Showbiz Newcomer off tp a good start

He reminded me so much of the young Marlon Brando in A Streetcar Named Desire, not in facial features, which are very Pinoy, but with his magnetic, animal appeal. A Pinoy Brando, with dusky good looks!

This was how Ellen Ongkeko-Marfil, producer-director of Erasto Productions' Mga Pusang Gala, described her acting find, Lauren Novero, who is being introduced in the film.

"When he came to us to audition for the part of 'Dom,' the anti-hero lover of Ricky Davao in the film, we knew that we have found the actor to play the part. He does not only fit the bill - and requirements - of the role, he also showed much promise in the acting department," the director adds.

Shooting days have revealed more pleasant surprises and confirmation. The newcomer does not act; he lives his role. Even in tension-filled and emotional moments, he does not resort to histrionics, yet one feels the tension nonetheless, with his quiet intensity. The same "acting style" makes him effective even in comic scenes. Moreover, he does not have any qualms disrobing or doing sensitive, intimate scenes with his co-actor, although at the outset, he made it clear that he is not yet ready and comfortable with frontal nudity. Ricky, who plays an aging gay romance pop novelist, heaps praises on him:

"Magaling 'tong batang ito. Given the right breaks and exposure, the guy will go places," he said of his co-star and screen lover.

Curiously, Lauren has no previous acting experience nor has he attended any formal acting workshop. "Pasundot-sundot lang," is how he described his "acting workshops," which were mere crash lessons before doing a television commercial or ramp modeling.

Lauren started out as a commercial and ramp model. He was the beer-drinking guy of Red Horse with his lap doused wet with the drink by a provoking female admirer. He was also the grand winner of Bodyshots 2001, a popular personality and physique competition for both ladies and gentlemen.

Mga Pusang Gala (Stray Cats) opened the Pink Festival this year last June and those who have watched this innovative and daring romance comedy-drama consider it one of the best local films shown this year so far.

With Ricky Davao and Lauren Novero in Mga Pusang Gala are Irma Adlawan, Reggie Curley and teen actor Alchris Galura. It starts its commercial run come August 17.

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Rufa Mae Quinto and boyfriend Rudy Hatfield met with each other at San Francisco. Rudy personally went to San Francisco to meet Rufa Mae after they reconciled a few weeks before the sexy star went to the United States for the launch of the GMA Pinoy TV.

"Eto ang haba na naman ng hair ko kasi ang saya-saya ko," said the sexy star in an interview on the set of "Bubble Gang" last week. Rufa Mae said that she didn't want to expect anything anymore with regards to her relationship with Rudy. But she admitted that she was deeply affected by their breakup. "Mabuti na lang pumunta siya. At least, hindi ako nalungkot sa States. Ang tagal ko nang malungkot after we broke up pero since we reconciled hindi na ako nalulungkot. He's my happiness."

She got so depressed after she and Rudy broke up that it was then that she realized that Rudy and their love for each other are what make her happy. "Without him, my life is not complete. And with him my life has changed," said Rufa Mae. "Before he left nag-usap kami. Umiyak ako dahil di ko alam kung ano ang mangyayari sa akin. I was really crying on the phone. Besides, I didn't feel good when we broke up. Dinibdib ko talaga. Ngayon parang enhanced na enhanced ang dibdib ko kasi nagkabalikan kami."

They broke up for three months. It was Rufa Mae who requested that they cool off for a while. Since their relationship doesn't seem to be okay, Rudy suggested they rather break up. "Parang tinamad din ako na ipaglaban pa ang relasyon pero now that we've reconciled I'm really very, very happy," she said.

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Marvin Agustin had started taping for a future episode of "Extra Challenge" with Jolina Magdangal as his partner. But the taping had to be stopped because Marvin got an order from ABS-CBN saying he is not allowed to appear in a TV show with Jolina.

Naturally, the staff of "Extra Challenge" were taken aback. They wondered how come Marvin was not informed beforehand that he is not allowed to appear with Jolina when the two of them appeared in an episode of "Bubble Gang Jr." which rated very well. Because of this, Marvin's future guest stints in other GMA programs will probably no longer push through. But we heard that Marvin agreed to speak on "Extra Challenge" and say that ABS-CBN prevented him from finishing his stint in the top-rated reality program.