 This changed after she was discovered by Teguh Karya for his 1973 movie "Cinta Pertama", a role which garnered her a Citra Award for Best Actress and convinced her to follow a career in acting.Since then, she has starred in numerous films, including 1977's "Badai Pasti Berlalu" and 1988's "Tjoet Nja' Dhien"; she also had a minor role in the 2010 Hollywood movie "Eat Pray Love"., she has won six Citra Awards, received a lifetime achievement award from the Cinemanila International Film Festival, and served as a member of the jury at the Cannes Film Festival

Hakim began branching out from acting in 1998, beginning with roles as producer of "Daun di Atas Bantal" and "Pasir Berbisik" and eventually spreading to documentary film-making and an activist for education and autism.