Portrait of Ersya Aurelia Conducting Pregnancy Research for a Role in the Horror Film 'KAMPUNG JABANG MAYIT: RITUAL MAUT'

"I play as Weda. She is Bagas's girlfriend who is pregnant. She is a model who is rising to fame and then encounters the problem of being pregnant, invited by Bagas to his hometown in Rangkaspuna to perform an abortion ritual with Nyi Itoh," said Ersya when met in the Mega Kuningan area, South Jakarta, Friday (20/6/2025).

To delve into this character, Ersya not only relied on imagination. She conducted in-depth research, including understanding the physical and emotional condition of a pregnant woman.   "The research involved several meetings with an acting coach, and we were asked to research the symptoms of pregnancy and apply them to our own bodies. What it feels like to have a sore body, what the discomfort is like," she explained.

Although in the film it is told that Weda is only in the early trimester of pregnancy, Ersya still builds an awareness that her body carries 'two lives.' This makes her more careful while on set.

"So during filming, I imagined there was a life inside my belly, so I tried to be careful with myself. I carried my body not just for myself but for something that I need to protect," she revealed.

In the story, Weda's pregnancy is around three to four months. The dilemma of this character becomes stronger because although she intends to terminate the pregnancy, Ersya tries to bring a spiritual nuance that pregnancy is a gift from God.   "Weda is about 3 or 4 months pregnant. So Weda's intention is indeed to get rid of it, but this life in her womb is given by God. So there is that fragile feeling that I maintain," said Ersya.

Ersya's dedication is also evident in scenes without additional equipment. Because her character's pregnancy is still early, she does not use a pregnancy pillow while shooting.   "Because it's still the first trimester, there are no pillows. Just imagining how nauseating it is and so on," she continued.

The film Kampung Jabang Mayit: Ritual Maut will be showing in theaters starting July 24, 2025, and stars Atiqah Hasiholan and Buki Mansyur.