DAILY NEWS PEOPLE\Ruby Adriatico.

Byline: Kevin Ainsfeld

AGE: "I usually say I'm old enough to know better."

RESIDENCE: Van Nuys.

BORN AND RAISED IN: Born in Wenatchee, Wash., raised in Seattle. She's lived here since 1985.

OCCUPATION: A bodyguard and co-owner of the Emperion Production Co., which manufactures a vehicle security device called the Gardian 909. She's also developing a self-defense video for women, and she does some acting.

MARITAL STATUS: Married two years to Dale.

CHILDREN: One son, Aaron, from a previous marriage, and four stepsons named Adam, Simon, Daniel and Aaron.

VOLUNTEERISM: She works with several large charities and nonprofit organizations, such as Chabad, Love Is Feeding Everyone, and Substance and Narcotics Education (SANE). She also assists her church, Faith Celebration Fellowship in North Hollywood, by collecting food for care packages.

PETS: A new unnamed parakeet; two goldfish named Sydney and Montevideo; a scorpion; an Emerald Swift lizard named Gengi and two other lizards named Salt and Pepper.

BIGGEST DILEMMA: "Over the years, it has been frustrating that people have not recognized my abilities and intelligence. I think women are still discriminated against."

MOST DIFFICULT AND FAVORITE DAILY TASKS: "My most difficult daily task is doing dishes and housework. I have to do them, but I don't like to. My favorite daily task is that I govern my life to do the things in life that I enjoy, like pursuing my career endeavors."

BIGGEST DISAPPOINTMENT: "In the acting area, I have had a lot of roles, but, as far as a lead in features, which is one of my goals, it has been bad luck. I come in second to many of the lead actresses in town."

GREATEST ACCOMPLISHMENT: "Being a mother, a wife in my second marriage and getting a black belt in martial arts."

GOALS FOR THE FUTURE: "I'm still pursuing films. I have one film in development, a film project in which I will do martial arts."

BEST THING ABOUT GETTING OLDER: "I think I'm getting more levelheaded and more mature. I appreciate things more now; life has more meaning."

WHO RELIES ON YOU THE MOST AND WHO YOU RELY ON: "I am a religious and spiritual person; I rely on God. I have had various experiences where there is no question that there was divine intervention to help me. My family relies on me. I give them support and encouragement."

ROLE MODELS: "My favorite actress, Geraldine Page; she inspired me."

HOW DO YOU DEFINE SUCCESS?: "You try to reach your goals, and part of that is to continually have goals, keep centered and to keep going."

YOUR VICE: "I am impatient, though I have gotten better. There is a lot of patience you have to have when dealing with the outside world."

FAVORITE L.A. HANGOUTS: "The Magic Castle; I am still a member there."

FAVORITE FOODS: "I love cooking and eating foods that taste really good. I always try new things."

FAVORITE ACTIVITIES: "I love shotokon karate. I do that whenever I can."

MOST UNUSUAL HOBBY: "I do a lot of crossword puzzles. I have to do one every day."

WHAT MAGAZINES DO YOU READ?: Time, Inc., Entertainment Weekly and some of the gun magazines.

FAVORITE TV SHOWS: "The X-Files," "Unsolved Mysteries" and the news.

WHAT MUSIC DO YOU LISTEN TO?: "Being married to a musician and singer, I listen to his pop tunes, Neil Diamond and Frank Sinatra type of songs."

WHAT WOULD BE A PERFECT DAY FOR YOU?: "I always like the days where you hear good news. The phone would ring and you would hear good news on everything that you are working on."

WHERE DO YOU GO TO GET AWAY FROM IT ALL?: "I love to drive to the beach. If I can't, I'll do a crossword puzzle. 10 minutes of that gets my mind in sync."

CAPTION(S):

PHOTO

Photo Ruby Adriatico Hans Gutknecht/Daily News