Lydia Kandou

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Lydia Kandou
Born
Lydia Ruth Elizabeth Kandou

(1963-02-21) 21 February 1963 (age 62)
Jakarta, Indonesia
Other namesLydia Kandou
Occupation(s) Actress
Model
Singer
Years active1980 - presents
Spouse
Jamal Mirdad
​
​
(m. 1984;div. 2013)​
Children
Parent(s)Rei Petrus Kandou (father)
Maria Jacoba Petronella Giezekamp (mother)
RelativesAndrew White (son-in-law)
AwardsCitra Award for Best Leading Actress
Musical career
Genres Pop kreatif, city pop, [1] funk, disco
Instrument
Years active1982–1985 (music)
Labels

Lydia Ruth Elizabeth Kandou (born February 21, 1963) is an Indonesian actress, model, and singer.

Contents

Biography

Kandou was born in Jakarta, Indonesia on 21 February 1963. Her mother is of Dutch descent. Her great-grandmother is of Filipino descent and her great-grandfather is of Indian descent, both from her grandmother and father's side. Her grandfather on her father's side is of Minahasan descent. [2]

Kandou first found work as a model. When 16 years old, she was invited to act by director Imam Tantowi. She made her feature film debut in Has Manan's Wanita Segala Zaman. During the next five years she acted in over 20 films, including several directed by Nyak Abbas Akup. [3] [4] These included a role as the singer Chrisye's love interest in Syamsul Fuad's Seindah Rembulan [5] and several films with the comedy troupe Warkop. [4]

In addition to her acclaimed acting career, Lydia Kandou briefly ventured into the Indonesian pop kreatif music scene during the early 1980s. She released several albums, including Kau yang Selalu Kurindu (1982), Gara-Gara (1984), and Dingin Dingin (1985), showcasing a vocal style influenced by contemporary pop and funk-disco trends. Among her notable tracks are “Denny,” “Aku Semakin Ragu,” “Siapa Yang Salah,” and “Kau Yang Selalu Kurindu,” which remain available on streaming platforms such like Youtube. Although her foray into music was relatively short-lived compared to her film career, these recordings have since developed a modest cult following and contribute to the nostalgic memory of Indonesia's 1980s pop culture. [1] [6]

Kandou was nominated for her first Citra Award for Best Leading Actress at the 1984 Indonesian Film Festival. She continued acting at a slower rate; between 1985 and 1990 she performed in 10 films. [4] From these roles, she received two further Citra Award nominations. [3]

In 1986, Kandou, a Protestant, married Muslim singer-cum-actor Jamal Mirdad in a civil service. At the time their interfaith marriage was considered "sensational" by the news media [7] and led to extensive debate over the legality of such weddings. Ultimately, civil marriages were banned in Indonesia. [8] [9] Owing to their different religions, this wedding was not recognized by the government until 1995, [2] and the case remained common in legal discussions until the 2000s. [8]

In 1990, Kandou was cast in the lead role of Nyak Abbas Akup's film Boneka dari Indiana (Doll from Indiana). After receiving another nomination for the Citra Award she was reportedly nervous; ultimately she received the award, her first win. [3] Her other films that year were all Warkop comedies. [4] She performed in Ramadhan dan Ramona the following year, which led to another win; her husband, who played the leading man, took Best Leading Actor. [3]

As the Indonesian film industry saw a downturn in the early 1990s Kandou migrated to television. Beginning in 1993, she was a regular on Gara-Gara; in 1997 she left the show to join Selendang Sutra Biru. [3] She acted in the hit television series Pernikahan Dini in 2001, playing the titular Dini's mother Shinta. [10]

Kandou made her return to feature films in 2004, when she acted in d'Trex and Ketika. [3] In 2011 she acted in the comedy Kejarlah Jodoh Kau Kutangkap, the title of which referenced her earlier work. [11]

Kandou filed for divorce from Mirdad in April 2013. [7] The two have four children together: Nana Mirdad, Kenang Kana, Nasyila Mirdad, and Nathana Ghaza. [2]

Filmography

As of 2013 Kandou has acted in 55 films. [4]

Discography

Album

Awards and nominations

YearAwardCategoryRecipientsResult
Indonesian Film Festival 1984 Citra Award for Best Leading Actress Untukmu Kuserahkan SegalanyaNominated
1986Kejarlah Daku Kau KutangkapNominated
1990Cas Cis Cus (Sonata di Tengah Kota)Nominated
1991Boneka dari IndianaWon
1992 Ramadhan dan Ramona Won
2016 Citra Award for Best Supporting Actress Aisyah: Biarkan Kami Bersaudara Nominated

References

  1. 1 2 "Various Artists - Tanamur City: Indonesian Aor, City Pop & Boogie 1979-1991". Boomkat. Retrieved 15 June 2025.
  2. 1 2 3 TIM, Lydia Kandau.
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Filmindonesia.or.id, Lydia Kandou.
  4. 1 2 3 4 5 Filmindonesia.or.id, Filmografi Lydia Kandou.
  5. ↑ Endah 2007, pp. 213–214.
  6. ↑ "Mengenang Tanah Abang Timur dan Sejarahnya, LP "Tanamur City" Kompilasikan Musik-Musik City Pop Indonesia". Whiteboard Journal. 16 July 2021. Retrieved 15 June 2025.
  7. 1 2 The Jakarta Post 2013, Guess what?.
  8. 1 2 Bowen 2003, p. 243.
  9. ↑ Cammack 2009, pp. 119–120.
  10. ↑ The Jakarta Post 2001, 'Pernikahan Dini'.
  11. ↑ The Jakarta Post 2011, Lydia Kandau returning.

Works cited

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