Hajjah Laila Sari, born Nurlaila Sari Jahrotuljannah, is an Indonesian comedian and singer of rock and children"s songs.
Background
Sari was born Nurlaila Sari Jahrotuljannah in Padang Panjang, West Sumatra, on 4 November 1935. Her father died when she was two, and the following year her grandparents took her from her singer mother Amak to live on Java. She went back to live her mother and new stepfather at the age of nine, then — after a period disapproving of her mother"s singing career for religious reasons and studying ballet — began singing as an easy way to earn money.
Career
She has been nicknamed the "energetic old lady" (nenek-nenek lincah) for her on-stage persona. Sari continued to perform in concerts, although she did not release any albums during her career. She performed for soldiers and President Sukarno often invited her to perform during Independence Day celebrations at the Presidential Palace.
As she became more famous throughout the archipelago, she found herself increasingly sought after by men seeking romance.
In a 2010 interview with The Jakarta Globe, Sari recalled that at times they fought over her. In 1955 she appeared in her first film.
In 1960, Sari married a Dutchman named Bertje, who was five years her junior. As Sari was infertile, the two adopted a child.
Sari continued to act, including playing Slamet Rahardjo"s love interest in Teguh Karya"s 1971 film Wadjah Seorang Laki-Laki (The Face of a Boy).
Bertje died in 2000, a week after Sari"s mother. Since then, Sari has often played comedic roles on television She also spends time entertaining the elderly at nursing homes.