Ruby Jasmine de Mel (born as රූබි ද මැල්) [Sinhala]; 4 December 1917 – 8 November 2004) was an actress in Sri Lankan cinema, stage drama, and television. She is best known for her acting in the films Siriyalatha, Kawata Andare, and Nalangana as well her role as Granny in the television serial Amba Yahaluwo. She died on 8 November 2004.
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. She married at the age of 17 and then divorced when she was 27 years old.
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.
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). 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.
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 8 November 2004.
Filmography Wakishta started her film career with B.A.W. Jayamanne's 1955 film Mathabhedaya. Then she acted more than 75 films. Some of his popular acting came through films such as Bambaru Awith, Akkara Paha, Sikuruliya and Ahas Maliga.
Year Film Role Ref. 1955 Mathabhedaya 1955 Perakadoru Bena 1956 Dosthara Chandra's mother 1957 Siriyalatha Sirimanne's mother 1957 Soorasena Shanthi 1959 Sihinaya 1959 Hadisi Vivahaya 1960 Kawata Andare Queen consort 1960 Nalangana Sunil's mother 1963 Mangalika 1964 Kala Kala De Pala Pala De 1964 Dheewarayo 1964 Sithaka Mahima 1964 Chandali Saliya's mother 1965 Landaka Mahima Mother 1965 Handapaana 1965 Hithata Hitha 1965 Allapu Gedara Kapila's mother 1965 Sonduru Yuwala 1966 Kapatikama Sisira's mother 1966 Sihina Hathak Mabel 1967 Pipena Kumudu 1967 Magul Poruwa 1968 Abuddassa Kale 1968 Bicycle Hora 1969 Hari Maga Kusuma 1969 Pancha 1970 Akkara Paha Mrs. Perera 1970 Thewatha 1970 Penawa Neda 1971 Kathuru Muwath Susil's mother 1972 Ihatha Athmaya Priyani's mother 1973 Mathara Achchi Cyril's mother 1973 Aparadaya Saha Daduwama 1973 Sinawai Inawai 1974 Hadawath Naththo 1974 Sagarika 1975 Mage Nangi Shyama 1975 Sikuruliya Balasooriya Hamu 1976 Mangalaa 1977 Hithuwoth Hithuwamai Mrs. Ranaweera 1978 Chandi Shyama 1978 Bambaru Avith Selestina, Helen's mother 1978 Deepanjali 1979 Savudan Jema 1980 Para Dige 1981 Samawenna Mrs. Samaranayake 1981 Ran Ethana 1982 Kadawunu Poronduwa remake Jayasena Hamine 1982 Thana Giraw Doctor 1982 Ayachana Sarojini's mother 1982 Anuradha 1982 Halo Shyama 1982 Biththi Hathara Samara's mother 1983 Sister Mary Mother Superior 1983 Monarathenna 2 1984 Valle Thanu Maliga Katherine 1984 Hitha Honda Kollek 1984 Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom Villager 1984 Podi Ralahamy Ralahamy's elder sister 1985 Chalitha Rangali 1986 Mal Warusa Kumarihamy 1986 Pooja 1986 Aadara Hasuna 1987 Obatai Priye Adare Rita Madam 1987 Thaththi Man Adarei 1987 Mangala Thagga Mrs. Sivalingam 1987 Kawuluwa 1987 Ahinsa Party guest 1990 Hima Gira 1991 Keli Madala Samara's aunt 1991 Suwandena Suwandak 1992 Okkoma Kanapita 1993 Jeevan Malli 1994 Ahas Maliga 1994 Ambu Samiyo Mother 1994 Okkoma Hondatai Freddi's mother 1996 Sathi
Awards and Accolades Honorary Degree - Given by International Open University
United Lanka Fan Society Film Festival
|| 1965 ||| Dheewarayo || Best Supporting Actress ||
Sarasaviya Film Festival
|| 1965 ||| Dheewarayo || Jury Award || |- || 1995 ||| Contribution to cinema || Rana Thisara Award ||
References
External links
Aristophanes on the Sinhala stage