“They didn’t even know who I was”: Indonesian star Agnez Mo on landing Reacher purely on merit

Agnez Mo, who was previously known as Agnes Monica, has never really done things by the clock. Her Madame Tussauds figure was meant to make its debut earlier than planned, but like much of the world in the pandemic years, timelines shifted. When it finally happened in 2022, it felt less like a delayed unveiling and more like a moment that arrived exactly when it was meant to. 

For the unacquainted, the multi-talented star has been in the entertainment industry for years. As a matter of fact, she released her first album when she was just six years old (which honestly sounds like an impressive feat for anyone of that age). A singer, songwriter, and actress, she later transformed into one of the most popular pop icons in the 2000s in Indonesia, and was also recognised as the most-awarded Indonesian artist in history. To add to her resume, the singer has also collaborated with other heavyweights in the industry including the likes of Chris Brown, Timbaland, and T.I., just to name a few. 

Now, back in Singapore after spending months in Toronto filming the hit series Reacher, the Indonesian superstar returns with the same mix of ease, gratitude and quiet confidence that has defined her career. Between reuniting with her wax twin, reconnecting with her AgNation, and ticking off a very Singaporean food list, Agnez opens up about her fans, evolution, and what 2026 holds, including a return to acting. 

Coming back to Singapore 

Agnez shares that many of her fans knew she had been in Toronto for about six months filming Reacher, which meant her last visit to Southeast Asia was over a year ago. Because of that, she really wanted to do something special for her Singapore fans this time around. Being back, she says, has been genuinely exciting and meaningful.

Why her wax twin’s simplicity feels the most “her”

What she loves most about her figure is how natural it looks. “My pose is very casual and it kind of represents me personally,” she explains, adding that for her there has always been a balance between “extravagance and simplicity.” 

She clarified that she wanted authenticity over glamour. “I wanted my wax figure to still represent my personality, rather than trying to look more glamorous or be someone that I’m not.”

From prawn mee to Singlish 

On a lighter note, Agnez jokes that her must-eats include prawn mee, Bak Kut Teh, and Ya Kun Kaya Toast, and of course, speaking in Singlish – which naturally got the crowd at her meet-and-greet really excited. 

More emotionally, she reflects on what it means to have her wax figure here. Her Singapore AgNation, she says, “has been following my journey since before I moved to the United States,” and their loyalty makes her feel deeply held.

Evolving without losing herself 

Agnez reflects that one of the biggest challenges for artists is that they inevitably evolve over time. As people grow older and gain new experiences, their tastes, priorities, and perspectives shift and she is no exception, especially since she started her career at just six years old.

Despite all these changes, her fans have stayed loyal from the very beginning. She says “my proudest moments are to have my fans because they genuinely support me,” noting that “they’ve been there every step of the way.”

Why 2025’s ‘Reacher’ detour was impossible to pass up

Agnez explains that some of her original plans for 2025 had to be postponed because she landed a major opportunity: filming Reacher, which is the number one Amazon show in the U.S. and one of the most-streamed series globally. She felt this was a project she couldn’t turn down.

Coming back to acting

She shares that she had previously stepped back from acting for different reasons. When she moved to L.A., she felt many roles available to Asian actors were stereotypical, and she didn’t want to return to acting unless she could represent Southeast Asia in a more meaningful way.

“I stopped taking TV roles because I wanted to focus on my music,” she says, but also admits that “a lot of roles for Asians were very stereotypical.”

In early 2025, feeling that the industry had changed and become more inclusive, she told her team she was ready to consider acting again, but only if the right role came along.

Why she insisted on a blind audition

Even after expressing interest in the role, Agnez admits she doubted herself. After 15 years away from acting, she wondered if she was still good enough. That’s why she insisted on doing a proper audition, and asked her team not to reveal who she was.

She went through multiple rounds, including a callback and a chemistry test, wanting to prove to herself that she truly deserved the role.

After she was cast, Reacher creator Nick Santora told her he hadn’t realised how famous she was until after she got the part. “When I finally got the role, and we did the chemistry test with Woody Allen, he told me that that was the first time that he actually knew how big I am.”

She adds, “To me, that is such a huge compliment, because that means that I actually got the job for the skill, not because of my followers.” She considers this one of her biggest accomplishments of 2025.

How a last-minute plan came together in just weeks

Spending six months in Toronto made her realise how long it had been since she’d been in Singapore “I realised I hadn’t really been here for such a long time.” When the idea to collaborate with Madame Tussauds surfaced in late December, things moved quickly.

“We had the idea in late December,” she says, and somehow “pulled it off in just two to three weeks I’m really grateful.”