An actress of many television movies, Ully makes her debut on the silver screen in the newly released romantic drama Stay with Me.

Her portrayal of Deyna Fellita, an unhappy career woman who rekindles an old relationship years after separating from her husband, has caught the attention of film critics who have dubbed her'€Ž a promising star.

Her looks, poised deportment, years of experience in front of the camera and, according to the director, her improvised acting skills, could be factors in her success but Ully believes that luck was also at play.

In a recent interview on a Sunday afternoon on the sidelines of a promotion event, '€Žshe said that she never stopped praising God for giving her the opportunity to play in a motion picture directed by respected film maker Rudi Soedjarwo.

'€œI really want to plunge into this industry,'€ said Ully, who started her career in show business as a model after being the runner up in the 2007 Wajah Femina (The Face of Femina) beauty contest organized by women'€™s magazine Femina.

She recalled that during film auditions held by Rudi, she was pitted against experienced film actresses and was over the moon when she found out that she had finally landed a role in her first movie.

'€œI was so lucky. I came on the last day of auditions in February last year,'€ said the 30-year-old, who has also featured in video clips for more than five Indonesian musicians, including in the clip of '€œDekat di Hati'€ (Close to My Heart) by pop jazz trio RAN.

However, Ully soon realized that it would not be easy to work with the perfectionist Rudy, who was named best director at the 2004 Indonesian Film Festival (FFI) for his teen flick, Ada Apa Dengan Cinta? (What'€™s Up with Cinta?).

She had heard that Rudi was a grumpy director, but what she experienced on set was fiercer than what she imagined.

Ully had acted in more than five television movies. However, her acting still did satisfy the director easily, leaving him to retake many shots.

'€œHe [Rudi] asked me, '€˜Are you working seriously? Do you really want to act in this film? If you don'€™t want to, just return to your modelling job!'€™ I was shocked,'€ she said.

Rudi'€™s fury did not leave Ully offended or angry. Instead it motivated her to keep learning and working harder in the industry.

'€œFor me, he is firm. If we make mistakes, he will be angry. He is grumpy for a reason. That'€™s normal. He really wants to make a very good movie,'€ she said, adding that she still remembered all of his scathing words.

Ully, who never went to acting classes before Stay with Me, thinks that the movie is a part of her learning process rather than being merely a big leap in her career.

She said that in the making of television movies, she could still have a fun and play with the film crews. However, in her debut film project, she cannot do that.

Ully recalled a moment when she was taking a rest and chatting with the film'€™s crew and Rudi came and scolded her. '€œHe said, '€˜Ully, what are you doing here? Are you having an arisan [social gathering]? Why were you laughing? If I were you, I would not do this!'€

She said that for the film, she was paired with sweet, charming young actor William '€œBoy'€ Hartanto, who plays Boy Dimas, a film director whose marriage is on the verge of collapse.

Boy, who has played in more than nine films since 2012, helped Ully a lot with her acting and never underestimated her.

Ully and Boy already have partners. However, during the filmmaking process, they acted like a couple even outside of shooting locations in a bid to find their chemistry for the roles they were playing.

'€œWe did everything together. We were dating. Basically, for three months, we did kawin kontrak [contractual marriage]. Then, after the making of the film ended, we were divorced,'€ Boy said, laughing.

Boy believes that after Stay with Me, Ully will have a bright future in the Indonesian film industry.

'€œShe is a great actress. I'€™ll be damned if she does not get more offers,'€ he said, adding the he really wanted to get an opportunity to play alongside her again in the future.   

Ully, who graduated from Trisakti University'€™s school of Dentistry, said she was still active as a dentist. However, she would continue in her new career as a movie star.

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