‘I wish I could protect the forests, we need those trees’

Actress Maudy Koesnaedi is fondly remembered as Zaenab, the simple girl-next-door she played in the hit TV sitcom Si Doel Anak Sekolahan (the mid-1990s series lives on today in daily reruns). Now married with a young son, Maudy picks and chooses her projects, including a biopic of first president Sukarno’s second wife Inggit Ganarsih, which she will star in and produce.

Right now, I need …

A real fun holiday.

As a child I was …

My father’s heart, a lovely daddy’s daughter.

And as a teenager…

I was boyish.

Majoring in French taught me …

Culture and romance.

At this time in my life …

I am very grateful for what I have.

My best trait...

I’m caring.

And my worst ...

Moody.

I was happiest …

When pregnant.

And saddest …

When I finally realized that my father was no longer by my side. It was 20 years after his death.

I would never ...

Eat reptiles.

The craziest thing I’ve done …

Produced a musical drama with other Abang None (Young Mr. and Ms) North Jakarta without experience, without a big budget, only based on heart.

People would be surprised to know …

I’d really like to act in an action film, like Uma Thurman in Kill Bill. Ha ha.

I laugh at …

Silly things.

And cry at ...

Sincere feelings.

My greatest professional achievement ...

Playing Zaenab in seven series from 1994 on, a character that was the direct opposite of who I am.

And personal …

Going on the haj pilgrimage. 

The love of my life …

My son.

The talent I wish I was good at …

Languages.

My favorite restaurants …

Sushi Tei for Japanese, California Pizza Kitchen for salad and soup.

Favorite music …

Easy listening. John Mayer is my friend when I’m cooking in the kitchen, but I also really enjoy classical music by Vivaldi and Strauss.

A place I’d love to visit …

Skopelos, the island used for the shooting of Mama Mia.

Traveling the world has taught me …

How big Allah is.

My biggest shopping indulgence …

Accessories … I think.

If I could change one thing about the world to make it a better place …

I would like to take care of all the major forests in the world so they remain the way they are. We need those trees and nature.

And change one thing about Jakarta …

Construction restructure … [so buildings are] managed better from the outset so they are more comfortable.

I’m most scared of …

Snakes.

The unforgivable is ...

Mm, never really thought about that. In my opinion, everything should be forgivable.

My biggest regret …

Not listening to my brother’s advice. He told me when I was a schoolgirl that it would be better for me to study English and computer technology. But instead I majored in French. Today, I’m very gaptek or, in other words, I just don’t understand gadgets.

My greatest hero …

My brother.

The three people I wish I could invite to dinner, and the menu …

My late father, my Dutch father-in-law and my husband. It would be very nice for them to know each other. For dinner, I would cook Huzaren Sla and Gehaakt Ball met Hutspot, the favorite foods of my father-in-law and my husband that I can cook. For Papa, what was important was that the food tasted good. And with chocolate ice cream and coffee. I would invite a piano player so my father and father-in-law could sing after dinner.

My life motto …

Do your best from the heart.

+ Bruce Emond

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