During the recently concluded 2006 Cinema One Originals film festival, Mylene Dizon was named Best Actress for her role as a lesbian in the digital movie Rome and Juliet.

Mylene arrived at the awarding ceremony at Teatrino in the Promenade in Greenhills yesterday, November 26, with her former flame, Paolo Paraiso.

Notwithstanding that she is a heterosexual, Mylene delivered a convincing performance in the movie that bagged her the coveted trophy and led her to declare during her acceptance speech: “Straight po ako.”

 She also said: “Para dun sa mga nasa madilim [meaning those hiding their gender orientation], labas na!”

In an interview with (PEP) Philippine Entertainment Portal, Mylene admitted that she had difficulty in portraying Rome, a wedding planner who falls in love with the bride-to-be, Juliet Flores (played by Andrea del Rosario).

Mylene narrated, “Yes, we [Andrea and I] had a lot of problems on tackling this role. Kasi may mga galaw na siyempre... kasi hindi naman kami homosexual.”

When asked if she thought of Paolo while doing the scenes, she responded: “In many instances, yes.”

The very frank Mylene added: “May mga Brad Pitt pa ko, kung sino-sino…para lang maitawid ko nang tama.”

Rome and Juliet is a finalist in the 2006 Cinema One Originals, a contest among seven digital films selected by the cable channel after which it is named.

Now on its second year, the film festival had its run last November 24-26 at the Indie Sine (Cinema 8) of Robinsons Galleria.