JP/R. Berto Wedhatama

At the opening of a recent exhibition, Cathy Sharon found herself in what is now a typical situation — surrounded by reporters and photographers, all trying to get a piece of her.

The 27-year-old actress and presenter made for good photographs, appearing quintessentially feminine in a mini blue sack dress, long gray vest, batik shawl and ballerina slippers.

With her dark clothes, her olive skin looked lighter, and her skin was fresh and rosy. Her hair was pulled back, showing off her distinctive beauty, framed by bits of fringe.

The exhibition was “In My Room”, a project by photographer Jerry Aurum, with his book of the same title also launched at the event.

Cathy was one of more than 100 public figures who had had their photographs taken in their bedrooms in Jerry’s most recent project.

In Cathy’s picture, taken about two years ago, she sits on her bed wearing a white t-shirt and baggy blue pants, her eyes sleepy.

With calm elegance, Cathy answered all the questions reporters fired at her about the project, but when it came to her personal life she drew the line.

“Guys, no personal questions, please,” she said. “I only want to answer questions about this event, OK?”

But personal information about Cathy — especially about which man she is dating — is gold for infotainment shows and gossip tabloids, so reporters weren’t going to give up that easily.

“I’ve told you, I will not answer that. I’m leaving. Thank you. See ya,” she said politely, but firmly, adding that she just wanted to respect her close friend Jerry on his big day.

Cathy knows perfectly well that her fame and celebrity status mean there is a lot of interest in her private life.

The star’s journey along the road to fame began when she decided to become a model. After less than a year of modeling, however, she received — and accepted — an offer in 2003 to appear as a video jockey (VJ) for music television station MTV.

Her distinctive good looks (a mixture of Indonesian, French and Chinese) — combined with her fun and cheerful style and her ability to speak English and French fluently — saw her popularity grow quickly.

Becoming a VJ ultimately proved to be the real beginning of Cathy’s career; she got the chance to meet and interview musicians from around the world and also learned how to host events. The job opened the doors to other great opportunities, including acting.

In 2006, Cathy appeared in her first roles in programs for local TV stations, most notably in the comedy hit Extravaganza.

She also found her way to the big screen, first as a teacher in local horror movie Bangku Kosong (The Empty Seat).

“I have never taken acting classes,” says Cathy, whose sister, Julie Estelle, is also an actor. “I’m completely self-taught. I learned hosting and acting by myself. For acting instructions, I sometimes ask more experienced actors and actresses.”

In her latest movie Barbi3, released last year, Cathy appeared in the role of Helen, a good and tomboyish university student. The role gave her the chance to work with prominent director Monty Tiwa, and alongside actors such as Titi Kamal, Vincent and Desta.

After five years with MTV, Cathy decided it was time for a change and to seek out more challenges.
But it seems she could not stay away from music. One year after her contract with MTV was up, she began co-hosting a program called Playlist, which aired from Monday to Friday on local TV station SCTV. Her co-hosts are Indra Bekti and Dimas Beck.

Cathy says Playlist differs to the various other live music programs that have been popping up on local channels.

“It’s more of a variety show, with stories about celebrities’ lives — with music, cuts of funny videos and quizzes,” she says. “I really enjoy hosting the show because it’s so much fun.”

Cathy is also set to host a reality show called Bye Bye Big, produced by actor Jeremy Thomas.
The program revolves around overweight people trying to lose weight.  

“It’s more or less like The Biggest Loser,” she says. “But Bye Bye Big is different because we use traditional ways of getting contestants into shape.”

Twenty selected contestants will be working with trainers, who aim to use their experience and talent to provide the contestants with the motivation and knowledge to achieve their challenges and goals during the series.

Participants will face real-life temptations and challenges, as well as undergo intense physical training.

These challenges will focus on a central theme aiming to help them create healthy new routines and bring about permanent changes to their health habits, Cathy says.

“The show basically aims to educate people about the need to fight obesity because it can lead to dangerous diseases such as heart attacks, strokes and diabetes.”

Cathy is already educated in this arena, and works hard to keep herself in shape.

“No matter how busy I am, I always try to put aside some time to work out,” she says.

“If I’m not too busy, I go to the gym about two or three times a week. But since I’m now loaded with a hectic schedule, I only go once a week to do about two or three hours’ exercise.”

Despite the schedule and persistent paparazzi, Cathy says the entertainment world has become her world — and she loves working in it.

“I enjoy doing the entertainment thing. I can also have fun here,” she says. “It’s important to be really passionate about your job.”

But entertainment is not her only passion.

She is also doing her bit to help others by joining IBU Foundation.

In August 2009, after about a year of volunteering with the NGO, she was appointed its ambassador.
Her eyes light up when she starts talking about the foundation, and about her social activities.

IBU Foundation was established by a multidisciplinary group of professionals dedicated to improving social conditions in Indonesia, especially those related to mothers and children.

The organization works in community health, especially nutrition, water and sanitation, and child welfare programs. It focuses on five main programs: emergency and disaster relief; health and nutrition; water sanitation; early childhood development; and psychosocial and volunteer programs.

IBU Foundation conducts its programs in rural and remote areas.

“For a really long time I wanted to be involved with an organization to help other people,” Cathy says.
When she learned about IBU Foundation, run by people she knew, she decided to join.

“I trust the foundation because it was established by trustworthy people,” she says. “So, I believe they really will give aid or donate money to the people who really need it.”

As part of her work with this foundation, Cathy aims to raise people’s awareness about the conditions of mothers and children in the country.

“It’s not that young people don’t care about social issues. They really are concerned about these issues, but they don’t know where to go and how to help people,” says Cathy, adding that she encourages fans and friends to do volunteer work to help others.

But she also makes time for herself. In “real life”, Cathy is just like other women who like to hang out with friends or go to beauty salons to get pampered.

On the evening after Jerry Aurum’s book launch, for example, Cathy headed to a beauty salon for some treatments. “Lucky me. Today I have plenty of time,” she says with a smile.

She picked a salon at random in the mall. “I don’t have any specific favorite salons. I go anywhere I want to go,” she says, entering a beauty salon.

“This beauty salon, for instance. I’ve never been here before, but that’s OK. Not a big deal for me — as long as I can get a good treatment.”

Personally speaking, Cathy has another dream — to get married and have a family. Apparently sharing criteria with many other women, she hopes her future husband will be kind, loving, trustworthy and with a good sense of humor. But she’s not setting any deadlines for achieving this goal.

“Not in the near future,” she says. “Someday, I’d like to settle down. It’s every woman’s dream.”

Recently, her name has been linked to quite a few men. Some local tabloids have reported that Cathy was having a relationship with Ridho Rhoma, the son of well-known dangdut singer Rhoma Irama. Well, they can say what they like, but this is one star who doesn’t care less about the rumors.

“Well, I just take it easy,” she says. “There are still plenty of important things to do other than worrying about gossip.”

SNAPSHOT

Biography
Full name: Catherine Sharon Gasnier
Place & date of birth: Jakarta, October 8, 1982
Marital status: Single
Parents: Thierry Gasnier (father) – Hilda Limbara (mother)

Filmography
Bangku Kosong (2006; The Empty Seat)
Sang Dewi (2007; The Goddess)
Dunia Mereka (2007; Their World)
Barbi3 (2008)

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