Body Talk with Rafael Rosell

When Rafael Rosell saw the sexy photos of his friend Alfred Vargas in the papers, taken from the Seiko movie Bridal Shower, he texted Alfred, "Congratulations! You’re now a bold star!"

Now, it should be Alfred’s turn to text the same message to Rafael, who has dropped caution and some of his clothes to the wind as Alfred’s co-star (along with, among others, Francine Prieto, Diana Zubiri, Nina Ricci Alagao and newcomer JE Sison) in the new Seiko flick Bikini Open (also directed by Jeffrey Jeturian) where he plays a gym instructor who’s such a womanizer that he gets every girl he meets pregnant.

Discovered through a Close-Up commercial four years ago, Rafael has done only two ("harmless") movies, Star Cinema’s Kung Ikaw ay Isang Panaginip (with fellow Close-Up endorser Leandro Muñoz and Jolina Magdangal) Pinay Pie (in a "guest" role).

"I won’t call myself a bold actor," said Rafael. "Bikini Open is a sex-comedy and as a gym instructor, I have to wear trunks naturally. Did I go nude? No, I did not. Why did I decide to go sexy just now? Well, there wasn’t any opportunity for me to do that kind of a role at Star Cinema. Bikini Open has a good script; it’s a good role, so why shouldn’t I take it?"

To prepare for the role, Rafael visited gyms and closely observed how gym instructors worked.

"How different am I from my character? Very different! I’m not a babaero (womanizer) and I haven’t gotten any girl pregnant."

Rafael shuttles between the Philippines (where he keeps a bachelor’s pad) and Norway (where the rest of his family is; his mother is a Filipina). He stands 5’9.5", weighs 163 lbs. and wears size 10.5 shoes. Asked what the size of his briefs is, Rafael confessed, "No, I don’t wear briefs. You see, I read somewhere that there’s a percentage of a chance that if you wear briefs, especially tight ones, you can become impotent."

What kind of diet do you follow?

"I eat anything. I love food. I don’t starve myself. When I think I overeat, binabawi ko na lang sa gym."

What workout do you do?

"I work on my chest and back at the same time, and then on my shoulders and legs."

Is it hard staying alone and doing everything yourself?

"I grew up in Norway and I’m used to it."

What vitamins (and/minerals) are you taking?

"Vitamins C and B-Complex."

How much sleep do you get per night?

"I try to sleep for eight hours but I often get only six."

How much liquid do you take every day?

"Lots of water so I won’t be dehydrated. No sodas for me."

How do you cope with stress?

"I meditate."

How do you pamper yourself?

"I go to the Foniare Spa (on Tomas Morato Avenue, Quezon City). The owner is my friend and he got me and somebody else as models. When I need to relax and loosen up those stiff muscles, I go to Foniare once a week or twice a month. How else do I pamper myself? I watch movies in the moviehouse."

What kind of movies do you like?

"Any kind; all kinds."

Are you vain like most goodlooking men?

"Vain in what way?"

You know, looking at yourself in the mirror longer than necessary.

"No, I don’t do that. When I go out, but not to work, I don’t even fix my hair. I just wear a hat or a bonnet. But if I have to be on a show, I try to look good because people expect that from me. I take extra effort to look good."

How long does it take you to fix yourself?

"I am a shower person. I can stay for a long time in the shower and meditate." (Note: I bumped into Rafael at the Changi Airport in Singapore last year and he took advantage of the brief stopover of his flight from Norway to Manila by taking a quick shower)."After showering, it takes me just a few minutes to fix myself."

What part of your body is your favorite?

"I don’t know...Let me think...Siguro my shoulders. I work hard to make them firm."

What part of a woman’s body do you look at first?

"You really want to know that?"

Your fans and Funfare readers would like to know.

"For first impression, eyes and hair. But what I really look for is a nice stomach and a nice butt."

What part of your body is most vulnerable?

"It has to be, well, ‘the family jewel.’ Yes, that part! Try letting somebody kick you there. Masakit na masakit ‘yon! Ouch! It happened to me when I was a kid, when I got into a fight."

What part of your body do you think needs a little improvement?

"I can never be happy with my abs. I don’t know but some people can’t seem to be happy with what they have."

How often do you see your doctor?

"Not that often."

Have your received any indecent proposal?

"None – so far."

What if somebody offered you this and that in exchange for a one-night stand?

"Try somebody else. I’d say no, of course. I still have my dignity; I have morals in life and I don’t believe in doing stuff like that just to get what I want."

Do you sleep in the nude?

"Yes, I do."

What’s the last thing you do before sleeping?

"I read."

What kind of books do you read?

"Right now, I’m reading The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time by Mark Haddon. I just finished reading Five People You Meet in Heaven by Mitch Albom and The Ultimate Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy by Douglas Adams. I also read books by Poelho Cuello."

What’s the first thing you do when you wake up in the morning?

"I take a shower para magising ako."

How’s your nightlife?

"I don’t really go out that much. When I go to a party, I have a little drink and chit-chat with other guests. But I never get drunk."

Do you take drugs?

"No, I don’t."

What about your love life?

"Oh, it’s amazing! I have a girlfriend."

Does she stay with you?

"No, she doesn’t."

And your sex life?

"Satisfactory."

What turns you on in a woman?

"When I get to talk to them, I can see if they have a sexual aura. The best example of one with a strong sexual aura is Angelina Jolie. A girl may be beautiful but then she might not have that sexual aura. What turns me on is a girl who can eat anything without watching her diet. In short, a cowboy."

And what turns you off?

"A girl who’s meticulous with her diet, maarte and who complains even about simple things."

Could you name three women you think have bodies-to-die-for?

"Angelina Jolie, of course! Brook Burke (who used to be a host for E! Entertainment) and Angela Velez."

And three men...

"Brad Pitt. Bruce Lee, my idol. Usher."

Using body language, how would you make a woman feel that you admire/like her?

"I simply look at her."

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