Oka Antara born Nyoman Oka Wisnupada Antara; 8 July 1981 is an actor of Balinese descent. He is best known for starring in the films Sang Penari (2011), V/H/S/2 (2013), Killers (2014), and The Raid 2 (2014).
Life and career
Antara was born in Jakarta on 8 July 1981. He is of Balinese descent. Antara made his film debut in 2005 with Gue Kapok Jatuh Cinta (I Give Up on Falling in Love). One of the film’s directors, Thomas Nawilis, asked him to write the film’s soundtrack; Antara did so, and sang a duet with Sabria Kono entitled “So Special” for the film. After the film’s success, Antara continued acting. In 2006 he played in Dunia Mereka (Their World), and the following year he was in Hantu (Ghost).
In 2008 he played Syaiful in Ayat-Ayat Cinta (Verses of Love), a film by Hanung Bramantyo; the part earned him a Citra Award nomination at the Indonesian Film Festival. The following year he appeared in another Bramantyo film, Perempuan Berkalung Sorban (Woman with a Turban); he considered the script very interesting, citing it as his reason for joining the cast. This role earned him an award for Best Supporting Actor at the 2009 Bandung Film Festival. That same year he played a Presidential Protection Squad member in Queen Bee, directed by Fajar Nugroho. For the role, he studied the squad’s role from books and took training from a real-life member.
Antara earned another Best Actor award, this time at the Indonesian Movie Awards, for his role in 2010’s Hari Untuk Amanda (Days for Amanda), which garnered him a nomination for the Citra Award for Best Leading Actor. Afterwards, the newspaper Kompas reported that he was taking a break from acting to write a film scenario.
In 2011, Antara was approached by producer Shanty Harmayn for the leading role of Rasus in Ifa Isfansyah’s film Sang Penari (The Dancer). In preparing for the role as a malnourished young man, Antara cut back on his food intake; he later splurged when he had to play Rasus as a soldier. His acting in the role led to a Citra Award nomination for Best Actor, although he lost to Emir Mahira of Rumah Tanpa Jendela (House Without Windows).
Personal life
On 7 July 2008, Oka married Rara Wiritanaya, a TV presenter from Bali. They held a private wedding ceremony at home in Karangasem, Bali. The couple have 3 children.
Filmography
Film
| Year | Title | Role | Director(s) | Notes | Refs. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006 | Gue Kapok Jatuh Cinta (I Give Up on Falling in Love) |
David Harris | Awi Suryadi, Thomas Nawilis |
||
| 2006 | Dunia Mereka (Their World) |
Rio | Lasja Fauzia Susatyo | ||
| 2007 | Hantu (Ghost) |
Galih | Adrianto Sinaga | ||
| 2008 | Best Friend? | Molly’s mother boyfriend | Fajar BGT | ||
| 2008 | The Shaman | Doctor Rian | Raditya Sidharta | ||
| 2008 | Ayat-Ayat Cinta (Verses of Love) |
Saiful | Hanung Bramantyo | ||
| 2008 | Doa yang Mengancam (A Threatening Prayer) |
Bodyguard | Hanung Bramantyo | ||
| 2008 | Kick ‘n Love | Budi | Dennis Adhiswara, Heru Effendi |
||
| 2009 | Perempuan Berkalung Sorban (Woman with a Turban) |
Khudori | Hanung Bramantyo | ||
| 2009 | Queen Bee | Secret Service | Fajar Nugros | ||
| 2010 | Hari Untuk Amanda (Days for Amanda) |
Hari Ananda | Angga Dwimas Sasongko | ||
| 2011 | Sang Penari (The Dancer) |
Rasus | Ifa Isfansyah | ||
| 2013 | V/H/S/2 | Malik | Timo Tjahjanto, Gareth Evans |
Safe Haven segment | |
| 2014 | Killers | Bayu Aditya | Kimo Stamboel, Timo Tjahjanto |
||
| 2014 | The Raid 2 | Eka | Gareth Evans | ||
| 2015 | Mencari Hilal (Looking for Hilal) |
Heli | Ismail Basbeth | ||
| 2016 | Petualangan Singa Pemberani Atlantos (The Adventure of the Brave Lion of Atlantos) |
General Khan | Lee Croudy | Voice over | |
| 2016 | Departures | Ezra Mahendra | Jorik Dozy | Short film | |
| 2017 | Moammar Emka’s Jakarta Undercover | Pras | Fajar Nugros | ||
| 2018 | Aruna Dan Lidahnya | Farish | Edwin | ||
| 2019 | Foxtrot Six | Angga/LT | Randy Korompis |
Television
| Year | Title | Role | Network | Notes | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2007 | Dewa Asmara (Cupid) |
Pinot | SCTV | ||
| 2007 | Cinta Bunga (Bunga’s Love) |
Arman | SCTV | ||
| 2008 | Cinta Fitri Season 2 (Fitri’s Love Season 2) |
N/A | RCTI | ||
| 2008 | Yasmin | N/A | RCTI | ||
| 2009 | Manohara | Rico | RCTI | ||
| 2013 | Kami Bukan Malaikat (We are not Angels) |
Fadil | MNCTV | ||
| 2013 | Putri Nomer Satu (Princess Number One) |
Bara | RCTI | ||
| 2014 | Catatan Hati Seorang Istri (A Wife’s Heart Note) |
Rudolft | RCTI | ||
| 2014 | Keluarga Garuda di Dadaku (Family of Garuda in My Chest) |
Johan | RCTI | ||
| 2015 | OK-JEK | Iqbal | NET TV |
Music video appearances
| Year | Title | Artist | Notes | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2015 | “Jatuh Hati” (“Falling in Love”) |
Raisa | ||
| 2015 | “Tak Seimbang” (featuring Iwan Fals) (“Unbalanced”) |
Geisha |
Awards and nominations
| Year | Organisation | Award | Recipients | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2008 | Indonesian Film Festival | Citra Award for Best Supporting Actor | The Verses of Love | Nominated |
| 2009 | Bandung Film Festival | Best Supporting Actor | Woman with a Turban | Won |
| 2010 | Indonesian Movie Awards | Best Supporting Actor | Queen Bee | Nominated |
| Best Actor | Hari untuk Amanda | Nominated | ||
| Best Chemistry (with Fanny Fabriana) | Nominated | |||
| Favorite Actor | Won | |||
| Favorite Chemistry (with Fanny Fabriana) | Nominated | |||
| 2012 | Best Actor | Sang Penari | Nominated | |
| Best Chemistry (with Prisia Nasution) | Nominated | |||
| Favorite Actor | Nominated | |||
| 2014 | Best Chemistry (with Kazuki Kitamura) | Killers | Nominated | |
| 2015 | Indonesian Film Festival | Citra Award for Best Supporting Actor | Mencari Hilal | Nominated |
| Maya Awards | Best Actor in a Supporting Role | Nominated | ||
| 2016 | Indonesian Movie Awards | Best Supporting Actor | Nominated | |
| Best Chemistry (with Deddy Sutomo) | Won | |||
| Favorite Supporting Actor | Nominated | |||
| Dahsyatnya Awards | Outstanding Role in VideoClip | “Jatuh Hati” | Won | |
| 2018 | Indonesian Film Festival | Citra Award for Best Leading Actor | Aruna dan Lidahnya | Nominated |