Ratna Assan
Ratna Assan (born December 16, 1954) is an American actress, model, dancer, and singer who was of Indonesian descent. She is the only daughter of Devi Dja and became the only woman of Indonesian descent to be featured on Playboy magazine. Assan started her career as a singer and dancer, she began to acting in television series before rising to stardom as an Indian girl Zoraima in Papillon (1973).
Ratna Assan | |
|---|---|
| Born | December 16, 1954 Los Angeles, California |
| Nationality | American |
| Occupations |
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| Years active | 1961–1974 |
| Notable work | Papillon (1973) |
| Parent |
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Early life
Assan was born on December 16, 1954 in Torrance, Los Angeles, as the only child of Ali Assan from Gresik, and Devi Dja, an actress and dancer from Yogyakarta. She was named after Ratna Asmara, her mother friend during her time in Dardanella and co-star in Dr. Samsi (1937).
Assan's parent migrated to United States to develop her mother's career as a dancer.[1] At the age of three, she was trained by her mother to dance, singing, and modeling.[2] During her highschool year, she joined the cheerleading extracurricular, and received a brown belt in Karate.[3]
Personal life
Assan was married to a carpenter from Las Vegas, Nevada, and has had a daughter name Aisah Dewi before later divorced.[3]
Career
Assan started her career at the age of seven as a serimpi dancer and singer at Hollywood Bowl in Los Angeles, California, and was featured in Devi Dja Far Eastern Ballet and Devi Dancer, a dancer troupes lead by her mother.[2][3] She made her acting debut in Bonanza as a child actress, and as Yul Brynner's wife in Anna and the King.[2]
In September 1972, Assan joined the audition for the film Papillon (1973), and later was cast to play a role of Indian girl, Zoraima, co-starring Steve McQueen.[1][2] During the film production, Assan expressed her discomfort due to received catcalling by the film crew.[2] The film later became box office success, and Assan was praised for her role and audacity to appeared topless.[1][2] During the screening of Papillon in Indonesia, Assan scene received a strict censor to the point of being almost non-existent.[1] Later, Assan started a contract with Playboy, and became the first Indonesian descent women to be featured on Playboy magazine in February 1974.[1]
In an interview with Wimar Witoelar in 1973, Assan expressed her excitement to started a career in Indonesia.[1] But because the media business in Indonesia at that time was not yet developed, Indonesia was not yet able to contract a Hollywood star.[1] Later, Assan doesn't continued her film career and was critized as a spoiled child due to her attitude that don't want to memorize her script, and not come to the shooting location.[3]
Filmography
| Year | Film | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1973 | Papillon | Zoraima |
References
- ^ a b c d e f g Bhawono, Aryo. "Ratna Assan, Perempuan Indonesia Pertama di Majalah Playboy". detiknews (in Indonesian). Retrieved 2023-06-10.
- ^ a b c d e f Tempo, Data (1974-03-09). "Tidak Menyangka". Tempo (in Indonesian). Retrieved 2023-06-10.
- ^ a b c d "Ratna Assan, Perempuan Berdarah Indonesia Pertama yang Tampil di Majalah Playboy". Historia – Majalah Sejarah Populer Pertama di Indonesia (in Indonesian). 2017-08-24. Retrieved 2023-06-10.
External links
Ratna Assan at IMDb