LOVI POE says she didn’t have any hesitation accepting “Sleep With Me” which is about a sapphic relationship between a science writer, Luna (which she plays), and a wheelchair bound disc jockey, Harry (played by Janine Gutierrez.)
“This is one of a kind of a story that needs to be told and I’m glad that Dreamscape took a chance in doing it,” she says.
“Now, I’m happy to be a part of it and their whole team. Janine and I have both never been in a lesbian relationship so we hope we give justice to our roles.”
She has always had an open mind when it comes to different kind of relationships.
“I don’t think anything is wrong with this kind of relationship. I mean, if you like someone, then you like someone. Love is love and you don’t have to categorize it.
"At the end of the day, kung sino yung taong nag-aangat at nagpapasaya sa’yo, e di doon ka. Basta it’s not a toxic kind of relationship and your partner helps you grow and become a better person, walang question kung ano ang gender.”
“Sleep with Me” is written and directed by Samantha Lee, who has long admitted that she is queer and Lovi said she enjoyed working with her.
“Making this is a good experience as it gave me a better understanding of what being queer is.
"I hope it will help viewers not to be so judgmental about different kinds of relationships.”
Would she be willing to do another similar project in the future?
“Why not? I would say yes again. Basta maganda ang script and if I’d be given the opportunity to do this kind of story na maganda ang treatment and execution like ‘Sleep with Me’, I’m willing to do it.”
How did she feel when her partner, Janine, said in an interview that she’s her crush?
“Hahaha! I’m so kilig, but I don’t know how to accept such compliment from someone who’s really a good actress and very beautiful.
"I don’t know how to respond, but I do feel the same towards her, na para bang everything na puede mong i-admire sa isang tao, nasa kanya na and I get to do this kind of project with her.
"It’s the first time we get to act together and I’m glad we’re not rivals or adversaries but lovers.”
It’s common knowledge she’s on a long distance relationship (LDR) with her British BF, Montgomery "Monty" Blencowe. Do they have any plans of tying the knot soon?
“Well, right now, we’re just very happy. You see, we’re both very career oriented, so we push each other to do well in our careers and also our personal lives.
"We’ve been together for sometime and it’s a pretty serious relationship.”
It’s good they last even if their romance is LDR?
“Yes, because he’s very supportive sa career ko. If someone really wants to uplift you, he will let you pursue and not hamper your dreams.”
In case they do get married, would she be willing to leave her career here and stay with him in the U.S.?
“That’s a really hard question, kasi all my life, nandito ang career ko.
"But I would want to be someone who’d just continue to support my career and let me be myself, let me grow even if we’re together.”
Lovi has put up her own company in L.A. with the help of Monty, C’est Lovi Productions.
“It’s been a passion of mine to be in the business of making films in front of the camera for a number of years already, and as I continue to do that I’d like to be behind the camera too and develop projects from the beginning.
"More importantly, I want to join forces with people who share the same passion and make films that would help the world recognize Filipino talent either behind or in front of the camera.”
Meantime, don’t miss the six-episode “Sleep with Me” when it starts airing on iWant TFC on August 15.
