Rafael Rosell Inside-Out

The newest Bench model reveals more of himself in a Who-What-Where-When-How session.

Today’s Conversation will be brief and to the point, just like the one a few issues ago which ventured "inside" Walker image model Alfred Vargas. This time, Conversations tackles Bench model Rafael Rosell "inside-out."

This Filipino-Norwegian is the body in those huge billboards around the metropolis which compete for the commuters’ attention with similar billboards of such other Bench models Kris Aquino, Alessandra de Rossi, Richard Gutierrez and Wendell Ramos, among others.

Born and raised in Norway by a Norwegian father and a Filipina mother, Rafael first caught the public eye as star of a Closeup commercial which was his stepping stone to showbiz. He started as a contract star of the ABS-CBN Talent Center and he co-starred with Jolina Magdangal and Leandro Muñoz (another Closeup model) in the romance-fantasy Kung Ikaw ay Isang Panaginip. After a cameo role in the Ai Ai delas Alas starrer Pinay Pie, Rafael lay low for a while and came back as a sexy ("Not bold," he stressed) actor in the Seiko sex-comedy Bikini Open.

Standing 5’9" and weighing 163 lbs., Rafael describes himself as a "deep thinker" who reads books like The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night by Mark Haddon, The Ultimate Hitchhiker Guide to the Galaxy by Douglas Adams, The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho and Five People You Meet in Heaven by Mitch Albom.

Rafael bares himself further in the same Who-What-Where-When-How session Alfred Vargas was subjected to.

WHO

1. ...Is the biggest influence in your life?

"Superman. I’ve been fascinated with him since, as a kid, I saw him on TV flying. And my mom (Amelia Quimpo). She told me that, like Superman, I could do whatever I wanted to do as long as I believed that I could do it."

2. ...Do you credit for your entry into showbiz?

"Tito Dave Fabros (who was then working with ABS-CBN’s Talent Center which is now called Star Magic). Through him, I sent my portfolio and resumé to Mr. M (Johnny Manahan, head of Star Magic). I was approved. Mr. M invited me to see him. I did, when my mom and I came here for a vacation. Before long, I signed a contract with ABS-CBN."

3...Is your fantasy figure and why?

"Jessica Rabbit. I started dreaming of her since I was a kid."

4...Is your favorite author?

"Paulo Coelho (The Alchemist). I’ve read all his books, the last one being 11 Minutes which is about a prostitute in Brazil who meets a foreigner who brings her to Switzerland where she struggles to find happiness in life."

5...Do you want to have a love/kissing scene with and why?

"With Wanwan Reyes. She’s not an actress; she’s a model. A Filipina."

WHAT

1...Is your biggest fear?

"That something bad will happen to my family, relatives and/or friends."

2...Is your guiding principle?

"It’s not what but who. She’s none other than my mom."

3...Was your childhood dream?

"To appear in a Hollywood movie."

4...Is expected of you as a Bench model?

"To be fit at all times. How did I become a Bench model? I met Douglas Quijano and then we had a meeting with Mr. Ben Chan (Bench boss). I brought along my portfolio. How do I feel about those huge Bench billboards all over Metro Manila? Great! I’ve long been dreaming of being a part of the Bench Family."

5...Is your best asset?

"Physically? My eyes and my teeth (his passport to the Closeup commercial). I brush my teeth several times a day. My dentist said that I have nice teeth. I guess my other asset is my mind, the way I think. I’m a deep thinker. I think a lot about life. That’s why I love to read Coelho because I like the way he leads me to think about life."

WHERE

1...Do you feel most comfortable?

"On the beach – with my family and loved ones."

2...Is your Achilles heel?

"My ‘crown jewel.’ That’s where most men are vulnerable, isn’t it?"

3...Do you get your inspiration (aside from your mom)?

"My two younger brothers, Ralph, 16, and Russel, nine. I say that I draw inspiration from them because I could see that they do look up to me as a role model. I know that they’re watching what I am doing. If I do something great in my life, I know that they’ll do the same with their lives. It gives me great satisfaction to know that my family is proud of whatever it is that I achieve. One person who’s mighty proud of me is my dad. I could see it in his face and in the way he talks about me when he talks to our relatives and friends."

4...Are you going from here?

"Hollywood, man!"

5...Do you want to raise a family?

"In Norway. It’s such a quiet place, conducive to raising a family. There, education is free."

WHEN

1...Are you at your most productive?

"At night. I’m a night person."

2...Did you realize that you wanted to act?

"Since I was a kid. That’s about the time when I wanted to fly like Superman. During games, I would play Superman and my playmates played the bad guys. Growing up, I started taking martial arts. I wanted to be strong like Superman."

3...Do you feel down?

"When the reality hits me that I’m so far from my family. That’s when I get homesick and lonely."

4...Do you plan to settle down?

"Not yet. Long from now." (He has a non-showbiz girlfriend. –RFL)

5...Do you get angry?

"When people don’t understand. I mean, I don’t expect everybody to understand me all the time. But in this industry, some people don’t understand that you’re just human and you, too, can have a bad day. That’s when you find it hard to smile and when some people think you are suplado." (He’s a Scorpio, born on Nov. 10. – RFL)

HOW

1...Did you lose your innocence?

"Like just most guys...One night, I was out with a girl and it just happened. I was about 15 or 16. No, the girl wasn’t much older than me as is usually the case. She was also a teenager."

2...Was your childhood in Norway?

"My brothers and I were brought up the Filipino way, on traditional Filipino values. I was born and grew up in Stavanger."

3...Do you cope with problems?

"I confront them; I never run away from them. The biggest problem I’ve encountered in my 23 years? I can’t think of any. Most of my problems were easy to solve."

4...Much of you is Filipino and how much is Norwegian?

"My blood is Filipino and so is my attitude. But I guess my mentality is Norwegian. I speak my mind. I notice that guys here simply keep silent kapag pinagagalitan sila even if they know it’s not their fault. In Norway, it’s different. We’re encouraged to say our piece. Are Filipinos more aggressive than Norwegians – or vice-versa – as far as girls are concerned? They’re the same. I guess guys are the same anywhere in the world where girls are concerned."

5...Do you sleep?

"In a Bench underwear."

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