JAKARTA, Indonesia - You might know him as the cute, spoiled boy with chubby cheeks from the movie Petualangan Sherina. But in the years since his attention-grabbing debut, Derby Romero has grown into a young man - who, it turns out, prefers older girls when it comes to romance.

"They're more mature. Both in how they think and act," said the 19-year-old as quoted by entertainment newsportal kapanlagi.com on Monday.

He has been demonstrating his preference for a while now with newcomer to the entertainment world Inggrid Pangalila - two years his senior.

"I'm already thinking about the future [of the relationship]," said Derby, who is taking his relationship with Inggrid more seriously. "Well, to tell the truth it's not about the age. It's about the all-grown up personality and her understanding. That's what counts."

Having done some growing up of his own, it seems that love - and life - is no longer all play for Derby. He's been taking his studies in law more seriously and has only recently returned to the entertainment industry, acting in a children's soap opera and launching his first album.

THE JAKARTA POST / ASIA NEWS NETWORK