cstatic and excited. These were the things I've felt when my editor asked me to write an article about his interview with this multi-awarded young actress.

Transcribing the interview was a bit hard. Besides the fact that I wasn't the interviewer, the whole tape was sandwiched in laughter and glee. But I wasn't surprised because the interviewee's clever and witty answers to each question will certainly lighten up anyone's mood.

Like a good book, she's “too good to pass up.” The more you indulge in her personality, the more you'll realize that her beauty is more than skin deep. Rarely would you find a woman of style, strength and substance like Alessandra de Rossi.

A FRUITFUL YEAR

Alex is probably one of the busiest actresses around especially last year. After playing the challenging role of Valentina in the telefantasya Darna, she now portrays Andora in Etheria. Before she played a sly and evil character, now she portrays a kinder and smarter role. She also had undergone rigorous training in Arnis for some of the fight scenes.

“Mabait ako rito. Lahat ng bagay na nahahawakan ko nalalaman ko aga yung mystery niya kung nakakalason man siya. Lahat ng puzzles at riddles nasu-solve ko kasi matalino ako. Paran ako mismo, di ko na kailang umarte (laughs),” says Alex.

Although Darna ended, Alex says she still misses doing tapings for the said telefantasya. She was even the first one to cry during the farewell party.

“Nalulungkot kasi ako. Papunta pa lang ako, talagang sa kotse pa lang, naiiyak na ako. Okay lang sa akin na matapos siya kaya lang nakakainis kasi mami-miss mo yung bonding mo sa director, sa mga artista, sa mga EPs. Nakakalungkot na gigising ako na wala na akong taping ng Darna,” she explains.

One special person that she misses a lot from Darna set is veteran actress Ms. Celia Rodriguez. They've already worked together in the soap Biglang Sibol. For Alex, Ms. Celia is like a mother to her.

“Parehas kaming totoong tao. Wala kaming itinatago. Kung ano yung gusto naming sabihin, sasabihin namin. Kung galit kami, galit kami,” Alex enunciates.

Besides doing TV, last year was also Alex's fourth year in the Merto Manila Film Festival. After Hubog, Homecoming, and Spirit of the Glass, came another blockbuster hit Kutod. Here she played Mayen, a friend of Rica's character.

“Maganda yung Kutob kasi suspense siya at di horror. Mas natatakot kasi ako sa suspense. Mas nakakatakot kasi pag alam mo na puwede mangyari sa totoong buhay,” adds the talented actress.

ON PRESENT AND PAST LOVES

Alex avers that she has strong instinct ever since she was still a child. Whenever she meets a person, she already has a feeling whether that person is good or bad. When asked about her “kutob” with rumored boyfriend Jeremy Marquez, she answers: “May kutod ako na mabait siya. Siyempre di ko naman inisip na kami agad magkakatuluyan,” says Alex with a laugh.

She also contradicts rumors that she's not comfortable seeing her ex-boyfriend Oyo Boy Sotto and Angel Locsin together. She defends that she and Angel have been friends since Click days and that she's totally okay with the latter's relationship with Oyo.

Now that she's working with Sunshine Dizon in Etheria, do they ever talk about their ex, Polo Ravales?

“Dati hindi. Ngayon puwede na naming pag-usapan kasi pareho nang wala sa amin. Friends naman kami ni Sunshine. Wala akong kaaway na artista, pulitiko meron,” jokes Alex.

“Kasi di naman weird yung kung wala kayong masamang ginawa nung tao, di ba? Wala ka naman yuyukuang tao, eh. Naging boyfriend ko yang boyfriend mo and so?” asserts Alex.

Though Alex is in a relationship at present, she says that marriage never crosses her mind as of the moment. Before, her ideal age to get married was 25, but according to her you can never really tell what age you'll be prepared to tie the knot.

BONDING WITH ASSUNTA

Despite past controversies and issues, Alex and her elder sister Assunta de Rossi have maintained a very close bond, especially now that her ate only lives in Ortigas. They see each other once a week.

