Guess What? Rima Melati

Most legendary actresses would most probably take offense at having their identities mistaken for someone else's, much less another legendary actress. But not Rima Melati, a 1973 Festival Film Indonesia award winner.

At a meeting to discuss the merits of late director Sjumandjaja and his movies in Jakarta on Wednesday, great poet W.S. Rendra greeted Rima warmly, only to blunder by calling her Yenny (actress Yenny Rachman).

Much later when Rendra and veteran theater actor Amak Baldjun invited her to speak about her acting experiences in Sjuman's movies, Rendra addressed her as Mbak Lenny (actress Lenny Marlina).

Rima laughingly stated that at her age, she must be really beautiful to be called first Yenny and then Lenny.

"Mas Willy (Rendra), I am Rima Melati ..." smirking to Rendra's utter embarrassment at the meeting at Usmar Ismail Film Center.

The 59-year-old actress is finally done with her TV series Api Cinta (Fire of Love). The eight expensive episodes, all extensively shot in Ubud and Singaraja in Bali, is about a Spanish painter's love affair with a Balinese woman. Episodes of local TV series usually cost about Rp 60 million (US$6,600) to produce, but Rp 90 million was invested in each episode of Api Cinta.

The TV series is expected to be televised later this year on ANteve. Rima, now a restaurateur with husband Frans Tumbuan, has had six failed marriages and has played in more than 100 movies. The former wife of late director Wim Umboh and Herwindo, son of the late first president's wife Hartini Sukarno from a previous marriage, was born Marjolyn Tambayong in North Sulawesi. (ylt)