James Reid hindi noon pinangarap na sumikat!

Unlike Daniel Matsunaga, current champ in the recently-concluded PBB (Pinoy Big Brother) All In, who hopes that his new title will finally help him achieve stardom, both on TV and movies, fellow fo­reigner James Reid, na itinanghal na Big Winner ng 2010 PBB Teen Clash, was not keen on a showbiz career.

He was 16 nang sumali siya sa reality show matapos mapilit ang kanyang Australian Dad ng isang ta­lent scout na pasalihin siya sa PBB.

Noong mga panahon na iyon, James and his Dad have just arrived in the country. At gusto nilang magkaroon ng mga kaibigan.

Kaya advice ng Dad niya sa kanya that his stint in the PBB Teen Clash might win him friends.

True enough, naging kaibigan niya sina Ryan Bang, Koreano, at Bret Jackson, isang Amerikano.

Naging malapit din siya kay Big Brother, kung saan binanggit niya ang tunay na dahilan ng kanyang pagpasok sa bahay nito. Hindi niya ambisyon ang manalo, James told Kuya. Sapat na, na may dalawa siyang naging kaibigan from among his fellow boarders.

‘‘But Kuya advised me to start dreaming big, lalo’t when I became champ in that particular edition of the reality show,’’ pahayag ni James.

It was Viva Entertainment who first helped him realized his wish to have a record album, self-titled album consisting of only six songs. This was followed by a digital record, na ka-duet niya si Bret and titled We Are Whatever.

Viva Films big boss, Vic del Rosario’s offer for him na maging leading man ni Nadine Lustre sa Diary Ng Panget came as a big surprise to him.

More surprising was the fact na naging big box-office hit ito. So, did their follow-up movie ni Nadine, with Kapamilya star Joseph Marco, Talk Back and You’re Dead.

Talk Back… was a Viva Films-Star Cinema co-produced movie, Diary… only had Viva Films producing it, kaya ang mga fellow Viva Film’s stars nila ni Nadine na sina Yassi Pressman at Andre Paras ang co-stars nila sa unang pelikula nila.

Marlo Mortel tinulungan ni Janella nang mabiktima ng baha

How nice naman of Janella Salvador para ihingi ng tulong ang kanyang leading man sa Be Careful with My Heart na si Marlo Mortel, when she learned na na-trap ito sa baha inside his car last Friday for 11 hours.

Pauwi na sana noon si Marlo galing sa taping ng Be Careful…nang abutan siya ng baha.

In any case, there’s, no doubt, na maganda ang samahan nila ni Janella. Obvious daw na ang magandang samahan among all the members of the cast ng long-time series, na pinangungunahan as we all know, nina Jodi Sta. Maria at Richard Yap, has rubbed on both of them.

Ang parents ni Janella ay ang former Miss Saigon mainstay na si Janine Desiderio and singer Juan Miguel Salvador kaya madali itong nakapasok ng showbiz. Si Marlo naman ay product of a ta­lent search show.

Aside from his good looks and height, and of course, acting talent, nakakapagsulat din ng mga awitin si Marlo.

He hopes to be able to compose and write a song for Janella, who sings.

Right now, what worries Marlo is his Mom, who has, according to their physician ay may stage three cancer. He is just grateful that he is able to help pay for her treatments. Yes, from whatever income he gets, especially from Be Careful With My Heart.