Rhian Ramos: R is for Real

Many have noticed that she has the vibe of a reluctant star: someone who doesn’t wallow in fame and the shrieks of a maddening crowd. Yet it seems there is no escaping stardom for Rhian Ramos. Armed with looks that could sell any product and gain multiple accolades from her directors as an actress, she is set to conquer another facet of the biz as she records her first album set for mid-year release. I’ve had the privilege to hear her sing, and with a soothing-jazzy voice similar to those of Adele and Norah Jones, it’s interesting to see what sound she’ll come up with to make it all her own.

Strong-minded, opinionated and wise beyond her years, she is far from the kind of celebrity cooked up by a battalion of image-makers. This girl is unafraid to enter unchartered territories as she takes on the lead role in a semi-animated indie flick, Saving Sally, and putting her dancing shoes on for Sunday musical variety show, Party Pilipinas. She’s willing to suck it up and take a risk. And that’s exactly the attitude that sets her apart from her contemporaries: Rhian is real. For the first edition of The Dialogue, read up on how Henry Sy, Manny Pangilinan and Richard Gordon make it to her list of possible friends, and why shaving her head has always been an option.

YOUNG STAR: Who do you follow on Twitter?

RHIAN RAMOS: I’ve been looking for Michael Cera but I can’t seem to find him. Conan joined Twitter when he lost his show so I follow him. He is beyond witty so it’s not a “pity follow.”

What song on-loop would make for musical torture?

Calle Ocho by Pitbull. I heard it on a co-star’s dance album.

Which celebrity could do with a little more respect from the public?

Maja Salvador. I super love her and I want her to be in every movie. She acts so well and she’s the greatest dancer ever. When she acts I believe in her portrayal. Do I sound like a fan? I can’t tell.

Which fictional character do you most identify with?

Peter Pan. He appreciated childhood while he was there, while the rest of us couldn’t wait to grow up. Peter Pan knew better.

Who do you feel is overrated in the industry?

Dingdong. Everyone’s so gaga over him being sexy but when you actually meet him he’s very silly and maloko.

Which presidentiable would you like to have a cocktail with?

(Richard) Gordon. Because he hasn’t been too heavy on advertising and I don’t believe in political commercials. I feel like out of all of them he’s the lowest in the B.S. department, which is why we would get along.

If you could invite five personalities to a dinner, who would they be?

Mike Einziger (guitarist of Incubus), Manny Pangilinan, Solenn Heussaff, Xander Angeles and Natalie Portman.

If you could live someone else’s life for a day, whose would it be?

I want to be Henry Sy just because he owns everything. I’m hoping the rumor of him bringing H&M to our shores is true and I’d put it under my name. At the end of the day I would’ve spent all his money already, including the purchase of a helicopter just for kicks.

What do think when you look at yourself in the mirror?

Every time I look at myself in the mirror I feel like I need to work out. I used to be big, and now that I’ve gotten smaller, it’s time to build a bit of muscle. I don’t want anything to jiggle.

What is one sweet little lie you’ve told lately?

“Sorry, I missed your call.” Now, there goes my alibi.

Have any interesting dreams lately?

I had this dream where everything I drew came to life. I drew myself a car — a red, vintage convertible.

What thought gets you out of bed in the morning?

“Holy crap, Randy’s gonna kill me!” Randy is my personal trainer who’s notorious for being on time.

If you were given just a weekend to live, what would be three things you’d do?

First I want to try sky-diving; second, I’ll say on national television everyone who’s been mean to me, and lastly, for some reason I’ve always wanted to shave my head — just to see what I’d look like. So this would be the perfect weekend to do all those.

What mantra do you live by?

My dad told me that it’s better to regret something you’ve done, than to not try at all. Which is why I auditioned for acting in the first place. I was against it at first but those words stuck, so I gave it a shot.

What would you consider the greatest invention?

Swiss Army knife — duh, everything’s in there.

What should men never say?

“Did your mom got mad?”

What should women never do?

Women should never forget to shave.

Who has the sexiest brain for you?

Drew Arellano because he can make a joke out of anything. A sense of humor is a guy’s best weapon.

What’s the worst thing you’ve heard about yourself?

“Ang taba mo ngayon ah! Pero bagay.”

If you found yourself on death row, what would be your last meal?

A bowl of monggo without the chicharon because it’s the most comforting food for me. I had loads of it as a child and with me being on death row I’d actually feel comforted with just a bowl of that stuff. I’m not a very expensive inmate.

What would you rather be doing right now?

Flying a really big kite because no one ever asks to me to do that. Everyone just asks for gimmick-y stuff.

What do you love about your job?

The people I meet. Everything in showbiz comes in such big quantities, be it good or bad. I love the extremes I encounter in this industry — extremely powerful, extremely nice, and extremely foul.

Whose body makes you feel like touching it?

Iza Calzado or Daniel Matsunaga.