Whether it was a riveting gaze during takes that suggested focus, a quizzical look stemming from a confusing question or an “eye-smile” kindled from a happy memory, a twinkle emanates from Salif Hardie’s eyes even when it merely catches the faintest of lights.
“As an actor, I look up to Cillian Murphy a lot,” quips Hardie of his admiration for the Irishman’s portrayal of Thomas Shelby in Peaky Blinders. “A lot of his acting stems from his eyes and one day I hope to capture the hearts of people one day.”
“Crying on cue however is not my big talent even though that is something I learnt to do as an actor,” remarks the 27, going on 28-year old actor. “When a director says you have to cry, then you have to. Tears are a byproduct of what you’re feeling inside and the best acting is not about the tears but what the actor is going through that brings him to tears. That is way more powerful.”
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Salif Hardie is wearing Bvlgari B.Zero1 necklace in white gold, B.Zero1 necklaces in pink gold and black ceramic, B.Zero1 bracelet in pink gold and black ceramic; Hermès Wool sweater, cotton pants
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Born as the eldest of three children and of Australian and Malay descent; much of Hardie’s artistic influences stemmed from a young age, nourished by weekend trips to concerts and theatre plays with his mother and siblings, and his parents’ musical inclinations. Hardie counts Breaking Bad and Dance Gavin Dance as his favourite screenplays and music bands respectively.
“My mom has a world-music type of taste so I listen to virtually all genres [of music]. My dad is a percussionist and that shaped my current favourite genre which is post-hardcore. It’s a version of screamo with melodic singing, layered guitar tunes with very elaborate and exciting drum beats.”
Playing pretend and acting out scenes at the beach with his little brother and sister while they were kids set the wheels in motion for the young thespian. “I’d let my imagination run wild and got in touch with that side [acting] of mine. I guess that’s where it all started,” recalls Hardie of his favourite childhood memory. University education in acting beckoned much later for Hardie who recently signed on with Fly Entertainment, a Singapore based entertainment agency.
Though Hardie’s stint with Fly Entertainment is still relatively short, seeing fellow actor and colleague Andrew Lua encouraged him a great deal. “I met Andrew when I was 15 on the set of Kids Central. Seeing Andrew, all grown up but starting [acting] because he wanted and loved doing it inspired me a great deal. I remember seeing each other and exclaiming ‘look where we’re at [Fly] now!’”
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Salif Hardie is wearing Bvlgari B.Zero1 necklace in yellow gold with pave diamonds, B.Zero1 necklace in pink gold and black ceramic; Saint Laurent Silk satin jacquard jacket, cotton blend polo shirt
These days, Hardie shuttles between various projects including an undisclosed pilot, a Malay MeWatch drama, Dear Internet by Clicknetwork, a two-year-long theatrical experience due to start in Little India and long-standing drama Kin whom he portrays as Dr Ashraff.
“Dr Ashraff and I are pretty different, I’ve had my fair share of humbling moments while he’s still waiting for his. [Laughs] He can be a prick and full of himself at times but he’s very good at his job and is at the top of his game.”
“I’m very quiet on set, especially at the beginning. I’m very focused on my job and I think that rubs people the wrong way, they might think I’m arrogant but they come to realise later on it’s me being focused.”
Hardie’s dedication and hard work have paid off so far, earning him a nomination for most promising actor in the 2021’s edition of Pesta Perdana. “These accolades tell you you’re moving in the right direction and that people recognise the work that you’re putting in,” shares Hardie. “It encourages us and plays a big part in our development.”
“My mother continues to be my biggest source of validation for sure. She inspires me every day with the way that she loves life and people, and that’s something that rubs off me. These values she has are the most important to have in life and I hold them very close to me.”
This brings us to a quote or rather a song title on Hardie’s Instagram biography — “Share the Sunshine Young Blood” by Emarosa. “The lyrics resonated with me ever since I first heard it. It’s so poetic, about being with the community, not trying to be alone and sharing love and joy,” Hardie pointed out earnestly. “That’s a motto I live by — keep my family and people I love around me, always be giving and not always looking to take.”
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Salif Hardie is wearing Bvlgari B.Zero1 necklaces in pink gold and black ceramic, B.Zero1 necklace in pink gold; Ermenegildo Zegna XXX #UTE* wool jacket, wool shirt; *#UTE is short for #UsetheExisting: recycled or repurposed wool
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Being a young artiste in Singapore is never easy and is an issue that Men’s Folio has chronicled in numerous issues and articles. The struggles are unique across individuals but the crux remains the same. A lack of support, job security and being viewed as outliers are just the tip of the iceberg for individuals like Hardie who risk it all in the name of art.
