Rafael Rosell Is Not Lacking In Star Quality, How Come He Never Hit It Big?

RAFAEL ROSELL showed great promise when he was, fresh from Norway where he was born and raised, introduced in the Jolina Magdangal movie, “Kung Ikaw ay Isang Panaginip”, in 2002. Most people thought he’d make it big because he has star quality and quickly learned how to speak Tagalog. But now, 12 years later and with him turning 33 on November 10, stardom continues to be elusive for Rafael. He was given lead roles in soaps like “Marina” and “Phantom Midnight”, but other balikbayan hunks soon overtook him, like Sam Milby and Gerald Anderson.

Obviously no longer satisfied with ABS-CBN, he moved to GMA-7 in 2012, now managed by Popoy Caritativo. It’s good he’s still very much around as he was given one show right after the other: “Aso ni San Roque”, “Indio”, “Maghihintay Pa Rin”, “The Borrowed Wife” and the upcoming soap, “Second Chances”, where shares topbilling with Raymart Santiago, Camille Prats and Jennylyn Mercado. On the big screen, Rafael has yet to play a solo lead. He’s just one of those in films like “Pinay Pie”, “Matakot Ka sa Karma”, “Status: Single” and “Working Girls”. He now plays a supporting role in Joey Reyes’ pre-Halloween offering “Dilim” that’s now showing in theatres nationwide. He won’t say what his exact role but it’s certainly not a lead role. Suffice it to say that he’s the reason why the ghosts played by Nathalie Hart and Ella Cruz came back from the dead to haunt Kylie Padilla.

Rafael is currently very much into doing research online and one of his advocacies is recognizing the medicinal benefits of marijuana. He said his mom had stage 4 cancer but is now clear after taking marijuana oil.

“She’s healthier,” he says. “She looks younger than ever and she’s happy. I’m not here to discuss or convince anyone that I’m right, I’m just here to tell people that marijuana has proven medicinal values. If you believe me, that’s okay. If you don’t, that’s also okay.”