Fauziah Abd Samad, a former entertainment journalist who found fame as an actress, has died at the age of 71. She passed away at her home in Kuang, Selangor, according to reports out of Kuala Lumpur. Malaysian audiences remember her above all for one role, Monalisa, in the much-loved drama Santan Berlada. That character became iconic and anchored her place in the country's drama scene. Before acting, she worked as an entertainment reporter, which gave her an insider's view of the industry she later joined as a performer. Few in the Malaysian screen world have made that particular switch from newsroom to studio. Her death closes off a career that spanned both sides of show business. Fans of Santan Berlada have been recalling her performance since the announcement broke.