Ruby de Mel

Ruby Jasmine de Mel (born 4 December 1917 – died 8 November 2004 as රූබි ද මැල්) [Sinhala]), was an award-winning Sri lankan Film actress in Sri Lankan cinema, stage drama and television.[1] One of the earliest pillars in Sri Lankan film history, de Mel is best known for her roles in films Siriyalatha, Kawata Andare, Nalangana and Granny in television serial Amba Yahaluwo. She died on 8 November 2004 by finishing a career that spanned more than six decades.

Ruby Jasmine de Mel
රූබි ද මැල්
Born
Ruby Jasmine de Mel

(1917-12-04)4 December 1917
Moratuwa, Sri Lanka
Died8 November 2004(2004-11-08) (aged 86)
Rajagiriya
NationalitySri Lankan
Other namesVinodha Rasanjali
EducationPrincess of Wales' College
Newstead Girls College
OccupationActress, Dramatist, Director
Years active1955–2003

Personal life

De Mel was born in Moratuwa Kaldemulla area to an Anglicized Sinhala family as the youngest of a family with 12 siblings. Her father was James Perera and mother was Mary Liyanora. She attended to Princess of Wales' College, Moratuwa and Newstead Girls College, Negombo. She was an announcer for Radio Ceylon at its inception.[2] She married at the age of 17 and then divorced when she was 27 years old.[3]

Acting career

de Mel broke into acting with a role in the theatrical play Handahana directed by T. B. Ilangaratne. This performance drew the attention of leading playwright and filmmaker B. A. W. Jayamanne who asked her to play a part in his film Mathabedaya (1955) to be shot in India. Under the pretense of a vacation with friends (due to disapproval by her family), de Mel travelled to India and made her film debut in the film under the alias Vinodha Rasanjali. She reverted to her real name after her first few films.[2]

de Mel would go on to appear in such films as Perakadoru Baana (1955), Daiva Vipakaya (1956), Suraya, Siriyalatha, Surasena (1957), Kawata Andare, Nalangana (1960), Kala Kala De Pala Pala De, Chandali (1964), Handapana (1965), Magul Poruwa (1967), Bicycle Hora (1968), Hari Maga (1969), Penawa Neda (1970), Ihatha Athmaya (1972), Aparadaya Saha Danduwama, Sinawai Inawai (1973), Bambaru Awith (1978), Thana Giravi (1983), Mangala Thagga, Kawuluwa and Obatai Priye Adare (1987).[2] She was also one of the Sri Lankan actors picked to appear in the villager scene in Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom (1984) alongside D. R. Nanayakkara, Denawaka Hamine, Iranganie Serasinghe, Jessica Wickremasinghe, Oswald Jayasinghe and Dharmadasa Kuruppu.

de Mel branched out as a director in 1967 with Pipene Kumudu which featured the maiden role of actress Sumana Amarasinghe. de Mel made her way into television in the 1980s with roles in the television serials Pinmada Puthun, Rankahawunu and Amba Yahaluwo.[2]

Later on in her life, de Mel donated her house in Moratuwa to function as a center for handicapped children and moved to the St. Andrew’s Home for Elders at Rajagiriya. She died on November 8, 2004.[2]

Filmography

Wakishta started her film career with B.A.W. Jayamanne's 1955 film Mathabhedaya. Then she acted more than 75 films.[4][5] Some of his popular acting came through films such as Bambaru Awith, Akkara Paha, Sikuruliya and Ahas Maliga.[3]

