Bea is Betty La Fea

After strings of speculations and wild guesses as to who will portray the role of Betty La Fea, ABS-CBN president Charo Santos-Concio, in a video, congratulated Bea Alonzo as the Kapamilya network’s choice to be the Pinoy Ugly Betty of its telenovela franchise from Colombia, Betty La Fea.

Visibly elated with the TV exec’s remarks, Bea expressed gratitude for the network’s trust in giving her one giant task that would put her acting in another acid test as the role is way too far from the glamorous characters she used to give life to on the big and small screens. Betty is the total opposite of Bea’s Jackie Madrigal on Maging Sino Ka Man or Basha Eugenio in Star Cinema’s One More Chance. Betty completely strips off the glamour and beauty in the young actress as a conservative, beauty-deprived secretary of a modeling company’s good-looking president.

“With thick eyebrows, braces, bangs, you won’t be seeing anymore the real me but instead Betty the character. This somehow fulfills my dream of becoming a character actress and showing how deep my passion is in acting,” Bea says.

Still, Bea feels the pressure as she learns how the franchise slashed a great portion in the network’s coffers. ABS-CBN acquired the rights to the telenovela three years ago. The TV series, produced by Colombian Network Radio Cadena Nacional and written by Fernando Gaitan, has  over a dozen versions and was dubbed in different languages by countries all over the world including the US.

The Pinoy version, ABS-CBN business unit manager Deo Endrinal says, will adapt to the Filipino culture — from dealing with the family to treating with respect the different people of society to fulfilling every hope and aspiration. Betty La Fea, he adds, will be another source of inspiration to televiewers when they witness how the lead character changes the lives of people around her.

“We earmarked Bea for the role and blogs and forums on the Internet from fans wishing for Bea to play the role proved that we made the best choice,” Deo shares.

Bea, however, just learned the good news when Deo told it to her during Charo Concio’s birthday party.

“I prayed so hard for this role because I didn’t expect the role is meant for me. This comes as a big blessing to me as I really need this,” Bea enthuses, denying that she wants to bury her head with work due to a recent rumor about her breakup with Mico Palanca.

Being a breadwinner, Bea insists, is the main reason why she opted to work right away after the heavy drama Maging Sino Ka Man folded up.

But as far as who will play Armando, Nicolas and Aldo is concerned, Deo reveals the management is still in the process of selecting among its talents. He says an audition will be held for the other members of the cast. Taping will start in June and airing will probably start by the third quarter of this year. 

Would John Lloyd Cruz, her perennial screen partner, be part of the show?

“For the first time, I will be doing a soap without John Lloyd because he is busy shooting a movie with Sarah (Geronimo). That’s why I feel parang napilay ako as I am used to having him as my partner. But this somehow will show my ability to act solo,” Bea replies.

As soon as the role fell on her lap, Bea thought of how she could make the character more endearing to the Pinoy audience. She thinks the story is art imitating life itself, with the situations so real they really happen in the daily battle of life.

Obviously, Betty and Bea look totally different from each other. But is there a similarity between the two?

“I had lots of insecurities when I was growing up but just like Betty I learned how to overcome those issues and become confident in how I look and be content with whatever I have,” Bea answers, debunking talks that she’s into beauty enhancements.

“It doesn’t matter how you look, whether I’m fat or not. What matters is that you are happy,” Bea says.

And that you have a heart as big as Betty La Fea’s.