MANILA, Philippines?If you think Rhian Ramos is just another pretty face in Tinseltown?s galaxy of actress-wannabes and starlets, think again. In fact, it wasn?t just laughter that characterized our recent interview with the articulate teenage actress?Rhian?s answers to our questions demonstrated that there?s more to the luminous 18-year-old Filipino-Welsh beauty than meets the eye.
The teenage star, who portrays the coveted role of Jodi opposite Dingdong Dantes? Cholo on GMA-7?s local adaptation of the popular Koreanovela, ?Stairway to Heaven,? beginning Monday, Sept. 14, delighted us with her candor. When we asked her which character she would rather play between Darna and Dyesebel, her answer was unexpected.
Rhian was cautious not to get misquoted, but she playfully admitted she had reservations about wearing the Pinoy superheroine?s skimpy costume and the iconic mermaid?s tail. She explains: ?Darna shows off her legs, while Dyesebel doesn?t have legs at all?she displays her boobs. Taping would be a problem, because you?d have a hard time covering them with your hair. With Darna, I don?t know how my family would react if I fight crime in a bikini! I can do crunches, but that?s a lot of hard work. I don?t want to go on a diet (laughs).?
Top heartthrobs
Her collaborations with the Kapuso network?s top heartthrobs?Richard Gutierrez, Mark Herras, JC de Vera and now Dantes?have been learning experiences for her. How different is Dingdong? She shares, ?Dong is more quiet than I expected. Hindi siya pa-pogi. He?s very natural. Initially, there was the ilang factor, but a couple of bonding sessions gave us a chance to connect?which we needed to establish Jodi and Cholo?s relationship, and because ?Stairway to Heaven? is a heavy drama.?
Doesn?t she worry that her team-up with Dantes might offend Dong and Marian Rivera?s fans? Rhian quickly replies, ?I don?t see why that should happen. As artists, we?re given our respective projects?it?s purely work. It?s not like I use my job as an excuse to meet guys.?
Reason
She feels lucky not to have gotten stuck in a love team, though she?s been paired up with Richard most often. With or without a partner, doesn?t she find show biz highly competitive? ?It is,? Rhian agrees. ?I think that?s the reason why actors tend to make friends more with members of the opposite sex, where there?s no competition.?
Wasn?t Rhian intimidated by Richard?s feisty mom, Annabelle Rama? She beams, ?There?s nothing Tita Annabelle loves more than her children, so she fights tooth and nail for them. Once you meet her, though, you?ll realize she?s the most good-hearted mom. We get along well. In fact, I even played her younger self in ?Monster Mom? (laughs)!?
Romance
How does romance factor into Rhian?s busy schedule, and what does a guy have to do to catch her attention? ?It?s always mind over heart for me, which intimidates many men,? she shares. ?But, I?m no monster (laughs). It?s not that I don?t want to fall in love?I just don?t want to get into it without basis. I like men who are sure of themselves. I enjoy the company of funny men, because I like to laugh. I?ve never had someone I could call a boyfriend, but I?ve had what people describe as ka- ?mutual admiration? (laughs). Ayoko sa killjoy.?
What?s the downside to life in show biz? She quips, ?It?s annoying to hear fabricated stories about me?though I can handle anything about myself with a smile. But, when people drag my family into intrigues, I freak out, because they didn?t choose to be part of this business. Once, there was talk that I posed for a risqué pictorial for a secret gathering?which was baloney! It?s worse than ?Gossip Girl?!?
