If I want something, I have to get it

At the age of 17 Zoraya Perucha won a gold medal in the 1974 Asian swimming championships. Instead of pursuing a career as an athlete, she went to the United States to study business management and acting. Returning home eight years later, she acted in a few films. Zoraya, the widow of film director Sjumandjaja, was named best new actress in 1984. She eventually remarried, but that marriage failed. Earlier this year she married Reva Deddy Utama, the deputy chief editor of AnTeve. Zoraya, who is the communications manager at the station, speaks with The Jakarta Post's T. Sima Gunawan.

Question: If you had the choice, what would you be doing right now?

Answer: Watching soccer in Italy along with my husband and son Brandon. We all love soccer. My husband was a national soccer player. Two days ago I caught my son, who is 9 years old, watching soccer on TV at 1:30 a.m. .... In Italy, I'd also go shopping and then travel around Europe ... Spain, Belgium, Sweden. I heard they have very good spas.

Which trait do you most like about yourself?

Let other people say it, not me.

Your staff says you have a strong determination.

Oh yes, I like being determined (ngotot). If I want something I have to get it. But I know I will be frustrated if I realize I cannot get it.

Is there anything you don't like about yourself?

My nose. Look, it's too flat. Maybe I should have plastic surgery to make it a little bit longer. But is it true that if you have a new nose, when you sneeze, you have to hold it very tight otherwise you'll lose it?

Whom do you admire?

My parents. My father is Batak-Javanese, my mother is Sundanese-Manadonese.

What makes you tick?

My husband.

What are the characteristics of your ideal man?

He should have achieved something. He should be masculine, macho.

And rich?

If he has achieved something, money comes by itself.

What's you favorite music?

I love jazz, which I can enjoy without thinking. I also like Latin music, salsa. I like Mark Anthony, Jennifer Lopez, but for something mellow, I like jazz tunes.

Once you said your favorite song was Dancing Easy, a disco song.

Did I? Well, I was the manager of the Voile discotheque in 1988-1989.

Do you still go to discotheques?

I hardly go out at night, let alone to discotheques.

What do you do for fun?

Dine out, travel out of town. My favorite places are Anyer and Puncak.

Three times a week I exercise at Klub Rasuna, fitness, treadmill, aerobics .... I can spend at least an hour on that before I lift weights ....

What's your favorite food?

Sushi. I love Japanese food. My son and I could eat 18 pieces each.

What was the last movie you saw?

Autumn in New York, but it's not really good. It's like a modern Love Story.

What's you favorite movie?

I like Si Mamad best. Not because it was directed by Mas Sjuman, but the story is really touching. It's about a poor man who is trapped by feelings of guilt after he steals some papers from the office.

What's the last book you read?

Millionaires Next Door. I don't remember the author, but it's about ordinary people who become millionaires in the U.S., about their modest lives.

Do you want to be rich?

I just want my son to have a good education. I don't want anything that is out of my reach.

Suppose you were a millionaire, what would you do with the money?

I have no idea.

Are you afraid of being old?

A little bit.

What characteristics do you dislike in others?

Unfaithfulness. For me faithfulness is No. 1, either at work or in love.

When was the last time you were angry?

Four days ago.

What type of atmosphere do you enjoy the most?

The closeness, intimacy when you are with people you are comfortable with.

I enjoy good comedy movies, something that can make you laugh a lot, like Mr. Bean, or a drama that can make you sob, like Gone With The Wind. I have seen it more than 25 times.

If you had to live on a desert island and were only allowed to bring three things with you, what would they be?

Some water which would never be finished even if you drank it over and over -- water is my favorite drink. And ... what else? I don't know ... let me think ... OK, my sunglasses and ... what else? I know, it's Aladdin's magic lamp ...!

How would you like to be remembered?

As an athlete. I owe my life to sports. I learned life there, including my ngotot (strong determination).