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by Farah Macan Markar

Arranging a meeting with Sangeetha Weerarathne is not an easy task. Crowned, not just the BEST, but also the MOST POPULAR actress, one would have expected to see her lolling in the laurels of glory. After all, being deemed the best and the most popular actress doesn't happen often. And more significantly, doesn't happen to every one. But, Sangeetha is different. For, three days after the big event, she was back to work and as busy as a bee. Unable to arrange a meeting with her in Colombo, I phoned her in Kandy where she was busy shooting for a tele-drama and managed to cobble together an interview at well past 9.00 p.m.

Question:- So.. erm.. what exactly inspired you to become an actress?

Answer:- Well it was not an inspiration really but a coincident. One day Mr. Roy De Silva came to meet my father. Seeing me he asked whether I would like to act in a film. I took it and starred in Its a matter of time and from then on my acting career went off with a bang.

Q:- What was it like taking part in your first film?

A:- It was not a strange thing. I was used to being in front of the camera because of my father. I had also earlier taken part in a few tele-dramas. So it was not something totally new to me. But I had fun and really enjoyed doing it.

Q:- What is it like now?

A:- Well I still get the jitters, but I definitely am more self confident. I have better access to getting information of the characters I have to portray. So I am much more confident in my performances and what I have to do. I do feel more responsible, but I still love it. Acting to me is my life. It's not just a part of my life but is a part of me.

Q:- What kind of characters do you like to play and why?

A:- I think every character is different in his/her own way. Each character is also very complicated like in real life people. Whatever character I play, a lot of hard work goes into it. The more relaxed the character the more complicated it is. I like to play all kind of characters as long as there are no repetitive roles.

Q:- What do you feel about acting in love scenes?

A:- It's just one more scene as far as I am concerned. However I do like to have a good looking guy next to me.( She says she's just joking but it sure didn't sound like it)

Q:- What is special about being an actress?

A:- To me its the best profession in the world. You get to do all kind of things... play so many parts and whats more, you get payed for it and the people love you for it. It's what I would call a life time experience. It has also helped enrich my life. I have lived different characters and through them experienced life's many phases. It has thus given me some education about life and opened to me a wider perspective to it. Acting is about portraying a character and that is what I do and enjoy doing.

Q:- What is it like being a famous actress, what do you feel about the publicity?

A:- Well I've been in the cinema since the age of sixteen. So it's something which has grown in me. It's, as I said earlier my life, and publicity is a part of it and I love it. It means a lot to me. After all you can be a talented actress, but to be loved by the public is something special and wonderful.

Q:- Can you tell us something about yourself as a person?

A:- I'm a strong Buddhist. I believe a lot in the Buddhist philosophy of life. I've been inspired to do so by my grandmother who was a Buddhist nun. As a person I'm pretty complicated, which I think everyone is. I have my good moods and my bad ones. At times I behave like a child and at times I behave like a lady.

Q:- What do you do when you are not acting?

A:- ... erm, well I'm a human being you know. I sleep and eat. I also work out in the gym. I am learning dancing at the moment. Also I waste a lot of time and money on my phone.

Q:- Do you have any hobbies?

A:- No not really.

Q:- What would you say gives you strength?

A:- My religion-Buddhism.It gives me strength to face anything. It also helps me to keep a balance in life.In my kind of profession it's easy to loose one's head.My religion is what keeps me steady.

Q:- What is your biggest weakness?

A:- I'd say eating a lot of chocolates. I'm addicted to chocolates, I am a bit of a chocoholic.

Q:- What's your happiest moment?

A:- Sunday the thirteenth of October when at the Sarasaviya Film Awards I won the Best Actress and Most Popular Actress Awards. It meant a lot to me after all the hard work and talent which went to make it. I'm a committed professional actress. I'm very happy about it even now.

Q:- What's your saddest moment?

A:- Well, I have had my sad moments but no particular ones. I'm so happy now it doesn't really matter at the moment.

Q:- What's your most embarrassing moment?

A:- Well do you know when people ask me that I always forget and remember it only much later and no I do not remember any at the moment. (well how convenient)

Q:- What do you value most about life?

A:- Life itself, of course.

Q:- What is your opinion of love and marriage?

A:- Well I think it's hopeless to be in love and not be able to marry and at the same time I think its hopeless to marry and not be in love.

Q:- What is the most important quality you would look for in a man?

A:- Trust. I'd want him to trust me and for me to be able to trust him. I think respect is also important. Love is an emotion which comes and goes. I think for a marriage to be stable it would depend a lot on trust and respect.

Q:- Do you have a boy friend at present?

A:- No

Q:- Have you ever had any?

A:- No, not really. I mean it's not that I have not felt any attractions. I am after all a woman with normal feelings. I just have not found the right guy.

Q:- Do you hope to get married some day in the future?

A:- I jolly well hope somebody marries me

Q:- What do you say about having children?

A:- I'd love to. I love kids and at one time I was even thinking about adopting, but there is a law in Sri Lanka which does not permit a single parent to adopt a child.

Q:- If you were to liken yourself to an animal, which animal would you choose and why?

A:- Well if you had asked me that question two months ago I would have said an elephant, for my size.

However I worked out and have gone down now. I would like to be a horse. A horse, I feel portrays not just beauty but character and class. It is also a symbol of strength. It's not like a puppy you'd want to pet or a lion you'd be afraid of. It is it's own person and has a class of its own.

Q:- What do you feel about Sri Lankan films?

A:- I like some and don't like others. There are some entertainment films which simply move you off your feet, taking you on a ride the moment you step into the film hall. I like them for they have reached out to the audience and moved them in some way. Such films build a bond between the audience and the characters, which I think gives the people a better idea about the characters.

Q:- How do you think Sri Lankan films can be improved to meet international standards?

A:- Well, we have had some films which have reached international standard. However we do have technical difficulties. The technical knowledge in matters such as camera and lighting need to be improved. The script writing too I feel should be improved.

Q:- Do you hope to continue acting for the rest of your life or have you other plans?

A:- I do want to continue. The type of characters I play however might differ with time. Things will change, but the fact that I'm acting will not.

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