Daring Valerie

MANILA, Philippines - Don’t ever call Valerie Concepcion a sexy star, despite her plunging necklines and sizzling scenes with Richard Gomez on TV5’s new teleserye, Mga Nagbabagang Bulaklak, which premieres Monday, March 21.

“I’d rather be called a sophisticated actress,” she declares.

Valerie adds that the cleavage and steamy scenes she shows as Violet, the primadonna star on the wane in the series is as far as she will go — so far.

“As long as I don’t feel that my character is violated, and as long as my manager (Becky Aguila) and my parents think it’s a career move, I’ll do it,” Valerie goes on.

Her co-star, Ruffa Gutierrez, who plays network owner Orchidia in the series, may have been shocked at the daring scenes.

“Our director (Jon Red) was surprised. Ate Ruffa even wondered aloud if the scenes with Richard Gomez (who plays her director-lover) will get approval from the MTRCB (Movie and Television Review and Classification Board),” states Valerie.

But she insists doing it all, not just to show more flesh than usual and shock televiewers. She simply wanted to display her acting chops.

“I miss acting,” Valerie reveals.

As co-host of the defunct Pilipinas Win na Win, Valerie didn’t have the chance to star in a teleseries.

“That’s why I gave everything to the role here,” explains Valerie.

Valerie also gave her all in a dance number that kicked off the Mga Nagbabagang Bulaklak presscon even if her muscles felt stiff after one of the dancers accidentally pulled at it during rehearsals.

As Violet, the primadonna star in the new series

Members of the press who saw the number never suspected Valerie felt so uneasy with every step she took.

Valerie knows she can’t skip the dance number in the same way that she can’t turn down an offer that sees her sharing several scenes with Richard. It was only later that she found out many of her scenes will be steamy.

“As long as I have work, that’s okay. And why should I be choosy when I’ll be having scenes with Richard?” Valerie points out.

That’s why she doesn’t mind if she will appear in Mga Nagbabagang Bulaklak for only a month. Her role is so colorful and challenging she wouldn’t miss it for anything in the world.

“As Violet, my career is going downhill and Carla (Humphries), a new artist, is about to take my place,” she relates. “So Carla and I always have a showdown. We figure in slapping scenes and always want to outdo each other. We are fighting for stardom. It’s fun, exciting and challenging.”

Fun, exciting and challenging might as well describe Valerie’s career. She just got word that she has another primetime series lined up. But she’s not allowed to give the details yet.

It’s enough that she is privileged to be shuttling from the TV 5 to the ABS-CBN set and back.

“I’m a freelancer,” she beams.

No wonder people have been asking Valerie if she’s re-joining Willie Revillame’s team, this time for Willing Willie. She already worked with Willie in Wowowee, so another stint with him won’t come as a surprise.

“There are no formal negotiations,” Valerie reveals. “People are just speculating. And I don’t expect Willie to hire me. It’s embarrassing to assume anything.”

Now, Valerie can’t be accused of claiming something which is not hers. She has made herself clear — as a Kapatid and Kapamilya.