluntary goodwill ambassador for UNESCO; she has used the position to promote education, push for education reforms in Indonesia, and promote disaster relief programs in South-East Asia.

Christine Hakim met with the person her character was based on to prepare for her role.

That same year, Christine Hakim accepted a FIAPF Award for her "outstanding achievements"; she compared the award to Viagra, saying that it "make[s] [her] stronger to satisfy [audiences]".

Christine Hakim has made a documentary on the Indonesian UNESCO World Heritage Sites, and in 2011 produced a documentary on autism to "educate the public" that was released to coincide with World Autism Awareness Day.

Christine Hakim is considering making a fiction film based on their culture.

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

Christine Hakim later founded the Christine Hakim feature, a foundation to promote public education about autism.

Christine Hakim has urged the government to eliminate misconceptions regarding autism, calling the refusal to accept autistic students in public schools "a violation of human rights".

In 2000, Christine Hakim married Dutchman Jeroen Lezer, an actor, film sales director and writer.

Christine Hakim generally avoids discussing her personal life with the press and is unwilling to discuss topics that are not of public interest.

In 2009, Christine Hakim's father died due to hydronephrosis and several complications at the age of 79, and was buried at Tanah Kusir Cemetery.

Christine Hakim has been described as the "grande dame of Indonesian cinema" as well as "Indonesia's foremost actress".

Christine Hakim has received a lifetime achievement award at the Cinemanila International Film Festival.

Christine Hakim has refused a position on the Asia Pacific Screen Awards numerous times, due to being unable to reconcile her schedule with the awards.