Cristian de la Fuente on the magic of dancing
Posted by Lorrie Lynch
Whenever Dancing with the Stars contestants are voted off the show - and sometimes even when they are not - we hear about what a life-changing experience it is for them. What is it that changes their lives so? I wonder. What magic happens in those rehearsal studios and on the dance floor itself? Cristian de la Fuente (at right), the Chilean Air Force pilot and sexy actor who dances with pro Cheryl Burke, tries to explain. "Everybody is there to help each other," he says. Steve Guttenberg still texts him every Monday wishing him a good show and to congratulate him on Tuesday when he's still in the competition. Cristian so wanted Marlee Matlin to stay on the show that he voted for HER instead of himself the week she was in jeopardy. (She's a pro at texting, he says.) "I spend a lot of time with Jason and I would never be able to spend time with a football player," Cristian says. "The relationships you create on the show are experiences that are hard to have in real life. It's like the Air Force experience - you share something in common."
Rumpled from a day of rehearsal, Cristian is every bit as handsome as he looks on the show. He has big brown eyes and dark brown hair. He had the muscular arms even before Dancing.
What's clear about Cristian's life is he wants challenges. It's why he left Santiago, Chile, to come to the states to find a bigger career; it's why he has a production company to make movies or television shows for the U.S. in his home country. It's definitely why he signed on to DWTS - that, and the fact that the timing was perfect. He was finished filming his new USA Network show, In Plain Sight, a 13-episode comedy-drama premiering in June with Mary McCormack that has the potential to become a hit like Psych or Monk. Cristian just hopes that In Plain Sight will be successful for a couple of seasons, allowing him the stability of a series, but the time (because of its shorter season) to do movies and be with his family.
In fact, it is the lack of time with his wife, Angelica Castro, and their 3-year-old daughter that is the toughest thing about his dancing rehearsal schedule. But Thursday night, even with another engagement pressing, he answered his little girl's plea to just sit with her and watch TV.
(photo by Kelsey McNeal/ABC)
Comments (4)
Cristian is handsome and so sexy. He seems like he has high morals and great integrity. His wife is beautiful and their daughter adorable. I'd like to have him as a friend. He gets my votes every time.
LORRIE-THE 3 OF THEM LIVE IN THE SAME APARTMENT BUILDING....
I think it is Gerard Butler - the actor - with whom Cheryl has been linked by apartments; there are reports of the two of them seeing each other.
are we trying to pump it up to get votes...this story makes him sound like such a nice guy; just like he said when he 1st met burke @ the studio to start dwts, then she states how they live in the same apt. building her for a few yrs and him to for a few yrs. 10 doors down-PHONY.. steve texting him and not anyone else? sounds phony, and that he voted for Marlee? when you do good deeds you don't need to go around telling everyone then your good deed is an ad for you...