Interview :
Name: Ruth Frendo
Website / Facebook Page / Twitter / You Tube page ? :
www.ruthfrendo.com www.facebook.com/ruth.frendo.7?fref=ts www.promotion.com.mtFavourite hobbies?: Travelling, reading, watching movies
Favourite book ?: Eat Pray Love by Elizabeth Gilbert
Favourite TV show / Movie ?: Various – I like different and various genres that range from family adventure movies to horror...
Favourite holiday destination? Why?: Japan because the culture is so interesting whilst the Japanese people are extremely welcoming and polite.
Favourite Cuisine ?: Maltese
Who do you admire most in life and why?: Volunteers... Because they sacrifice their time and energy to help others.
Are you superstitious? Explain: Yes… In fact, for four whole years, I produced and presented the popular television programme Pandora, which focused on subjects related with the supernatural. Later on, I co-wrote, with Charles Zarb, a book that included some highlights from the programme.
What are you afraid of most? Of my beloved ones being sick.
You have experienced a huge success in the Maltese TV industry for quite a few years, when did it all start, what inspired you? : I was in the wrong place at the wrong time... When I was 17-years-old, I was a victim during a hold-up which made me decide to reevaluate my life and expand my interests. As a result, I enrolled in drama school. Then I heard that they were casting for extras for the block-buster movie Gladiator that was being filmed in Malta. I attended the casting and was literary hand-picked for an audition and a photoshoot since they needed “a tall, Mediterrenean-looking girl” – qualities that I luckily seemed to have.
What is a typical daily routine for Ruth? : I wake up at 9am, eat a light breakfast and start work. This includes attending meetings, filming, contacting various individuals, researching, writing scripts, etc. I try to have lunch at around 1pm, whilst I usually skip dinner but snack during the day. My working day usually ends at around 11pm – and in between I try to find slots to meet with friends and to carry out any one of my hobbies.
If you could name the top 3 local personalities you hosted on one of your shows, who would they be? : In the past 14 years ever since I started my career in the media, I have interviewed the majority of local personalities. So now it’s more a question of whom I still have to interview...
Malta has recently experienced a disappointment in The Eurovision Song Contest, what are your feelings about this? : I think that there are many local artists in various fields who are finding it extremely hard to develop their talents due to financial reasons. Thus, I believe that it would be a good idea to spend less money on the Eurovision and use these finances to help and promote other forms of art. Having said that, I still believe that the Eurovision is a very exciting stage for local artists – though still it is a fact that not all talented local singers and bands want to participate in this contest...
Would you give us a message to our readers? : Life is extremely short and precious. Don’t take it for granted... Also, remember that it’s nice being nice!
Interviewed by Joseph Portelli – Music News Malta Editor.
