MANILA, Philippines - In full Betty La Fea costume, actress Bea Alonzo asserts that she understands the true beauty of her new TV character on the upcoming ABS-CBN series ?Betty La Fea.?

In spite of the braces on her teeth, the fake bushy eyebrows on her face, the clip-on bangs on her head, the thick glasses hiding her eyes, the three layers of clothing and stockings covering her body and legs, Bea thinks Betty?s quite a stunner.

?Ang ganda niya (She?s gorgeous). She has three leading men running after her,? she quips, laughing heartily.

The identity of the actor who will play her main love interest Armando is still top secret, but all indications point to Bea?s perennial partner John Lloyd Cruz.

Comic Vhong Navarro will portray her best friend and a third leading man will join the show in its second season. According to the grapevine, the third guy?s slot is still up for grabs, but Jake Cuenca is a strong contender.

If men fall for Betty, it?s because of her ?inner beauty? Bea surmises.

?She has a strong core because of her family,? she explains. ?When she joins the make-believe world of a fashion magazine, she stands out because she?s real.?

Although they are not physically alike, she relates well with her TV persona.

?Like me, Betty values her family. We?re both breadwinners,? she relates.

But if there?s one thing they don?t share, it?s that Betty is lovestruck. ?She is still waiting for Mr. Right. I?d like to think that I?ve become more mature and independent. I?ve changed a lot. I?ve grown to be a more confident woman.?
She is fully aware that ?Betty? is a successful world-wide franchise and that the Colombian original has spawned over a dozen versions in countries as diverse as Bulgaria and Vietnam, Switzerland and Turkey.

The most popular adaptation is the US show ?Ugly Betty,? top-billed by America Ferrera and Vanessa Williams.

?I watched the Colombian and US shows to make sure that my portrayal would be different,? she notes. ?I want to be able to represent the country well in the international Betty franchise.?

She has gone to great lengths for the role.

?I am really deglamorized here,? she says. ?When I talk for a long time, my mouth would bleed because of the braces.?

Also, the makeup artist spends hours planting each hair on Bea?s brows.

?There are a lot of sacrifices,? she concedes. ?But it?s all worth it. Especially when people don?t recognize me when we tape in Quiapo or Mendiola. I appreciate it more when fans call me Betty instead of Bea.?

Bea points out that the Kapamilya network follows a very ?Hollywood? method in making ?Betty.?

?Apart from workshops, we also have separate days for readings and run-throughs,? she says. ?ABS-CBN also built a huge set for the Eco Moda office. The network is taking a lot of risks with this project. That?s why I hope it clicks ? so that we can improve the way we do soaps in the country as well.?

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