thalia spreads the gospel of soapy adulation

By Dini S. Djalal

Jakarta (JP): "Who wants to be my neighbor?," coos Mexican starlet Ariadna Sodi Miranda.

The 5,000 fans gathered at the Jakarta Convention Center on Tuesday to see their idol screamed in ecstasy.

Popularly known as Thalia, the young artist is on a publicity tour to Indonesia until Sept. 4, after eight days of being lionized in the Philippines.

Thalia, bedecked in a slinky white satin gown, emitted a coy laugh and continued to romance the roaring crowd.

"She's so beautiful. I love her," sighed Lina, a 17-year-old high school student from Tangerang. Lina was there with her family, including her two sisters and her mother. Her father was busy at work, while her brother preferred to wait for them at Plaza Senayan.

Lina was one of thousands of star-struck girls and housewives who comprised the majority of the crowd. Thalia may be one of television's sexiest stars, but her biggest fans are women who idolize the telenovela (soap opera) heroines she has played.

And heroines they are. Conveniently, the name of Thalia's character always features in the title and this name is always a variation of the name Maria. The troubles which Maria, or Thalia, struggle with are equally predictable.

In all three dubbed telenovelas, Maria Mercedes, Mari Mar and Maria Cinta yang Hilang, Thalia plays a poor girl who overcomes her poverty, but not without battling the evils and corruption of moneyed society.

Anna, a 21-year-old university student, explains that Thalia inspires hope in the poor. "Thalia is not just a pretty actress. She symbolizes goodness, and how good people can win in the end," Anna said.

What about her sexy looks and flirtatious behavior?

"Well, no one wants to watch ugly people on TV. We watch TV to escape our boring lives," said Anna.

Thalia herself also knows the secret to her popularity. "I like playing Cinderellas on the telenovelas, to give hope and dreams to those who have few opportunities," said Thalia at a press conference last Sunday.

Thalia's astute understanding of her fame indicates that her celebrity status was not a random result. In fact, Thalia, or perhaps her career managers (which include her mother) is very strict about her image and the media's use of it. She refuses to have photographs taken of the right side of her face, although it has to be said that on television she is seen from all angles.

Thalia also has a rigid physical regimen, as her buff physique proves. "I keep myself fit for my public," she explained.

Also, at the press conference, she displayed an easy familiarity with the rigmaroles of show business. The moment Thalia appeared in a pink gown before the assembled photographers, she threw herself the task of into posing, pouting, and blowing kisses at the cameras. But after a few minutes of mayhem, she abruptly stopped and prohibited any more photography, even though only one group of 20 photojournalists had been allowed to do their thing. The other 40 photographers had to contend with sneaking photographs during the question and answer period.

"It's been difficult working with such a superstar," commented Yuli Ismartono, public relations manager for Surya Citra Televisi, the television station which sponsored Thalia's visit.

During her stay, Ismartono and her crew were kept busy arranging last-minute changes to Thalia's schedule, at Thalia's own insistence.

Ismartono explained that Thalia was "very friendly" but added her stay in Jakarta was marred somewhat. Her mother's purse was stolen on their first day here, and there had been security threats. The robbery convinced Thalia not only to take her own bodyguards on a jaunt through the Indonesia in Miniature Park (Taman Mini) but also a crew of police officers and Indonesian bodyguards.

But after shopping at Danar Hadi batik boutique, a recording session at SCTV, and spending her 25th birthday on Monday with friends and family, Thalia appeared radiant and happy to greet her fans on Tuesday.

And though the press conference began with a solemn reading in Spanish of a press release, it ended with Thalia singing the theme tune from Maria Mercedes. "I like singing best, because when singing I can really connect with my fans," said Thalia. She departed with a coquettish farewell in Indonesian. "Terima kasih kasih-kasihku (Thank you so much my beloved)," Thalia said before hugging and kissing a small girl for the cameras.

The photo opportunity was chosen well, because some of Thalia's fans are very young. A mother in a Moslem headscarf and her three young children all screamed during the fan meeting, and their shrieks grew louder every time Thalia wriggled in a suggestive dance. When asked why she enjoyed Thalia's display of her body, the mother answered, "But I know she's a good girl. She just happens to be very sexy," she said.

Indeed, when asked about her ideal man, Thalia answered that when she marries, she wants as many children as possible. Her wish for domestic bliss was enthusiastically cheered on by the audience.

But when Thalia said that she will also star in as many telenovelas as possible, the crowd hollered even louder. The sexy star then repeatedly expressed her love for her fans, heightening the atmosphere of mutual adoration.

"I don't know why I like her. She just makes me feel good," said Ayu, a 27-year-old secretary.

And as long as her fans feel good, so does Thalia.