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ctress Marcella Zalianty has always been a keen reader, a passion that comes to life on the big screen, such as when directing a five-segment omnibus adaptation of Rectoverso, a book by established novelist Dewi “Dee” Lestari.

And nowadays she wants to instill the same passion for reading in her children as an imaginative learning tool to open their minds to the world.

“I never want to impose reading on my children. Instead, it should be a hobby for them. Reading really does open doors to new knowledge, values and paths to expand our imagination, right?” she said.

Despite a busy schedule, she still slips in time at night to read to her children and discover what kinds of stories tickle their fancy.

“I’m very thankful that my children’s schools support the benefits of reading. So when they come home, I always ask what they’re reading.”

Marcella recalls fond memories with her mother, veteran actress Tetty Liz Indriati, and her animated storytelling.

“My mother would always tell me stories before bedtime. She was always so immersed and I remember listening to the story of Si Mimin with his dark skin and his grumpy mother — up to the point where I was literally crying. It felt like I was really inside the story,” she said.

Now, she is drawn to books that give her a deeper understanding of life and ways to connect with herself.