After being in showbiz for seven years, Rafael Rosell is taking the liberty of choosing his projects with care. The 26-year old actor prefers to portray offbeat characters rather than accepting roles that only lead to happy endings.
He has been in showbiz since 2001 but he got to do mainstream projects just recently. During the Coverboys Uncovered press conference at Jozu Japanese Bar and Grill in Quezon City last April 30, Rafael gave PEP (Philippine Entertainment Portal) his basis for choosing projects.
"May rason kung bakit mabagal kasi after doing the movie Kung Ikaw ay Isang Panaginip [2002] and the TV series Kay Tagal Kang Hinintay [2002], all the offers were for a boy-next-door, pretty boy, the guy who's gonna make ligaw, the guy who ends up getting married... I grew tired of those roles kasi it is more challenging playing something bad.... something with more character. So artistically, it's more fulfilling like sa [TV series] Rounin (2007), it was a major kontrabida role. It was more fulfilling than getting married in the end.
"Para sa akin kasi, being killed by the bida and giving the whole cast a lot of trouble, pinapahirapan ang mga buhay nila sa istorya, it's more fulfilling to me. Anybody can get married, everybody knows how to put their best foot forward. Pero as an actor, it's harder to create a character that you don't base on the ideal. You base it on sa mga masasamang ugali and mannerisms..."
For this reason, he did not hesitate to accept the role of a devil in Maligno. "Noong nalaman ko na may pagkademonyo ako dito, sabi ko game agad. Ayoko lang gawing stereotypical."
Speaking of Maligno, Rafael said that he has not yet seen the scene of Maligno that is uploaded on the Internet showing his butt. He merely asked, "Maganda ba yung shot? Sana lang maganda yung shot. If it is, then that's good."
He doesn't mind showing his butt since humans are born naked and that is nothing to be ashamed of. "We're all born naked. We were naked during the Stone Age and everything just changed with society's norms and rules. After everything is gone, all that you're left with is your brain and your personality."
Aside from starring in Maligno as Lucas Santander, Rafael can be seen on the big screen as a friend of Aga Muhlach in the Star Cinema-Viva Films co-production When Love Begins.
COVERBOYS UNCOVERED. Rafael is part of the sexy group Coverboys that will be staging a two-night concert in the Music Museum, scheduled for May 9 and 10. Rafael wants to clarify misconceptions about the group.
"People think we're a boy band but that is a misconception," he said. "We are individual actors who are joined together in a group to perform in a Sunday show to have fun. Now, we want to give back something to our fans who have showed us love and affection so we are staging this concert for them."
What will the Coverboys uncover in this show?
We will uncover our soul," quips Rafael. "We will have song-and-dance numbers and plenty of interaction with the fans. We will uncover a different part of the Coverboys. Itong concert na ‘to, ibang level."
How far will the Coverboys go?
Rafael jokes: "Depende po sa MTRCB!" It will be remembered that the Movie and Television Review and Classification Board recently disapproved his violent rape scene with Claudine Barretto in ABS-CBN's Maligno.
He adds: "Physically, hindi naman siya bastos. We will tease the audience and depende sa audience kung paano sila mag-react. Pero kung madadala ang audience, tapunan na ng brief ‘to!"
It is said that the Coverboys will have a "wet-look" production number on the Music Museum stage. Are they afraid of being condemned by some moralists?
Rafael once again spoke in behalf of the group. "No, I think people would expect something like that from the Coverboys. Besides, it's the people's choice not to go."
Aside from Rafael, the other members of the Coverboys are Jake Cuenca, Marvin Raymundo, Zanjoe Marudo, Victor Basa, Jon Avila, Will Devaughn, John James Uy, and Ron Morales.