“The struggles we artistes — not just actors — go through stem from the fact that there’s a lot of focus away from the arts as a country. People are telling you it’s not stable, it’s not the best industry to be in and this pushes you to work hard and to go for it. Kudos to all artistes in Singapore who are still trying to make their art form and live their lives no matter what the environment is.”
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Salif Hardie is wearing Bvlgari B.Zero1necklace in yellow gold with pave diamonds, B.Zero1 Necklace in pink gold and black ceramic; Prada Re-Nylon jacket, cotton shirt, re-nylon pants
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As the creative talent pool gets richer with each passing day, competition invariably stiffens. The upside is a stronger representation of the arts in our community but the downsides are potentially damaging as well. Unwanted pressure to perform and lack of confidence are two issues that spring to the top of the mind.
“One thing that we tend to do a lot is to compare ourselves with others. That’s very natural but I feel it’s very important to learn not to compare yourself with others. Trust that whatever you have, it is your unique truth and it is a strength. Have a good plan for yourself, know what you want to achieve, work hard and let the rest sort itself out.”
“One piece of advice that I have for young talents is to learn to love yourself. It’s important to develop that sense within yourself no matter what you want to do — whether as a creative or not. Find where your passions lie, what you want to do and go for it, even if it’s just a hobby.”
“With the way the world is currently, we’re pressured to be this or that, are told what it means to be successful and this is what it takes. You’ve to remember that we are not meant to be like this. We can only ever be ourselves. Remember that you’re special and there’s something inside you that is invaluable. Find it and love it.”
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Salif Hardie is wearing Bvlgari B.Zero1 necklace in yellow gold with pave diamonds, B.Zero1 necklace in pink gold, B.Zero1 necklace in pink gold and black ceramic; Versace Wool jacket, wool pants; Ermenegildo Zegna XXX Leather boots
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With great uncertainty each passing day brings, comes great distress felt by communities. Environmental conservation progress took a battering with the recent surge in cryptocurrency mining while social issues took a turn for the worse with the recent anti-Asian violence. Hardie weighs in on his ideal future with love and joy as the tonic to our problems.
“I always wish for love and joy, that humanity finds that again. With the way the world is going on environmentally, politically and all, I feel we should be moving forward and not back given the times we live in currently.”
“I hope that we continue to reach out and take down these barriers that set us apart instead of going into ourselves. That’s going to help us realise that we are more than just the colour of our skin and that we can take care of the Earth.”
At the digital end of the spectrum, we continue to wade deeper into the Age of Experience. Computer generated perceptual information across visual, auditory, haptic, somatosensory and olfactory are gaining mainstream acceptance across industries and communities. This in turn has shaped future creative landscapes and the way the next generation of creatives engage with others.
“I’ve been spending a lot of time developing my social image and learning how to express myself honestly. That way people can feel safe when they talk to me. It’s about using these platforms to educate and inspire.”
“With social media, we can communicate with virtually anyone. It has made us more connected and aware of various issues these days that we have no excuses to not be aware of such topics.”
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Salif Hardie is wearing Bvlgari B.Zero1 Necklaces in pink gold and black ceramic, B.Zero1 Necklace in pink gold; Fendi Vertigo Hermès Wool coat Nylon jacket, wool T-shirt
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“This is where our responsibility comes into play and it’s a lot greater for my generation. We have the opportunity and luxury to pursue our passions and dreams while our parents and grandparents forgo theirs to build this wonderful country we live in. It is on us to keep their dreams going — to develop, create and keep fighting. Do return and give back to society if you ever thought of leaving Singapore to gain exposure because I believe we have the potential to be a vibrant scene like New York’s or London’s.”
As we continue to find our feet amidst the disruptions 2020 has caused, we should not take early signs of recovery for granted and as an absolute in light of the volatility of the pandemic crisis. Hardie was poignant but quietly optimistic for the year. “We’ve gone through a lot and it has left us [artistes] in a position where we feel low and that maybe we don’t have much of a place now,” highlights Hardie. “I hope we can find that confidence and drive, and to get back into the flow of things again. Also, I hope we as a community of artistes find our stride again, and solidify our places in society and feel like we belong.”
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Photography Mun Kong
Art Direction Izwan Abdullah
Styling Bryan Goh
Grooming & Hair Sha Shamsi & Fadli Rahman | makeupartistinc using Chanel Boy de Chanel and Keune Haircosmetics
Styling Assistant Manfred Lu
Photography Assistant Melvin Leong
This story about Salif Hardie first appeared in the May ’21 issue of Men’s Folio Singapore.
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