YearFilmRoleRef.
1955Mathabhedaya
1955Perakadoru Bena
1956DostharaChandra's mother
1957SiriyalathaSirimanne's mother
1957SoorasenaShanthi
1959Sihinaya
1959Hadisi Vivahaya
1960Kawata AndareQueen consort
1960NalanganaSunil's mother[6]
1963Mangalika
1964Kala Kala De Pala Pala De
1964Dheewarayo
1964Sithaka Mahima
1964ChandaliSaliya's mother[7]
1965Landaka MahimaMother
1965Handapaana
1965Hithata Hitha
1965Allapu GedaraKapila's mother
1965Sonduru Yuwala
1966KapatikamaSisira's mother
1966Sihina HathakMabel[8]
1967Pipena Kumudu
1967Magul Poruwa
1968Abuddassa Kale
1968Bicycle Hora
1969Hari MagaKusuma
1969Pancha
1970Akkara PahaMrs. Perera[9]
1970Thewatha
1970Penawa Neda
1971Kathuru MuwathSusil's mother
1972Ihatha AthmayaPriyani's mother
1973Mathara AchchiCyril's mother
1973Aparadaya Saha Daduwama
1973Sinawai Inawai
1974Hadawath Naththo
1974Sagarika
1975Mage Nangi Shyama
1975SikuruliyaBalasooriya Hamu[10]
1976Mangalaa
1977Hithuwoth HithuwamaiMrs. Ranaweera[11]
1978Chandi Shyama
1978Bambaru AvithSelestina, Helen's mother
1978Deepanjali
1979Savudan Jema
1980Para Dige
1981SamawennaMrs. Samaranayake
1981Ran Ethana
1982Kadawunu Poronduwa remakeJayasena Hamine
1982Thana GirawDoctor
1982AyachanaSarojini's mother
1982Anuradha
1982Halo Shyama
1982Biththi HatharaSamara's mother
1983Sister MaryMother Superior
1983Monarathenna 2
1984Valle Thanu MaligaKatherine
1984Hitha Honda Kollek
1984Indiana Jones and the Temple of DoomVillager
1984Podi RalahamyRalahamy's elder sister
1985Chalitha Rangali
1986Mal WarusaKumarihamy
1986Pooja
1986Adara Hasuna
1987Obatai Priye AdareRita Madam
1987Thaththi Man Adarei
1987Mangala ThaggaMrs. Sivalingam
1987Kawuluwa
1987AhinsaParty guest
1990Hima Gira
1991Keli MadalaSamara's aunt
1991Suwandena Suwandak
1992Okkoma Kanapita
1993Jeevan Malli
1994Ahas Maliga
1994Ambu SamiyoMother
1994Okkoma HondataiFreddi's mother
1996Sathi

Awards and Accolades
  • Honorary Degree - Given by International Open University[3]

United Lanka Fan Society Film Festival
Year Nominee / work Award Result
1965Dheewarayo[3]Best Supporting ActressWon

Sarasaviya Film Festival
Year Nominee / work Award Result
1965DheewarayoJury AwardWon
1995Contribution to cinema[3]Rana Thisara AwardWon

References
  1. "Ruby De Mel - රූබි ද මැල් films". Sinhala Cinema Database. Retrieved 10 May 2019.
  2. Uvais, Ramesh (November 8, 2005). "Remembering Sinhala Cinema's Ruby". Daily Mirror.
  3. "Women that taught Sinhala to Spielberg - Ruby De Mel". Sinhala Cinema Database. Retrieved 10 May 2019.
  4. "Ruby De Mel bio". Rate your music. Retrieved 5 May 2019.
  5. "Ruby de Mel filmography". IMDb. Retrieved 5 May 2019.
  6. "All about the film "Nalangana"". sarasaviya. Retrieved 2021-01-22.
  7. "All about the film "Chandali"". Sarasaviya. Retrieved 2021-01-23.
  8. "All about Sihina Sathak". Sarasaviya. Retrieved 10 July 2020.
  9. "All about the film "Akkara Paha"". sarasaviya. Retrieved 2021-01-23.
  10. "He left me: Sikuruliya". sarasaviya. Retrieved 2021-01-11.
  11. "All about "Hithuwoth Hithuwamai"". Sarasaviya. Retrieved 2021-01-23.
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