Lovi to show boyish side in new series

MANILA, Philippines - Extremely happy is how Lovi Poe feels about getting a new drama project on GMA 7, months after her last TV acting stint, Akin Pa Rin Ang Bukas, ended December of last year.

“At last, I’m finally going back to (acting) work, the last taping I had was in December. But it was good in a way because I got to rest for quite some time,” Lovi told The STAR after the story conference for Ang Dalawang Mrs. Real which she is topbilling with Dingdong Dantes and Maricel Soriano.

She spent most of her rest and relaxation at her new house somewhere in the Taguig area. “Ilang months din yung (pahinga), I was just at home with my dogs fixing my house because when I moved there, I was still taping so I haven’t totally enjoyed my room yet. When that break from doing regular soap came, I really just stayed at home. I have a cousin who stays with me. Now, I’m ready to work again.”

Although tapings have yet to start, Lovi is prepping up this early for her role which, in her assessment, is far different from the ones she has done before. No need to wear heavy make-up and act with finesse in most of the scenes just like what she was often required to do in the past. This time, she is about to show that side of her never before seen by the public ever since she set foot on showbiz ground.

“I’m quite boyish. I make my own decisions like my character. Of course, she listens to her parents but then she has her own thinking and she’s very driven just like me. I am reckless and stubborn here but this time she’s a bit boyish so it’s definitely something new for the viewers.”

Lovi shared that when she was a kid, she preferred playing games on the streets than being confined at home playing Barbie dolls. “I wasn’t kept at home, I’m always outside climbing trees and I really loved boy games like boxing.”

As Lovi was growing up, that “rough persona” had been tempered and in its place is an aura of poise and grace.

In Ang Dalawang Mrs. Real, Lovi will play the wife of Dingdong who is also married to Maricel. “But my character doesn’t know that she’s the second wife so I cannot say that I’m a contravida here. All I could say is I’m a bit boyish here.”

“In a way, I see my character’s personality close to mine,” said Lovi who has to put that boyish self sleeping inside her on active mode. “I love adventures to the point of pushing myself to the limit and see how far I can go and I know my limitations at the same time.”

Asked how adventurous she can get, Lovi replied, “I love traveling as part of my being adventurous. I’ve done cliff diving and stuff like that.”

And before she buckles down to work, Lovi will be taking a two-week vacation in Europe with Rocco Nacino who is reportedly courting her. But Lovi quickly added that it was her Europe-based sister who invited Rocco to come.

Without confirming the real score between her and Rocco, Lovi said that the latter is the total opposite of her personality. “He’s very sweet and understanding. He’s very funny, too; he makes me laugh a lot.”

Is she ready to fall in love again?

“I haven’t been in a relationship for quite some time already but I don’t want to rush things. Things might go wrong ‘pag minadali.”

But Lovi is ready to reveal more about herself as she completes the sentences below. Read on.

When I was younger, I’ve always wanted to be… a singer because I grew up listening to Patti Austin, Britney Spears and watching music videos.

My celebrity crush is… Ryan Gosling definitely.

The showbiz personality I look up to is… Kate Hudson. She’s my favorite actress. I love her in Almost Famous. Also, Natalie Portman.

The one thing that scares me the most is…well, I’m afraid of heights and losing people that I love.

My craziest fan experience was when… someone sent me a photo having the same tattoo as mine. I don’t know if it’s henna or the real thing.

The food I love to gorge on is… sinigang. I love sinigang I can eat that every day. See now I’m craving, hahahaha!

The most adventurous thing I’ve done… was jump off the cliff. It was in Tali (Beach in Batangas) when I gave in to peer pressure, my dear friends talaga. I was up the cliff and they started shouting, “Baduy! Baduy!” because I didn’t want to jump; I was afraid of heights and then that time I just closed my eyes and I just took one step forward and I was dying for three seconds. I told myself this is it, I’m dying and then when I fell on the water, I felt so alive.

My most embarrassing moment was… a lot but the most memorable was when I was in grade school at Miriam College. I was in the school bus and we were in Ateneo already na sa sobrang boyish ko talaga I was so bored waiting for my bus mates, I went out and climbed a tree and then pag-akyat ko tinawag na ko ng driver, “Tara na, Lourdes (my real name).” So, I jumped but my skirt got stuck and my underwear was showing in front of a lot of people. That was in Ateneo so it was really embarrassing. I was trying to grab my skirt ang tagal; that’s how boyish I can get.

My most prized possession is… my house. I spent so much for it. It’s a three-floor house tapos pina-extend ko ng pina-extend. Most of my savings went there but it’s all worth it because every day I wake up beautifully seeing the fruit of my hard work.