Lovi Poe carves her own legacy

CEBU, Philippines - Now it can be said that Lovi Poe — christened at birth as Lourdes Virgina — has gone beyond the shadow of her father, the late Pinoy action movie icon Fernando Poe Jr.

The initial curiosity towards her was of course, fanned by this bit detail that she was a daughter of the legendary actor and one-time Philippine presidential candidate. She started off aiming to make it big as a singer, but later on ventured into acting and has reaped awards in that department.

Considered one of the industry’s most sensually appealing young actresses today (just take a look at her numerous magazine covers, billboards and editorial spreads), Lovi has been unabashedly flaunting her physique in such films like Mayohan, Temptation Island, My Neighbor’s Wife, and Aswang. She has proven enough though that the sexy image isn’t her main selling point. That she has the acting aptitude to back it up.

Even then, some quarters had raised their eyebrows at Lovi’s proclivity for the daring as it veered far from the well-loved FPJ’s wholesome and man-of-the-masses persona. Up to now, the caramel-skinned siren is still asked whether she would have dared pose in skimpy wear or act out intimate scenes had Da King been still alive.

"I think doing off-beat roles will actually help me because it’s far from what my dad was doing before. Because if I’ll be the goody-two-shoes, that wouldn’t be me. I’d be pretending to be wholesome just because I’m his daughter, and I don’t think that would be nice. So, I think it helps me to be totally different from him," said Lovi during a recent interview with the Cebu press.

Without disregarding the golden ticket her paternal origins afforded, it would seem that Lovi’s looks and talent (courtesy also of her mother, former model-actress Rowena Moran) would have stood on their own, sans the constant attachment to FPJ’s name. Nevertheless, she does not discount the fact that her father’s commendable work ethic and people skills have paved her road and set a high standard for her to emulate.

Asked what she believes is her father’s best legacy, Lovi had this to say: "His good name. Not because he became the King of Philippine Movies, but because he was so kind. Wherever I go and whenever I work for the first time with some people in the industry, they have nothing to say but nice things about him. That makes me feel so proud that I’m his daughter, because it’s his good reputation that I’m bringing with me all the time, to the extent that I don’t want that to get ruined. In some ways, I may be different, but I am trying not to ruin the good name he left behind."

If her recent career highs and show-must-go-on attitude despite personal heartache aren’t any indication of how Lovi will carry on that good legacy, then we don’t know what is. Lovi starred in five movies last year, won the Best Supporting Actress trophy at the recent PMPC Star Awards for her performance in Yesterday, Today and Tomorrow, had just graced the pages of the Mexican edition of Esquire magazine, and is contracted to topbill more Regal Films productions this 2012.

She is also delighting primetime devotees as Natasha Alcantara in the GMA-7 series Legacy. In this glossy soap, Lovi plays a fashionable marketing executive and expected heiress of a beauty empire. It’s a role she relishes.

"She’s a very good daughter and was a daddy’s girl, but then, she’s quite bitchy to the people she doesn’t like. But if she loves the person, she’s very kind. So she’s just being real. She’s not a totally bad person. Like her, I also have my moments. That’s why it’s nice to play the role of Natasha, because I can relate to her. But I also have many similarities to the role of Heart [Evangelista]; I can relate to her character as well," she imparted.

Lovi was all praises for primera kontravida Cherie Gil, who plays her uncaring and sharp-tongued adoptive mother. She gushed, "She’s so funny and she knows exactly what to do when she gets there. Such a professional!"

When it comes to her own progression as an actress, Lovi finds it sensible not to rest on her laurels. "I think every time, I learn a lot from everything I do. There’s always room for improvement. I believe you should never think that you’re already a good actress because once you reach that point, that’s it. You’ll never learn. So far, I just continue acting from my heart and getting into my character."

While Lovi enjoys doing both film and TV work, she went on to share how she can better plot out her acting in a movie set. This is because the whole script of a film is already given for the artist to study, so she knows exactly how to attack a role. She could plan when to give her everything, or when to be subtle. In soap operas, it is more spontaneous and there are times when she would give everything on the first day, and so would feel she has nothing different to show in the end.

Any roles she would jump at the chance to flesh out? "I want to play a drug addict, a stripper, stuff like that. I really want to do rebellious roles. I did have my stage of being a rebel in real life. Do we ever grow out of it? I think I still have my moments, because I’m the type of person that when you strangle me or push me to do something I don’t like, the more I would do it," she revealed.

Soon, fans will hear Lovi rekindle her first passion. She is set to complete the recording of her third album that will mostly feature revived ballads. This was supposed to be done last year yet, but her packed schedule made it impossible. Lovi, whose voice was once described by her manager as like that of singer Norah Jones, already came out with two studio albums in the past.

Lovi added that she considers 2011 as sort of her career rebirth. "Last year was great for me. There were some things that I got last year that I did not expect. It was like everything started again. I thought I started in showbiz years ago, but then I believe last year was where I actually began my career. I’m very happy now. Whatever project that’s given to me, I just have to do my best."

With her current state of bliss, is there anything else she wants to do? Yes, in fact, there are more dreams to chase for this 23-year old! "I want to have my own business. My own lingerie line, with Bench, if ever. I also want to put up a restaurant. I also want to be a writer because I love stories and reading novels, especially those of my favorite author Judith McNaught."