Jackie: I'm behaving

MANILA, Philippines - This time she means business. Jackie Rice swears she has turned over a new leaf. She won’t keep everyone waiting on the set by arriving late or not at all.

She’s staying put in showbiz, and she won’t let anything stop her from making a go of her career again.

“I did try to quit because I can’t stand the intrigues. I was crying because of that. But my family told me there must be a reason why I won StarStruck,” says Jackie.

Her bosses in GMA helped Jackie weather the crisis. She recalls how GMA Network SVP for Entertainment Wilma Galvante and Artist Center head Ida Henares told Jackie she can take her time in dealing with her personal issues. The lady bosses didn’t pressure Jackie to shape up overnight. They were willing to wait until she finally saw the light.

And Jackie did, slowly but surely.

“I used to go to gimmicks left and right and neglected my work. I thought gimmicks are forever while work is always there. I realized how wrong I was. Besides, I’m not getting any younger,” admits Jackie.

The work ethic now makes a lot of sense for her.

“Work will not be there forever while the gimmicks will come and go. I don’t want gimmicks anymore. They only make me look haggard. You have to dress up, put on makeup, then change your clothes when you get home. “

Jackie learned her lesson the hard way. GMA 7 suspended her many times because of unprofessionalism. Bur since she’s young, Jackie can still get up on her feet and pick up the pieces in her career.

Her big mistake, she says in hindsight, is that she did not realize celebrities like her should also be good role models to other young people.. After all, these young people are still looking for heroes, especially among showbiz celebrities.

That’s why Jackie doesn’t want her lovelife to go out of control..

 “Love will always be there. My nonshowbiz boyfriend of one month understands,” she reveals. “From now on, I will now balance love and career. ”

After all, not everybody is lucky to get a second chance like her. And she’ll be a fool to let it slip away, especially now that so many young talents are emerging from star searches and reality shows.

Jackie learned how to gyrate and project as a club dancer in her role as Shiva in Tisay, which premiered on GMA 7 yesterday (after Party Pilipinas). It was a first for her, but Jackie just thought of how badly her character needs money to help herself and her parents and she pulled through.

Her director, Jun Lana’s verdict: “Jackie is a revelation.”

Her biggest challenge is playing a dual role: The studious Ella by day and the sexy Shiva by night. It’s no walk in the park, and you can’t blame Jackie for feeling nervous and worrying if the public will like her work.

One thing Jackie is sure of, though is that she’ll never go bold. She’ll play mature roles, but not bold ones.

“My fans won’t like it,” she reasons out.

Shall we start rolling the red carpet and welcome a new and better Jackie Rice?