AFTER all the fanfare as to who should play the Pinoy version of the popular Colombian telenovala character Betty La Fea, the role went to the beauteous and far from being “la fea” Bea Alonso.
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The ABS-CBN homegrown talent bagged the role after the controversial resignation of GMA 7’s Regine Velasquez’s from the Sunday variety show SOP after allegedly being offered to play the role of Betty. Regine, however, after not receiving an official offer from ABS-CBN, returned to GMA where she’s now doing Ako si Kim Sam Soon, another Koreanovela spin off.
But before Bea was announced as America Ferrera’s counterpart in the Pinoy version, other names also came up as contenders for the much coveted role. Anne Curtis was one of them, but the role of Dyosa eventually went to her. Kim Chiu, who starred in the Pinoy version of the Koreanovela My Girl, was another.
Finally, after careful consideration by the ABS-CBN management, they’ve decided – it’s Bea who’s gonna be la fea.
Ugly Bea?
Prior to this, Bea admits to getting depressed since she thought there won’t be any new project for her after Maging Sino Ka Man went off the air. Most of her costars in the series moved on with other projects – Anne Curtis and Sam Milby are doing Dyosa, while her perennial ka-loveteam, John Lloyd Cruz, did a Star Cinema film with Sarah Geronimo – but ABSCBN did not mention anything about her next project.
“I was really depressed. I asked myself, ‘What would I do now?’ I can’t afford not to have a job? I need
to earn money for my family. So I really got depressed,” she said.
Even though Bea is being considered as one of the top actresses of the Kapamilya network, she wasn’t really sure whether she’ll have an upcoming project at all. So Bea, worried about her future, took the guts of meeting with Mr. Johnny Manahan and her Tita Mariole (her bosses at Star Magic) so she could ask them if there’s a project waiting for her.
“But they couldn’t give me an answer then,” recalls Bea. “In fairness to them, they met with me (even though) they couldn’t give me a definite answer. (But) they knew all along that I had been picked to play the role of Betty La Fea,” says Bea.
Unsure of her future with her home network, Bea kept herself busy. She enrolled in a belly dancing class and went on a trip to Singapore. But her depression did not drive Bea to rebel against ABS-CBN. She thought of a backup plan and even thought of going back to school.
You could just imagine Bea’s excitement when she was finally told that the coveted role of Betty was all hers for the taking.
And who should play the role of Betty’s love interests? Why who else but—Surprise! Surprise!— John Lloyd Cruz.
Back in John Lloyd’s arms
The movie One More Chance was supposed to be Bea and John Lloyd’s last team up together. Though the movie propelled them to Box Office royalty, ABS-CBN thought it was time to give their loveteam a rest and try them out with different reel partners.
So ABS-CBN kept secret who they’ve picked to play the role of Armando, Betty’s boss.
But then, the cat had to get out of the bag. And I Love Betty La Fea was indeed another Bea and John Lloyd team up.
“Take note of the title, I Love Betty La Fea. That means John (Lloyd Cruz) is the one telling me that he loves me,” says Bea who asserts that the show is their tandem’s show and not just hers.
“Like what he said, whatever success that we have, whether individually or as a tandem, we share with each other. The success of A Very Special Love (Sarah Geronimo’s film with John Lloyd) is also my success,” shares Bea. “I am proud of him because we started in this business at the same time, in a soap opera.”
“We were together in most of our projects in the past. So I really appreciate the good words that John Lloyd said about Betty La Fea.”
It seems like Bea is more than happy to be partnered again with her good friend Lloydie.
“I only need minimal adjustment for my role because I am working with him. Kilala na namin ang isa’t-isa so there’s no need for any major adjustment in terms of working relationship,” says Bea.
And it seems that like their numerous fans, Bea is not yet ready to lose John Lloyd as a partner.
“I am thankful that he accepted the role of Armando,” beams Bea.
I Love Betty La Fea premiered in the Philippines last September 8 and so far, has been receiving positive review. The original Betty La Fea has already been shown in the Philippines and has been produced in different countries, most recently in the United States as the TV hit, Ugly Betty.
