Rufa Mae Quinto with much flourish

If all Ice Queens were like her, more men would be frozen into lifeless sculptures at the snap of a finger.You see, Rufa Mae Quinto isn’t your typical Medusa-like villainess. She’s pretty, well endowed.

But she is, judging by the speed the blue-garbed Freezy (her character) turns anything she fancies –including humans – into ice.

It’s a far cry from her beautiful-but-dumb Booba role in a hit movie years back. Instead of a winning smile and a disarming pose, Rufa the Ice Queen glares and hisses at her enemies, foremost of whom is Bong Revilla as Captain Barbell.

How does this sit with her?

"No problem," she tosses her long, flowing hair. "I’m playing villain to big stars (Regine Velasquez plays Darna, our hero’s lady love)."

Rufa Mae also got a lot of inspiration from her idol Demi Moore, who turned mean in Charlie’s Angels and didn’t mind it at all. Besides, Rufa is in good company. Her fellow meanies are no small fries in the acting department.

Jeffrey Quizon is Dagumpat (Taong Dagat), who wreaks havoc with his mouse-like antics. Albert Martinez is Lagablab, who, as his name implies, spits balls of fire.

Rufa also figures Freezy will add an element of novelty to her acting repertoire, marked mostly by wacky roles in Bubble Gang, Booba (soon to have a sequel, Boobita Rose) and others.

"People may know Rufa Mae as a comedienne, but she’s actually a good actress," observes Captain Barbell director Mac Alejandre. The critics agree. They gave her a Best Supporting Actress (for Dahil May Isang Ikaw) and Best Comedy Actress trophies.

Her passion for work has deprived her of an honest-to-goodness vacation for the past eight years she has been in showbiz, coining catchphrases like "Todo na ’to," among others.

"I don’t know," she muses. "I think this knack for inventing phrases that become popular with the viewers is God’s gift."

But even a seemingly bottomless well of inspiration can run dry. Rufa Mae feels so burned out her body is demanding a break.

This she is now enjoying in Michigan with boyfriend Rudy Hatfield whose family she is meeting for the first time to enjoy a lazy winter holiday with. The newly-reconciled sweethearts will be together in the US for a week, then go their own separate ways, he in Australia with fellow athletes, and she, back to Manila on Jan. 4, 2004 to start shooting Boobita Rose.

"During the first four years Rudy and I have been together, we never had a vacation as a couple, not even in the beach," says Rufa Mae. "Besides," she adds, "I need the break so I can return to my work refreshed and recharged."

Love is lovelier the second time around for Rufa Mae and Rudy. This time, she needs less explanations, less ifs and buts.

"We broke up last year because Rudy was working so hard I thought he had no time for me," reveals Rufa Mae. "I thought he didn’t love me."

Now she knows better. "Rudy has a passion for basketball. Because of this, he shuns all kinds of gimmicks. He devotes a lot of time to workouts.

"He’s so disciplined. Now I understand all he needs is my support. This, I give him in full measure."

True enough, Rufa Mae cheers for Rudy during basketball conferences and is always there when she feels he needs moral support. Could this be why the FilAm player was so inspired on the hardcourt he was recently chosen Mythical Five Member?

Whatever it is, the positive result is two way. Rufa admits she’s learning a lot from Rudy, whose mother happens to be a Filipina surnamed Valdes.

"It’s not just learning English," she jokes. "Seriously," Rufa Mae says, "I’ve become more disciplined at work. That’s why my career is doing well. And I’ve learned to further manage my finances."

After reconciling only two months ago (she asked him pointblank if their continued communication through text messages was going anywhere), the sweethearts are giving each other two more years to put career on top of their priority list. And after that?

Rufa Mae is noncommittal. "Anything can happen. But I figured if we’re really meant for each other, all the time we’re now spending apart because of our careers will be replaced by years of togetherness."

Meantime, sit back and relax as Rufa Mae invents more catchphrases to make daily conversation more colorful. Or reinvents herself as lovable Boobita Rose.

Whatever it is, trust Rufa Mae Quinto to do it with flourish and fanfare.