ALICE Dixson in “For Love or Money”
Less than a year after she filed for divorce from her Canada-based husband, actress Alice Dixson admitted she has started dating once again.
The “For Love or Money” lead star, however, remained tight-lipped on the identity of the new guy, and simply let in that he wasn’t from show business.
Alice said she was the type who would “always go for the more stable relationship. I don’t like anything short-term, especially not a one-night-stand. I don’t like to feel like I’ve been used. I want to have a healthy friendship with somebody. I don’t choose a man based on physical attraction.”
Alice married businessman Ronnie Miranda in Richmond, British Columbia, Canada, in May 1999. She filed for divorce in Vancouver last December, citing irreconcilable differences. She denied that a “third party” caused the breakup.
Alice plays the rich and beautiful Kristine Almonte in “For Love or Money,” the Kapatid network’s latest weekly drama. Directed by Mac Alejandre, the story revolves around the newly married couple Edward and Roselle Villanueva (played by Derek Ramsay and Ritz Azul). Conflict arises when Edward, a fashion photographer, meets Kristine, a wealthy older woman who offers to pay P10 million for a chance to spend 10 nights with him.
Younger men
“I personally don’t know a lot of women who have long-lasting and successful relationships with men who are way younger than they are,” Alice shared with the Inquirer. “But I’m glad that TV5 has finally come up with a show that tells the story of an empowered lady.”
Alice added, “If I were asked whether or not I approved of older women dating younger men, I’d say, why not? If a woman enjoys the relationship, if she is happy, and she’s not hurting anybody, then she should go for it. Life is short, after all.”
The former beauty queen, however, said dating younger men was never her thing. “A guy shouldn’t be more than eight years my junior. Also, I would have to see his maturity level. If he is my age but is still immature then I’d definitely get turned off, too.”
Mature enough
The 44-year-old actress revealed that she agreed to wear a two-piece red swimsuit for the first time in the series. She explained her decision to go daring: “I think I’m mature enough to handle a sexy role, or wear a bikini on TV. I’ve always been conservative, even after I joined Binibining Pilipinas.” (She won the Binibining Pilipinas-International title in 1986.)
“However, I decided to go for it because the role called for it.”
The actress elaborated: “What do I want to embody? I can say that women, at a certain age, would also like to be told they are beautiful. If they still have it, I think they should flaunt it.”
Good advice
Alice gave this advice: “Should these women find themselves at a crossroad in their lives, at a point when they want to get into a relationship with somebody younger, they should also use their heads and not just their hearts.”
Asked how her new beau reacted to her decision to bare more skin, Alice replied, “Wala lang. He knows that it’s part of my job.”
“For Love or Money” airs Thursdays on the Kapatid network’s prime-time block.
(E-mail mcruz@inquirer.com.ph)