by Isah V. Red, Manila Standard

Not many actors easily are willing to take on roles that are actually older than their real selves. To many, especially women, asking them to play a mother, or a grandmother on either the big or small screen, could be the greatest insult you can hurl on them.

Not to Alice Dixson, though, who is making a big comeback to the movies via a role that was once made famous by the late Charito Solis.

“Why not?” she asked. “I’m 36 and I could be a mother myself.”

But of course, she couldn’t be mother to someone of Kristine Hermosa’s age who plays her daughter in the Metro Manila Filmfest entry Enteng Kabisote…The Legend Continues. “Well, I could if had given birth when I was 12,” she said followed by a hearty giggle.

Alice became a household byword as Faye, the fairy wife of Vic Sotto in the top rating ’80s sitcom Okay Ka Fairy Ko. She played the role for three long years, and the only reason she quit the show was because her then fiancé was getting jealous thinking about Vic Sotto trying to steal Alice from him. Which of course never happened. So, the lovebirds decided to migrate to Canada after they got married.

Husband Ronnie Miranda would have loved Alice living all her life beside him. But showbiz is like a potent addictive substance. Alice couldn’t just kick it out of her system. So, in 2002 she came home and found work as one of the stars on the soap, Ang Iibigin Ay Ikaw opposite Christopher de Leon and Richard Gomez. This was followed by Hanggang Kailan where she shared top billing with Christopher de Leon and Lorna Tolentino.

She said that she’d make Canada her base from hereon. In fact, she’s looking for an alternative career so she could use her time more productively. ‘I’d probably be in real estate,” she declared, “although I’d still be in the movies if there’d be offers, or TV if the offer would be long term. Otherwise I’d e with my husband in Canada.”

She agreed to do the Ina Magenta role for Enteng Kabisote…The Legend Continues if only to satisfy her urge to be in front of the cameras again “plus the chance to work with Vic (Sotto) again.”

As the original Faye, did she have any difficulty adjusting to a role that even up to this day is still associated with the late Charito Solis?

“Actually, I was feeling awkward at the beginning. I also had reservations doing the role.

For Tita Chato that’s why I accepted the role. Actually, I should’ve been in last year’s installment. This role had been offered to me two years ago, but they got someone else. This time, I accepted because it’s a role close to my heart. I feel I did a good job naman, eh!”

How is it different from Charito’s portrayal?

“I tried to recollect all her mannerisms before although I also have may own nuances. Perhaps, what I brought together was my experience as Faye and the way I saw Ina Magenta as my mom. It’s like I merged two roles into one. It’s exciting and I hope the public likes it.”