Maxene Magalona ready for mature roles

MAXENE MAGALONA is glad to be back in an afternoon soap, “My Lover, My Wife”. “Matagal na rin yung last soap ko, ‘Trudis Liit’, so I really missed acting,” she says. “I love my role as Vivian, a poor girl who falls in love with a rich guy, Marco Alcaraz, na inilayo sa’kin ng mother niya. When we meet again, kasal na siya kay Nadine Samonte na anak ni Carmi Martin, a famous plastic surgeon. Nagpakasal naman ako kay Luis Alandy, who turns out to be a wife beater. Gugulo ang story nang ang mukha ni Luis, mapunta kay Marco.”

She avoids kissing scenes before but she now has such scenes with both Luis and Marco. “I feel mature and grown up na, so puede na. But it’s not really sexy like what they say kasi afternoon show ito, puede sa kid viewers. Pero di ko kaya ang sexy men’s mags. But I’m in a foto exhibit na naka-plunging neckline ako and in panties but with fur coat. Ganun lang.” Maxene is now more open about her lovelife, unlike before when she was linked to JC Tiuseco and Dominic Roco but she never admitted it. “I’m of age na at 24, so okay lang.” This time, her beau is a non-showbiz guy, Neil Arce, from the family that makes Arce ice cream and owns the Metro Poker Club in Metrowalk. “He gets along fine with my family,” she adds. Do they intend to settle down soon? “We don’t need to rush. Mga bata pa kami and there’s always a right time for everything. As of now, marriage is not part of my immediate plans. Marami pa kong gustong ma-achieve career-wise.”