Indriati Iskak

Indriati in c. 1960

Indriati Iskak was born Indriati Gerald Bernardina was born on 9 June 1942, at Santa Melania Hospital, in Tambaksari, Surabaya. She is the daughter of Robert Maria "Bob" Iskak,[1] an educator who transitioned to film in 1952, when he became the director of Penjelendup (Smuggler).[2]

Indriati made her feature film debut in Usmar Ismail's Tiga Dara (Three Maidens, 1956), starring alongside Chitra Dewi and Mieke Wijaya. She portrayed Nenny, the youngest of three sisters raised by their grandmother after their mother's death.[3] The film was a massive popular success, and Indriati, who was praised for having a more naturalistic acting style than her stage-trained fellow actors, achieved the greatest popularity among her co-stars.[4]

Indonesian stars with John Wayne, from left to right: Turino Djunaedy, Indriati, Baby Huwae, Wayne, and Mimi Mariani

The following year Indriati appeared in another of Ismail's films, Sengketa (Conflict, 1957). She again played the daughter in a family fraught with difficulties.[5] After this film, Indriati completed two productions with Djuprihadi's Stupa Film, both under the direction of Wim Umboh: Djuara Sepatu Roda (Roller Skating Champion, 1958) and Tiga Mawar (Three Roses, 1959).[6] With Rima Melati, Gaby Mambo, and Baby Huwae, she formed a girl group named the Baby Dolls in 1959.[1]

Indriati continued acting through 1963,[1] when she made her last film, Daun Emas (Golden Leaves). It was directed by her father and co-starred her brother Boy.[7] Indriati's popularity during the 1950s and 1960s has been credited with leading Indonesian film directors to seek out Indo-looking actresses for their films, and thus precipitating the careers of film stars such as Lydia Kandou, Meriam Bellina, and Tamara Bleszynski.[8] Advertising for Perfini's Asrama Dara (Dormitory for Girls; 1958) touted its young star Suzzanna, an Indo girl from Bogor, as the next Indriati Iskak.[9]

After Daun Emas, Indriati retired from acting and went to university, completing a degree in psychology at the University of Indonesia in 1968.[1] After some time working at the Indonesian Air Force's psychological counselling bureau, in the 1970s she began working at Unilever.[1] She stayed with the company for twenty-six years, at first handling market research before moving on to marketing management and advertising. Towards the end of her time with Unilever, she oversaw the computerisation of the company's Indonesia branch.[10] In the mid-1970s Indriati also taught psychology at the Jakarta Art Institute,[1] and for fifteen years she was on the board of the Strada system of Catholic schools.[10]

Indriati married an Indonesian Air Force officer,[11] Makki Perdanakusuma, who was the younger brother of Halim Perdanakusuma, on 15 May 1962. They remained married until Makki Perdanakusuma's death in 2014.[12] As of 2016, Indriati is a branding consultant with Makki Makki, having worked there since 1994. Her daughter Sania and son Sakti also work for the company.[10]

During her six-year film career, Indriati appeared in nine films.[1][13]