“Nagmu-mall kami tapos kakain. Magkasama kami ng tatalong oras minsan buong araw. Di kasi ako mahilig sa mga bar gimmicks. Kaya kong mag-stay sa kapihan hanggan 6am, pero di ko kayang mag-stay sa bar ng kahit dalawang oras lang. alam ko gumigimik siya, pero di ako kasama niya kasi nga di ako mahilig sa ganun,” tells Alex.

When asked about what she and Assunta talk about whenever they're together, she says that they discuss the usual sisterly stuff. She clarifies that although she wants to ask her sister about her married life, she just keeps it to herself.

“Interesado ako pero ayoko lang magtanong kasi ayokong malaman yung sagot. Gusto ko, siya ang mag-open up sa akin. Siguro masaya siya. Ang kutob ko, hindi siya kasing-lungkot ng ine-expect nating lahat at hindi rin siya kasing-saya ng inaakala niya. Kasi maraming kumontra na ‘Naku, hindi magiging masaya yan.' Eh, masaya naman siya. Sinasabi niya na sobrang masaya siya pero hindi naman talagang kasing-saya ng iniisip niya. So, feeling ko nasa gitna lang siya,” she avers.

MISS INDEPENDENT

At a young age, Alex is proud to say that she's very independent. She lives in her own house with just two maids and a driver. She doesn't mind if her mom is not with her to watch over her the way she used to. Her mom takes care of her younger sisters Margarita, 15, and Isabel, 13, who are all in Italy with their dad.

Alex admits that 2005 was a colorful yet an exhausting year for her. She wasn't able to get enough sleep and she even lost a few pounds while doing Darna, but everything worked to her advantage because she was able to earn a great deal of money. The versatile actress says she's not kuripot but she does spend her money wisely.

“Nagpapadala ako sa mom ko para sa ipinagawang bahay dun para sa kanila. Nag-iipon din ako slightly for myself. Hindi ako kuripot. Sobrang wala akong pakialam sa pera, pero hindi rin naman ako magastos. Bumili lang ako ng bagong kotse kasi mahal na gasoline ngayon so kailangan diesel na gamitin ko. Wala naman akong credit card. So, kung magkano lang yung dala ko, kaya ko yun ubusin ng isang araw pwero hindi naman madalas yun. Siguro mga once every three weeks kung may time pa akong makapag-mall nun ha,” explains the responsible star.

She is also proud to say that she loves going to tiangges since she is not into branded stuffs. However, she makes sure that whatever she buys there is just one of a kind.

BEING REAL AND BEAUTIFUL

Alex is one proud morena and even though she's in a country that blindly professes that true beauty belongs to the fair-skinned, she doesn't intent to apply anything or undergo any procedure to lighten her skin.

“Tamad nga akong mag-lotion, whitening cream pa kaya! Maganda naman kulay ko, eh. Mas gusto ko na maitim at maganda kaysa naman maputi nga pero pangit naman. (laughs)

“Sobrang di ako vain… Maganda na ako, no! Sabi nila responsibility ng artista magpaganda, eh, maganda na ako no! may mga tao pag may pimple di makalabas. Di ako ganun. Sinasabi nila pag artista ka kailangan role model ka. Gusto ko ganito ako na role model, natural beauty. Yung maging confident ka kung ano hitsure mo,” defends the witty thespian.

Some may misunderstand her frankness as harsh and brutal but to her you just have to choose whether to love her or hate her. If you love her, then good but if you don't, then so be it. But don't expect her to exert effort to gain your approval.

“Ganun ako. Tipo kong artista pranka rin. Alam mo agad kung galit. Yung di ka na mag-iisip kung ‘plastic kaya to?' o ‘totoo kaya yung sinasabi niya?' Kapag pinuri ka namin, matuwa ka kasi totoo yun,” concludes Alex.

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