ANTOINETTE Taus has always had a wholesome image onscreen. She is not allowed to do kissing scenes nor does she appear in suggestive scenes. Offscreen, she's still wholesome, but half an hour with her convinced us that there's more to Antoinette than what she projects on screen or during promo tours.

In this Q&A, Antoinette tells us what she's like when she's not in front of the camera and emoting with her love-team partner, Dingdong Dantes:

What do you do when you're not shooting or promoting your movie?

Right now, I'm kinda busy promoting my latest movie, "Kiss Mo 'Ko." When I do have free time, I concentrate on school. I study, Ateneo's really hard so I devote most of my free time to school.

Other than that, I love watching movies, hanging out with my non-show biz friends. Every Sunday, I go to church.

What kind of movies do you love watching?

Love stories. Also I like intriguing movies, yung naiiba. Like "The Matrix" or "Blair Witch" or "Sixth Sense."

What are your movie-going habits? Do you like popcorn?

I need something to munch on. At least something to drink when I'm full. I like chips and dip and iced tea. That's my favorite drink.

Do you have to watch a movie from the beginning?

Definitely. Kasi if I start watching a movie in the middle, it ruins everything. You don't get the same effect. I got that habit from my dad

Have you ever walked out of a movie because it was awful?

No. Siguro at home when I watch video. Sa theater kasi, iniisip ko baka gumanda.

How different are you from a typical 18-year-old?

I'm out a lot even on weeknights. Also I come home early in the morning after shooting or taping. I'm experiencing things other kids don't go through. I'm also gaining wisdom at the same time.

At this young age, I've been exposed to the real world, to all kinds of people and the problems that come with a show biz career. Show biz is one of the worst lines of work to get into!

Why the worst?

There's too much gulo, too much intrigue. Your life is open to the public. Maraming awayan. Normally, hindi naman ganoon ang mga tao na palaging nag-aaway. Typical teen life, you are exposed to a particular group of people. You can control your environment. In show biz, you're exposed to people from all walks of life.

Are there things you want to do but can't because you're a movie star?

I'm not gonna graduate at the same time as my batch. Because of my job, I have to take a light load. I don't like being exposed to the public so much. It's really hard. Your life is an open book, people have to know everything you do. I wish sometimes I could have privacy, do what I want without having to think of an image, without worrying about what people are gonna think of me or how they're gonna misinterpret your actions. I wish I had more time for my regular teen life, to go out, to party.

Of course, my parents let me go out. But they regulate yung pagigimik ko. If I were a normal teenager, I could go out every weekend. Since I'm working, I don't have the freedom to go out anytime I want to because I have schedules, commitments. When I have some free time, I don't want to use it naman to go out because I have to study.

What's the image you want to protect?

My parents have always tried to protect my wholesome image. Like I'm not allowed to have kissing scenes. Well, for kids my age, it's not really nice to have kissing scenes.

Kids my age are respected more if we don't do those things. And no rape scenes. Nothing malicious. Even in public, ayoko yung magmukh akong mahilig gumimik. Kasi hindi naman ako yung gumigimik na nagdri-drdrink, nagii-smoke. I don't go to bars. I go to restaurants.

You wouldn't be caught dead watching a bold movie?

No. Once in a while, napapanood ko sa cable...

It's nothing compared to what they show on the big screen.

Really?

You mean you have no idea what they show on the big screen?

I don't watch. Nahihiya ako. Baka isipin nila mahilig ako sa ganun.

Aren't you curious?

No.

What are some things you love doing?

I love shopping. In fact, I love it more than going to the movies. My mom also loves to shop. She has lot of shoes and clothes. Even her friends in Angeles call her Imedla Marcos kasi she has mga 400 pairs of shoes plus six closets of clothes na hindi na nagkakasiya. She has more clothes than me!

Do you take a long time deciding what clothes you want to buy?

Yes. I don't really go for the brand names. If it's nice, I try it on. Dapat it has to fit me well. Kasi I'm so small and petite so it's hard to find something that fits.

What about the price?

Siyempre, mas gusto ko ang mura but if I really like it and I think it's worth it, I'll buy it even if it's expensive.

What kind of clothes do you like?

Lately, I've been attracted to classic designs. That's for my everyday wear and guestings. But for big performances, I like clothes that are not too crazy, not too wild, but different. I like elegant and classy designs. Isang kulay lang. Yung naiiba

May fashion adviser ka ba?

My mom. She's my idol when it comes to clothes. When I'm not sure, I ask my mom. She's the only person I trust when it comes to clothes.

Are you an organized shopper? Do you buy only what you set out to buy?

No. Sometimes I say bibilin ko lang make-up, isang powder. I end up with eye shadow, blush on and more. Or I plan to buy a blouse but I buy other things. I'm a shopping addict. It's a sickness that my mom and I have.

Do you use a credit card?

I pay cash. When I'm with my mom, I use her credit card.

You don't have one of your own?

She was thinking of getting one for me but natakot ako. Kasi ang feeling ko, baka pag meron na ako I might overuse it. It's hard when you have a credit card. You don't know how much you're spending.

What kind of student are you? Do you wait for the last minute to study for your exam?

As much as possible, I try to study early but I always end up cramming. I'm the type of student who wants to get good grades. I try to aim for the Dean's list. I study hard. Sometimes I don't sleep after tapings because I have to study.

What do you do to keep awake?

That's the hardest part. Sometimes I get out of bed, kasi I study in bed. I don't like studying sa table. Parang uncomfortable. I wash my face. I go to the bathroom. I get something to drink. Then I go back and study.

Sometimes, I come home from taping at 5 a.m. I don't sleep anymore. I study then go to school without sleeping.

During class recitation, do you volunteer or wait for the teacher to call you?

It depends. There are some classes where I love reciting--English or Filipino. Most of my classes, I wait for the teacher to call me. I'm scared of being wrong. I get nervous.

Why are high grades important to you?

I'm the type of person who doesn't settle for anything less than the best. I always want to get the best out of myself. I'm a Virgo. I always want things to be good, to be perfect. So I try very hard to get good grades. It's important to me. In the future when I'm out of school, it's going to be a big deal. Siyempre, I want to be proud of myself. I know I can do it naman.

Sa school, you get reports to find out how you're doing. Sa movies, ano ang equivalent ng report card?

My mom. She tells me whether I'm doing well.

It's not what the press writes about you?

I take that into consideration, but then sometimes the press just wants to criticize because they have nothing else to say.

Isn't your mother biased in the sense that she won't tell you anything that will hurt you?

No, she tell its like it is. If she doesn't like my performance, she really tells me. I feel bad kasi I know she's telling me the truth. So I try my best to please my mom because I know if I please her, I'll please everyone else. She knows I take criticism well.

What grade has your mom given you?

Okay naman. Depende sa movie. Sometimes you get roles that don't take advantage of your talent.

What are some of the criticisms you've gotten from your mom?