Laila Rouass turns down a offer to pose nude for Playboy

She’s London’s latest ‘Cover Girl’. Laila Rouass is on fire. She’s Amber Gates, the sizzling siren in the British soap Footballers ‘ Wives. She’s turned down an offer from an Arab sheikh, who was ready to pay her Pound Sterling 1 million for a date. Here’s the lowdown on the ‘Indecent Proposal’ Laila received: She would be flown first class to Dubai for a dinner date and put up in a five-star hotel. After dinner, she’d be given Pound Sterling 1 million.

So, why did Laila say ‘NO’ to the sheikh? “Gawd! I can laugh at it now. He sent this message through some common friends. Imagine a million pounds just to have dinner with him! But I didn’t entertain his request at all, I don’t know this guy.. I wasn’t tempted.” Does she often get such proposals? “Ha ha… No way, this was my first.”

Casual sex and the casting couch might be new realities of the glamour world, but Laila has a different take. “Casual sex doesn’t suit my lifestyle. I’m not against it, but I wouldn’t do it now.”

The sheikh’s proposal would probably have suited Laila’s on-screen character - Amber Gates - more. In the soap, she plays a B-list Bollywood actress. “I play this raunchy girl but I’m not suggestive. It’s a witty show with dark humor about the excesses of the young and the rich. The sheikh probably believed that, in real life, I’m like the character I play Hey I’m very different! Yeah, I love shopping and clothes but I don’t live to shop. I don’t live to keep up an image like my character,” says Laila, who’s acted in Bhawandar and Split Wide Open. “There’s one thing common I share with her though-we both believe in passion.”

Britain’s ‘News Of The World’ reports that sex keeps Laila in great shape. True? “No. I never gave that interview. It’s bullshit.” Is Laila dating anyone? “Not right now.”

Here’s more masala about how Laila turned down USD 250,000 to pose in the nude for Playboy. Why? “I’m not saying I won’t do it later but I didn’t want to do it at that point - not for the money. It wasn’t really me at that point.”

There’s this mystique about Laila… a mystique that intimidates men? “I guess so. Men huddle in a corner and talk about me, rather than walking up to me and chatting me up.” And what kind of men make Laila go weak in the knees? “Oh… all types of men-those who are confident, strong; those who can hold on their own.”

After the success of her role in Footballers’ Wives, Laila’s been offered a part in the US drama Sopranos and a role in the fictional dramatization of Sven Goran Eriksson’s love life. She’s also played a role in Meera Syal’s Life Isn’t Ha Ha He He. “I’ve known Meera for long. I was nervous working with her… she’s simply brilliant.” Laila’s Indian connection is something she’s proud of. “I’ve lived in Mumbai for six years. My mother is from Goa and I love coming to India. I’m doing the film Don’t Stop Dreaming with Rishi Kapoor and Suniel Shetty They’re both so funny and fantastic!” The ‘hottest’ Asian in Britain loves wearing Roberto Caval-li and “dreams” of going to Hollywood. “I’ve made couple of trips. I hope to move over soon.”