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Ira Wibowo: Leading with supporting roles
It seems that for actress Ira Wibowo, 40 is the new twenty
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t seems that for actress Ira Wibowo, 40 is the new twenty. Sitting among the young cast of the movie Tiga Hati, Dua Dunia, Satu Cinta (Three Hearts, Two Worlds, One Love), including Arumi Bachsin, Reza Rahardian and Laura Basuki, reflects her grace and class that these actors will need years to acquire.
In fact, at the press briefing for the release of Tiga Hati, Ira, in a red tunic and black stockings, looked more natural than the younger actors, who dressed to kill, putting on heavy make-up to try to impress the hoards of entertainment journalists.
Her brown hair fell to her shoulders, matching her light skin and red dress.
Ira, who turned 42 last December, was constantly in fact hounded by reporters who asked for her comments on various topics, ranging from her latest film, health and women’s issues to some personal matters. After all, she is mature enough to exude a down-to-earth persona as opposed to the navel-gazing young starlets.
JP/Triwik Kurniasari
Ira was there to promote Tiga Hati — produced by Mizan Production, which has recently had a run of successes with films including Laskar Pelangi (Rainbow Warriors), Garuda Di Dadaku (Garuda In My Heart) and Sang Pemimpi (The Dreamer) — which tells the story of inter-religious love between a Muslim artist and a Christian young woman from South Sulawesi.
Ira plays the role of the Christian woman’s mother, who grows concerned at her daughter’s relationship.
“I like the script. It is a bit controversial, but the storyline is far from preachy. On the contrary, it is likely to open up a new perspective among our people,” said Ira, who is Muslim.
“The film highlights the issue of religious tolerance, which is very important for us who live in a multicultural society like Indonesia, with different races, religions and economic entitlements. We need to learn to respect each other.”
When Ira was offered the role, it did not take her long to say yes, since she had already played parts in several other Mizan productions. The only concern was whether this would be alright for her, as a Muslim, to play a Christian woman.
“I asked Mizan about this, and whether it be a problem for me in the future, but they said it would not be a big deal.”
It is just a movie role after all, Ira said.
“As an actor, if I play a mentally disturbed person that does not mean I am go crazy for the role. The same goes for my role as a prostitute,” Ira says.
Ira is a kind of risk-taker actor who agrees to take on difficult roles, without concern for a possible backlash that may come from her playing controversial roles.
And as someone who is married to a Christian, the new role in the movie seems to fit Ira well. She is married to pop singer Katon Bagaskara of the band KLA Project. The couple tied the knot in October 1996.
But regardless of her playing a Christian character, whatever roles Ira takes on her fans will no doubt enjoy seeing her, with a loyal following witnessing her countless appearances in feature films and television soap operas (sinetron).
In 1982, soon after returning from Germany where she grew up, Ira with her girl-next-door Eurasian look was soon offered roles in local films.
It appeared that Ira had come back to Indonesia at the right time, when the local film industry was entering its golden age in the early 1980s.
In spite of her busy schedule, Ira finished her undergraduate studies at School of Social and Political Sciences at the University of Indonesia. After graduating, she worked as a public relations officer but soon quit to pursue a career in acting.
When the local film industry collapsed in the early 90s, Ira utilized her knowledge of the film industry by hosting movie-related TV programs and playing various characters in the booming sinetron industry. Ira became one of the most recognizable faces on TV, as the host of Cinema, Cinema, a program promoting Hollywood films which aired on RCTI.
She also won numerous awards for her appearances in this show, including an award from electronics giant Panasonic, in the Panasonic Awards, considered the highest accolade in the entertainment industry.
Ira returned to the movie business in the early noughties when the local film industry had received a new lease of life following the success
of films produced by new young Indonesian directors. By then, Ira was a mother of three, and producers were more than happy to cast her in motherly roles.
“Naturally, I always wanted to play the role of a high school student. But that doesn’t suit me anymore,” Ira said with a giggle.
Ira has filled her resume with numerous roles in movies in which she was cast as a mother.
“To be honest, I don’t break a sweat playing as a mother, because I have played many different mothers in various films,” she says.
She has played the role of an angry mother who does not pay any attention to her daughter. She has also played a caring mother.
And as Ira grows older, she is fully aware that the current movie scene — which caters too much to teen moviegoers, looking for horror and romance — may not always friendly to her.
“Whether you like it or not, filmmakers [always] cast me as a mother to support the lead young cast. So far have been no local films that tell the story of a mother and her struggle.”
This is a far cry from the situation in Hollywood where actors in their forties get major roles.
“It’s very different from Hollywood where we can still see so many films about mature women in their 30s or 40s. Actors like Julia Roberts and Nicole Kidman, who are the same age as I am, still get leading roles.” Ira says.
Although it is hard for a woman at her age to get leading roles in local films, Ira does not feel like she has to relegate herself as a “second-tier” actor.
“Well, it’s just a matter of opportunities. I have had my time in the sun. I used to be a young actor and received so many offers. And if I have to play the role of a mother it is simply because the story focuses on the lives of teenagers,” she says.
“That’s the wheel of fortune. I believe that one day there will be a great opportunity for me to get significant roles in movies.” Ira says.
So what kind of roles do you like to play?
“I really want a role that can inspire people, like Michelle Pfeiffer’s character in Dangerous Minds.”
In the movie Pfeiffer plays a teacher in a high school in a working-class neighborhood in California, rife with gang violence and drug abuse.
“Pfeiffer’s character in the movie motivates her problem students to improve their lives. Who knows, maybe one day there will be a local film like Dangerous Minds,” she said.
“I think Cut Mini’s role as an elementary school teacher in Laskar Pelangi is also great.” Ira says, referring to a local actor who won praise for her role as a caring teacher of a group of village children in Bangka Belitung Island.
Ira may not have got the role of her life yet, but she could not be more grateful about having a career and a family.
A movie career may be important, but for Ira family comes first. Her decision to play more roles in widescreen and trim down her appearances in sinetron was motivated partly by her desire to spend more time with family.
“Not that I hate playing in soap operas, I just realize I don’t have enough time for my family if I have to stick to the back-breaking schedules in sinetron productions. I am a mother of three. I have responsibilities as a wife and mother,” Ira said.
In her free time, Ira spends time with her family, eating out, going bowling or cycling. During her holidays, she either goes to Bali or visits her German mother.
In the past few years, Ira has been active in various campaigns including being a spokesperson for cervical cancer prevention.
“There are still many women out there who do not know anything about this cancer, which is the number-one cause of death for Indonesian women,” she said. Ira added that women could tremendously improve their chances by taking regular pap-smear tests.
The problem is that many women are still reluctant to take a pap-smear test because they are too shy, she said.
“This is the only cancer that can be detected and cured. I hope women become more aware about this, so more lives that can be saved.”
And even if Ira finally fails to get a decent role in her future projects, at least she will be an effective spokesperson for an issue that could save the lives of thousands mothers.
