Solenn: Marriage is not going to change who I am

SOLENN Heussaff

As much as she wanted to relate something “interesting” or “exciting” about what her life has been like after tying the knot recently with her longtime Argentinian boyfriend, Nico Bolzico, GMA 7 talent Solenn Heussaff maintained that there is nothing, really, that stands out at the moment.

The couple had been living together for five years before their wedding, Solenn pointed out, so nothing much has changed, including her mindset when it comes to her career.

Some people had asked her whether or not she would be slowing down from show biz now that she’s married. But, she said she found this quite baffling.

“Getting married doesn’t mean that your life stops. Couples shouldn’t stop each other from doing what they want to do,” she told the Inquirer in a recent interview for the new season of GMA News TV’s lifestyle program, “Taste Buddies,” (Saturdays, 8:45 p.m.). “Marriage should not and is not going to change who I am.”

Solenn, 30, also does not subscribe to conventional gender roles, which dictate that women are meant to just stay home. “That’s an old-fashioned mentality. I’m not saying this because I have foreign blood … I was actually raised here; I know Filipino values,” said Solenn, who is half-French. “I believe that it’s time to go with the way society has evolved.”

Having a baby will have to wait—two years, give or take—because, Solenn said, she is still not ready to leave her shows. Aside from “Taste,” the Kapuso talent is part of three more: the sexy comedy TV series “A1 Ko sa ’Yo,” the travelogue “Tripinas” and the reboot of the well-loved fantaserye “Encantadia.”

These are mostly hosting jobs and lighthearted fare; heavy dramas are usually a pass for the celeb—at least for now. Solenn is well aware of the things that she can and cannot do well. “I know my limitations … I won’t accept a job offer if I know that I can’t deliver,” she said. “If I’m offered a drama, I suggest that perhaps I could be put somewhere else.”

That does not mean, however, that she is already content with her current skill set. “Of course, I want to continue learning and improving. There are still a lot of areas I could improve on,” she said. “I still get tongue-tied, because I speak very fast. I struggle with acting because Filipino isn’t my first language, so it’s hard for me to ‘feel’ the lines.”

The goal is not to become an award-winning dramatic actress. She simply hopes to deliver a good job, no matter what’s given to her. “I want to do many things. I am improving every year, but I still have a long way to go,” Solenn admitted.

In “Taste Buddies,” Solenn will be joined by new host Rhian Ramos, who will replace Iya Villania, who’s pregnant. Together, they would go on food trips around the Philippines, and feature trendy places and fashion. The show, she quipped, is almost like a paid cheat day.

“Some bashers find it funny that I’m hosting a show about food, because they think I do not eat,” said Solenn, who works out for an hour, six times a week. “Of course I do! But when I do indulge, I make sure to burn the calories off after. I’m very disciplined when it comes to my health.”

E-mail [email protected]